31 Mar 2003

Offical day of mourning for American Samoa's Governor to be held April 1st

7:18 am on 31 March 2003

American Samoa's acting Governor, Togiola Tulafono, has declared April the first an official day of mourning throughout the territory following the sudden death of the Governor, Tauese Sunia.

The government has also given details of three memorial services to be held next week.

The 61 year old Governor suffered a cardiac arrest and died during a flight to Honolulu on last Thursday.

His body is to be returned to American Samoa tomorrow night.

Tula-fono said the annual Flag Day celebrations, scheduled to be held in the middle of April, will be postponed to coincide with the US Independence Day holiday in July.