VC’s Lessons for Leadership before it is too late
By: Asot Michael
Tags: Birthday, Antigua And Barbuda, Caribbean, Government, Lessons Learned

By Asot Michael

MP St. Peter’s Constituency

St Johns, Antigua, December 8, 2020 — The Right Honorable Sir Vere Cornwall Bird would have turned 110 on the 9th December 2020. So, we sing to the heavens in joy and praise and thanksgiving:

Happy Birthday Papa Bird!!!

We celebrated his life and times with deep recognition and appreciation for his outstanding leadership role in creating the modern Antigua and Barbuda and in advancing the cause of political integration in the English-speaking Caribbean.

Indeed, we remember the father of our Nation as a giant of the regional integration movement whose leadership example in the cause a united Caribbean Community merits careful study by politicians in regional leadership circles at this time, and may I dear say especially here in Antigua and Barbuda.

We recall that following the 1962 collapse of the West Indian Federation and the seeming disappearance of regionalism as a distant dream, Sir Vere teamed up with Errol Barrow of Barbados and Forbes Burnham of Guyana to form the Caribbean Free Trade Association at Dickenson Bay in Antigua in 1965. This was the forerunner of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) which today comprises 15 member states.

Immediately after securing independence for Antigua and Barbuda in 1981, V C Bird again played a crucial role in the stalled regional integration process. Caribbean Community leaders had not met for eight years and the regional movement was limping along with no real direction.

VC Bird Snr made public calls for a Heads of Government meeting, offering to host it himself in Antigua. In the end, sensitive to Jamaica’s sometimes lukewarm approach to integration and anxious to keep the Jamaican government in the fold, he embraced the idea that the Conference should be held at Ocho Rios Jamaica under the Chairmanship of the then Jamaican Prime Minister. Thus, the Caribbean Community and Common Market were reborn with a new lease of life, which has steadily grown since then.

In July 1998, he was awarded the Order of the Caribbean Community by the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community and Common Market in recognition of the special role he played in the development of the Caribbean countries and their people.

Sir VC Bird’s success on the regional integration front was driven by his servant leadership, his commitment to the advancement of Caribbean civilization, and his capacity for managing with respect as a consummate team player. His relationship with other regional leaders showed deference to the importance of comity among them. As a quintessential peoples’ person, our National Hero was a model of courteous and considerate behavior to others.

I have had reasons in recent times to express concern about the relationship between Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his CARICOM colleagues. I have cautioned him against cursing and insulting regional heads of government over differences of opinion because this is certainly not good for Antigua and Barbuda in particular and the region in general. Today, as we have just celebrated VC Bird Day 2020, I call upon him to reflect carefully on the harmonious, productive relationships that the father of our Nation built and enjoyed with his regional counterparts and take guidance accordingly.

Prime Minister Browne keeps raising eyebrows in the region with what observers describe as maverick, eccentric antics of a young vibrant leader. Others see it as a bully bent on constantly reminding colleagues that he is the “maximum” leader of Antigua and Barbuda

An editorial in a Barbados online publication this week characterizes a leader whose style and conduct is totally opposite to the leadership legacy of Sir VC: it said;

“His reputation for shouting across the Caribbean Sea, demanding answers from other Prime Ministers, and issuing orders have made him infamous.

“He has questioned Barbados’ right to label his homeland at high risk or medium risk for COVID, threatening to take action. Again, he is seriously floating legal action against Barbados over LIAT.

“His decision to place St Vincent and Barbados on the re-emerged LIAT flight calendar while a number of outstanding matters remained on the table was a bold move on his part. We have been told that issues including monies owed to Barbados-based former LIAT employees, landing rights for the new incarnation of LIAT, and outstanding airport fees continue to stand in the way of LIAT’s transition.

“But Browne appears highly offended that his Government-rescued carrier has been held up in St Vincent and the Grenadines and Barbados. One expects this episode is likely to create even more fractures in an already shaky relationship among some of our political leaders”.

I think it would serve Antigua and Barbuda well, I also think that Sir VC Bird, with all due respect for his position as leader of Antigua and Barbuda, would have sought to sit down with his counterparts and negotiated resolutions in an atmosphere of good humor, mutual respect, and cooperation to seek out and promote the common good between us all.

Rather than a conciliatory image and approach, we seem somehow to cast ourselves into a self-styled paramilitary like leadership role. Our objectives seem to be centered on a “maximum” leadership status.

Whilst we do this we also seem to be allowing our organization to frail at the seems happy to move forward without persons who have been loyal and committed to our Party and Country.

Whilst today's leadership digs in its heels into a deteriorating relationship with fellow CARICOM leaders and weakening of the party base the question must be asked if it is working for all and I particular for Antigua and Barbuda.

National remembrance of the legendary servant leadership successes of the father of our nation VC Bird Day, 2020, represents an opportune time for all in a leadership role to reflect and change course before it is too late. Indeed The Country, The Party the Cause is greater than any one man, that is any one of us may be left behind, you just never know when it might be you.