The state funeral of former Prime Minister and National Hero Sir Lester Bryant Bird will take place on Thursday August 26th 2021 – with the day to be declared a national holiday.
Confirmation of this came from the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst. State funerals are held to honour people of the most momentous national significance.
Sir Lester died on Monday August 9th, aged 83, following a long battle with his health.
There will be three days of official mourning from August 24-26, during which time Sir Lester’s body will lie in state.
“Sir Lester’s body will lie in state in the Parliament on the first day, allowing everyone an opportunity to pay their last respects,” a Cabinet statement said.
“On the second day, his body will lie at 46 North Street, the home of the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union, from which institution sprang the ABLP [Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party] which he led for more than one decade.
On the third day, August 26th, an official holiday will be declared, allowing all to attend the state funeral which will be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.”
Sir Lester’s remains will be buried alongside his mother’s, Lady Lydia Bryant-Bird, in the public cemetery.
Flags across the country will be flown at half-mast until the day of the funeral. Sir Lester was one of two living national heroes, along with cricketing legend Sir Vivian Richards, 69.
He is remembered as one of the Caribbean’s most illustrious sons, who contributed immensely to the development of Antigua and Barbuda and the wider region. He served as the country’s second prime minister from 1994 to 2004.
The politician and former lawyer was also a keen sportsman who saw international success in cricket and the long jump.
