Dr. Walter J. Vermeulen is a

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the South Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu), two smaller, inhabited ...

n / Belgian surgeon, farmer and environmentalist. He was born in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

and trained as a surgeon at the University of Brussels and the

University of Hawaii A university () is an educational institution, institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly ...

Career

After training as a surgeon, Vermeulen emigrated to Samoa in 1966. He worked as a surgeon-specialist until 1975, when he became deputy director of health. A change of government at the 1976 election resulted in an employment dispute and legal action for wrongful dismissal, resulting in the landmark decision in ''Vermeulen v. A-G & Others''. 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 was married to the former member of parliament Matatumua Maimoana. Vermeulen was appointed an honorary member of the

Order of Merit of Samoa The Samoan Order of Merit is an order recognizing distinguished service in science, art, literature, or religion. Per the Honours and Awards Act 1999, admission into the organization is granted by the O le Ao o le Malo, presently Vaaletoa Sualauvi ...

in the

2014 Samoa Honours and Awards The 2014 Samoa Honours and Awards were appointments made by the ''O le Ao o le Malo'' of Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa and known until 1997 as Western Samoa, is an island country in Polynesia, part of Oceania, in the S ...

. On 13 February 2018 he was bestowed with the Knights Cross of the

Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to: * Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918 * Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium * Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...

in recognition for his work in medical and community development. This bestowal was made by his Excellency Marc Mullie the Belgian Ambassador to Samoa.

References

Belgian emigrants Immigrants to Samoa Belgian surgeons Living people Date of birth missing (living people) Samoan environmentalists Free University of Brussels (1834–1969) alumni Alumni of the University of Liverpool Year of birth missing (living people) Honorary members of the Order of Merit of Samoa Mataʻafa family {{environmentalist-stub