Fekita 'Utoikamanu selected for UN job [1]
Thursday, April 13, 2017 - 21:07
A Tongan, Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu has been selected for a UN job, becoming the new United Nations High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).
Since January this year, Fekita has been CEO of the Ministry of Tourism in Nuku’alofa.
The UN Office said the Secretary-General selected her to the position and she is expected to bring to them a wealth of national, regional and international experience at various senior leadership levels, with a strategic perspective for the OHRLLS mandate.
Her previous posts included Acting Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council at the University of the South Pacific, Deputy Director General and Director of Education, Training and Human Development at the Secretariat of Pacific Community, Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the Government of Tonga to the United Nations, USA, Cuba and Venezuela, and High Commissioner to Canada; and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and EU's National Authorizing Officer for Tonga.
Fekita replaces Ambassador Gyan Chandra Acharya, a national of Nepal who served in the position from 2012-17.