Clarke, George, 1932-

The British government had sent out town planners to Funafuti in 1960 to guide development of the increasing crowded urban settlement and in 1973, following a major cyclone, it constructed new housing at Funafuti. By 1993, when George Clarke visited Tuvalu to carry out his survey, the Tuvalu government was lobbying for new houses. George Clarke, is an architect and town planner by profession, who has worked as a consultant on human settlements for the World Bank, United Nations, AusAID and others.

He was concerned about the slumming down of Pacific communities and consequent health decay. His report addressses these problems and tries to stimulate cultural revival and eco-tourism. (George Clarke's father, William Clarke, had helped established the Bita-paka wireless station, near Rabaul, in 1924 and subsequently became Manager of AWA Australia-Pacific Radio, making many trips back to New Guinea.).