Biographical Note

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TUVALU PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Afelee F. Pita, the new Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the United Nations, today presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Prior to his appointment, he was the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Lands, beginning in August 2004, where he was responsible for forming and implementing Government policies in that field, and was the principal link between the Ministry and other Government ministries, statutory bodies, private organizations and the public.

Before holding that post, Mr. Pita worked for the Asian Development Bank in Manila, Philippines (2001 to 2004), where he served as Adviser to the Bank’s Executive Director, representing Australia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Previously, he held the position of Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (1999 to 2001), before which he was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (1997 to 1999).  Before embarking on a study leave from 1996 to 1997, he was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, World and Communications (1994 to 1996) and the Ministry of Health, Sports and Human Resources Development for (1994).

In 1993, Mr. Pita was Acting Secretary at the newly established Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Public Corporations, before which he served as Assistant Secretary for Commerce (1989 to 1992), at a time when the Government portfolio for commerce had just been transferred to the Ministry of Finance, Commerce and Public Corporation.  In the years prior (1987 to 1988), he was Assistant Secretary, and then Secretary, at what was then called the Ministry of Commerce and Natural Resources.

Mr. Pita has a Master of Public Administration from the University of Canberra, Australia, and a Bachelor of Arts in administration and accounting from the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.

Born on 11 February 1958, he is married with 7 children.

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