Latest News #230 - Samoa
January 29, 2003

UBS Vice-President made honorary Samoan chief

Photo: UBS’ Vice-President Dr George Barton became the first non-politician to be made an honorary Samoan chief, or matai, in recognition of his legal services rendered to Samoa and its citizens. New Zealand. (WAS96C29_31A)
UBS’ Vice-President Dr George Barton became the first non-politician to be made an honorary Samoan chief, or matai, in recognition of his legal services rendered to Samoa and its citizens. New Zealand. (WAS96C29_31A)

SAMOA — Legal services rendered to Samoa and its citizens by United Bible Societies Vice-President Dr George Barton have been recognised at a special three-hour ceremony in Wellington at which Dr Barton was made an honorary Samoan chief, or matai.

Bestowing this honour on Dr Barton, who is also a former President of the Bible Society in New Zealand, was “long overdue”, according to Samoan MP Leota-Suatele. Dr Barton, the first non-politician to be honoured in this way, received particular recognition for his “strong advocacy before the Privy Council of Samoan citizenship in the 1980s”.

Dr Barton explained that the process of installing him as a matai began five years ago when he was working on a case being heard by the Samoan Court of Appeal. “Unknown to me,” he said, “they had organised the installation of a mataiship for me in the village.” (149 words - SAMOA.29.01.03)
Photographs are available to accompany this story. For more information or to order, please contact the UBS Photo Editor. All photographs are charged at US$5.00 each.
For further information please contact Andrew Mathewson, UBS Editor.
Alternatively, write to:

Andrew Mathewson
UBS Editor,
UBS World Service Center
Reading Bridge House, 7th Floor
Reading
RG1 8PJ
England
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