Mosese Qionibaravi
{{Short description|Fijian chief, civil servant and politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Mosese Qionibaravi {{post-nominals|CMG}}
| image = Mosese Qionibaravi.png
| office1 = Deputy Prime Minister
| term_start1 = 1985
| term_end1 = 1987
| successor1 = Harish Sharma
| office2 = Minister of Finance
| term2 = 1983–1987
| predecessor2 = Charles Walker
| successor2 = Mahendra Chaudhry
| office3 = Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism
| term3 = 1982–1983
| successor3 = Jonati Mavoa
| predecessor3 = Kamisese Mara
| office4 = Speaker of the House of Representatives
| term4 = 1977–1982
| predecessor4 = Vijay R. Singh
| successor4 = Tomasi Vakatora
| office5 = Member of the House of Representatives
| term5 = 1982–1987
| predecessor5 = Solomone Momoivalu
| constituency5 = Lomaiviti–Muanikau Fijian Communal
| successor5 = Seat abolished
| term6 = 1973–1982
| constituency6 = Suva East Fijian National
| predecessor6 = Edward Cakobau
| successor6 = Seat abolished
| birth_date = 10 September 1938
| birth_place = Fiji
| death_date = {{death date and age|1987|9|22|1938|9|10|df=y}}
| death_place = Sydney, Australia
}}
Mosese Qionibaravi {{post-nominals|CMG}} (10 September 1938 – 22 September 1987) was a Fijian chief, civil servant and politician. He served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1973 until his death, also holding the offices of Speaker of the House, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Finance, and Deputy Prime Minister.
Biography
Qionibaravi was born in September 1938.Fiji Focus, Department of Information, 1982, p13 He was educated at the Ratu Alifereti Finau Memorial Primary School and then Ratu Kadavulevu School and Queen Victoria School. He subsequently attended the University of Auckland, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce in 1962 and a Master of Commerce in 1964.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-332066098/view?sectionId=nla.obj-337456607&partId=nla.obj-332096479#page/n91/mode/1up People] Pacific Islands Monthly, March 1971, p90 After returning to Fiji, he joined the Central Planning Office as an assistant secretary, rising to become Deputy Chief Planning Officer by 1969. In 1970 his wife Anaseini became Fiji's female Senator. He transferred departments to become Permanent Secretary for Finance in 1971. He became a member of the Great Council of Chiefs and served on the Fijian Affairs Board and the Native Land Trust Board.
In 1973 Qionibaravi left the public sector to become managing director of Naviti Investments.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-337120689/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341041002&partId=nla.obj-337150728#page/n12/mode/1up Localisation backlash] Pacific Islands Monthly, December 1973, p11 In the same year he contested the Suva East by-election as the Alliance Party candidate following the death of incumbent Edward Cakobau and was elected to the House of Representatives.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-333237665/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338788837&partId=nla.obj-333239400#page/n7/mode/1up Rift in the racial lute] Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1974, p6 He was re-elected in both elections in 1977 and was appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1979 Birthday Honours, and in 1981 was elected president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and became a Pro Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, a role he held until 1985.[http://50.usp.ac.fj/ProChancellors.php Pro-Chancellors] University of the South Pacific
After being re-elected in 1982 elections from the Lomaiviti–Muanikau constituency, Qionibaravi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-340161634/view?partId=nla.obj-340184985#page/n12/mode/1up Fiji's poll of records: Most voters, most bitterness, most mud-slinging] Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1982, pp10–13 In late 1983 he was appointed Minister of Finance following the resignation of Charles Walker.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-339312752/view?sectionId=nla.obj-356404378&partId=nla.obj-339408320#page/n41/mode/1up Fiji's Finance Minister Walker resigns] Pacific Islands Monthly, January 1984, p42 In 1985 he was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335033025/view?sectionId=nla.obj-338969531&partId=nla.obj-335146247#page/n52/mode/1up Mara's double deputies intrigue Fiji] Pacific Islands Monthly, April 1985, p53 Although he was re-elected in April 1987, the Alliance Party was defeated and he became an opposition MP until Parliament was dissolved following a military coup. He died in Sydney in September 1987 due to liver problems.[https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-338165196/view?partId=nla.obj-338185109#page/n45/mode/1up Transition] Pacific Islands Monthly, November 1987, p46
References
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Category:People educated at Ratu Kadavulevu School
Category:People educated at Queen Victoria School (Fiji)
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:Fijian civil servants
Category:20th-century Fijian businesspeople
Category:Members of the House of Representatives (Fiji)
Category:Alliance Party (Fiji) politicians
Category:Speakers of the House of Representatives (Fiji)
Category:Deputy prime ministers of Fiji
Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George
Category:Tourism ministers of Fiji
Category:Ministers of finance of Fiji