Walter Vermeulen
Encyclopedia
Dr. Walter J. Vermeulen is a Samoa
n / Belgian surgeon, farmer and environmentalist. He was born in Belgium
and educated at the University of Brussels, the University of Liverpool
and Hawaii.
.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n / Belgian surgeon, farmer and environmentalist. He was born in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and educated at the University of Brussels, the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
and Hawaii.
Biography
He worked for over ten years in the higher ranks of the Health Department, and then served as Director General of Health in Samoa from 1990 - 1994. He won the landmark case Vermeulen v. A-G & Others for wrongful dismissal from the Samoan government and Tupua Tamasese Tupuola Efi. The case has had bearing on administrative and constitutional law, especially in Commonwealth countries. After he left the Health Department he became involved in environmentalism, first as Executive Director of O Le Siosiomaga Society, Inc., and then as Executive Director of Matuaileoo Environment Trust Inc. (METI). He is a proponent of a sustainable development system known as the Integrated Biomass System (IBS). He is married to the former member of parliament for the electoral constituencey of Aana No. 1 Matatumua MaimoagaMatatumua Maimoaga
Matatumua Maimoana , also known as Matatumua Maimoaga Vermeulen is a matai, Stateswoman, Nurse and Environmentalist of Samoa. Her chief title, Matatumua, is an orator's title from the village of Faleasiu...
.