Secretary-General

Of The Spc Dies

In Tarawa

By a staff writer

Afioga Afoafouvale Misimoa —first Islander to have been ap

pointed secretary-general of the

South Pacific Commission —died in office on February 18 on Tarawa, where he had been making an official visit. He was 70.

His unexpected death shocked the South Pacific territories, where Afoa fouvale was affectionately known as “Uncle Harry”. He had taken over the post in January, 1970, and was beginning to put his own stamp on the secretary-general’s role.

He was a man of his word, with no time for humbug, and in his short time did more for the Pacific-wide image of the SPC than any pre decessor. It is important to the future of the SPC that his work should be carried on by another Islander.

Afoafouvale in February was visit ing Tarawa with his wife and was staying with Sir John and Lady Field at the Residency. He had been in good spirits at a dinner party on the Wednesday evening, but complained of severe head pains on his return. He died within a few hours, after having been taken to hospital.

He was buried on Tarawa on the Friday but there is likelihood his body may be removed to Western Samoa, where he was born.

A memorial service to him, held in Apia on February 21, was attended by the Head of State, the cabinet and representatives of American Samoa.

Anglican Archbishop Emeritus C.

Whonsbon-Aston, said Afoafouvale was a great man with a great heart.

The Samoa Times, Pago, said he stood for a stronger SPC and closer regional ties.

Tributes to Afoafouvale have been pouring in to SPC headquarters from all over the Pacific.

Afoafouvale was the son of H. J.

Moors, an American trader in Samoa who was a close friend of Robert Louis Stevenson, and of a Samoan mother. He was educated at Auck land Grammar School and in the US at Belmont Military Academy and Stanford University.

In World War I he served in Europe with US forces and returned to join the Samoan Public Service.

Afoafouvale was a brother-in-law of O. F. Nelson, and from 1928 to 1934 he worked for O. F. Nelson and Co.,

leaving to found a dairy company.

In 1938 he joined the Samoa Defence Force and did much to build its effi ciency during World War 11.

After the war he was a leading member of the Samoan legislature, and was very active in civic affairs.

He did a great deal to develop sport ing facilities in Samoa.

He was Senior Commissioner for Western Samoa on the SPC at the time of his election as secretary general.

He was one of three nominated for the high post, and although the commissioners all agreed on his quali fications for the post, some felt the job might be too onerous for a man who was then approaching 70—for the secretary-general’s post requires Pacific travel.

But “Uncle Harry” met the new challenge with enthusiasm, and felt his age was an asset, not a handicap.

“In Polynesia, a man with some years on him earns more respect, not less,” he said at that time.

The late Afoafouvale Misimoa.