Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji

06/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/23/2025 16:41

ASSISTANT MINISTER LEADS DELEGATION TO FORMALLY INFORM PRIME MINISTER RABUKA OF MINISTER RAYALU’S SUDDEN PASSING-(14-06-2025)

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Tomasi Tunabuna, led a delegation to formally inform the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at his residence today of the sudden passing of the late Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Hon. Vatimi Rayalu.
Hon Tunabuna was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways, Doctor Andrew Tukana and heads of departments in the Ministry. Also in the Ministry's delegation was Mrs Vasiti Rayalu, wife of the Minister, and senior members of the family.
Presenting a tabua before the Prime Minister, Assistant Minister Tunabuna said staff and officials of the Ministry are in shock at the sudden passing of Hon Rayalu.
"He was a Minister who led from the front in developing agriculture for the benefit of a country he worked tirelessly for," said Hon Tunabuna.
"He was well loved in the Ministry, and he is dearly missed."
In his response, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed that the Coalition Government would take the lead role in the funeral arrangement.
"Honourable Rayalu was a humble yet visionary leader, whose dedication to improving agriculture will remain part of his legacy," the Prime Minister said.
"He served his nation with dignity, and his passing is a huge loss to Fiji."
Minister Rayalu died in Suva on Thursday afternoon following a short illness.
He was 57.
Originally from Vanuavatu Island in the Lau Province, the late Rayalu contested the 14 December 2022 general elections under the banner of the People's Alliance and was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Waterways on 24 December of the same year.
Before joining politics, he was a career civil servant serving firstly as an agricultural assistant in the Ministry of Agriculture's research division at Naduruloulou outside Nausori, Wainigata near Savusavu and Mua in Taveuni.
He later served as Principal Agricultural Officer, Director Land Resource Division and Director Crop Extension and became Chief Economist for four years.
When he was promoted to Deputy Secretary Corporate Services, the late Mr Rayalu was in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture's Human Resources Department, Economic and Planning Services and the Department of Finance. He also served as acting Permanent Secretary for Agriculture on several occasions.
A former student of Queen Victoria School, Minister Rayalu graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture from the University of the South Pacific in 2000, and a Master's in Business Administration in 2016.
He is survived by his wife, Vasiti and three sons.
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