NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED FOR MINISTRY OF TOURISM

Mr. Edgar Cocker has joined the Ministry of Tourism as the Director of the Ministry effective on the 3rd of August, 2007.  Mr. Cocker came to the Ministry with vast experience and knowledge of the industry.  He served in the Board of Directors of the Tourism Council of the South Pacific (now south-pacific.travel) from 1992 to 1998 while he was the Marketing and Product Development Officer for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva, Fiji.  After his nine years term (199202000) with PIFS, he became the Associate Director of the Land Grant Program funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Cooperative Research Education and Extension Services (CREES) based in Saipan.  The program was focused on scientific research in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, natural resources, nutrition, diet, health and community development.

Mr. Cocker holds an MBA and MS in Economic Development (1991) from Southern New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire, USA.

Prior to joining the Ministry of Tourism, he was the Executive Director of the Civil Society Forum of Tonga, a three year funded project by UNDP and EU.