A former cabinet minister and successful businessman in Samoa, Hans Joachim Keil, passed away yesterday afternoon in Apia.
Keil spent two of his three terms in Parliament as a member of the Human Rights Protection Party.
He served as Minister of Tourism, and also Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Keil also spent a term in the back benches and was chairman of the Parliamentary Infrastructure Committee.
He was also a very successful businessman and entrepreneur running several business operations in Samoa.
Joe as he was better known was part of the Keil family business that ran the country’s first lotto operations for almost two decades before government revoked their license.
Another of his successful businesses was the McDonald’s franchise which he brought to Samoa.
But he was forced to sell that and some of his other businesses due to failing health.
A business that is still operating produces coconut oil exports.
He also owned the now closed Hellaby *pisupo* and *povi masima* operations at Vaitele.
While he was a member of Parliament, Keil obtained a television broadcast license and started a commercial television statiopn, TV3, which he only relinquished earlier this year.
Hans Joachim Keil was also well known for his silent philanthropic work.
He is survived by his wife Celine and four children.
