Diplomat

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Solomons

dies

The United Nations flag flew at half mast in New York when word reached the Secretariat of the fatal heart attack suffered by Francis Bugotu, the Ambassador of the Solomon Islands of the United Nations, the USA, and Canada. He was attending the South Pacific Forum in Honiara.

Born in Guadalcanal in 1937, he was educated in New

Zealand, Scot land and Eng land. An active Anglican church member, he be gan his working life as a teacher and then later graduated to be :ome permanent >ecretary of Edu :ation. Then he itarted a new ca 'eer as practi :ally the proto ype Pacific iiplomat. In 1976 he carried >ut post graduate studies md diplomatic

raining in Queensland and Canberra. From 1978 to 1982 he vas the Solomons’ secretary for Foreign Affairs and the imbassador to the rest of the world. From 1982 to 1986 he was ecretary general of the South Pacific Commission.

He became the Solomons’ ambassador to the United Nations n 1990. His concern for the welfare of the peoples of the South ’acific was reflected in his ventilation of their problems at the JN, and his colleagues were united in their shock at the news nd in their appreciation of a diplomat whose unassuming •oliteness was combined with real ability and sensitivity. □

Medical debts

settled

A scare in the Solomon Islands that the country’ would soon Lin out of medical supplies has eased. The Controller of Government supplies, Jim Katovai, said medical authorities in le country can now place orders for medical supplies through urchasing agents in Britain and Australia.

The earlier concern stemmed from the government not aying outstanding accounts with overseas agents. Katovai said xe government’s account with British Crown Agents had been :ttled. He said new orders may be placed soon when the □lomon Islands government and the Crown Agents agreed on $US 110,000 advance facility proposed by the company.

He said the accounts with Kerr Brothers of Australia also had een re-opened after outstanding accounts were settled, atovai said his division was giving priority to orders for icdical supplies over all other general supplies.

Bugotu: always an innovator