Vatimi Rayalu
{{Short description|Fijian politician (1967/1968–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
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| name = Vatimi Tidara Tuinasakea Kaunitawake Rayalu
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| office = Minister for Agriculture and Waterways
| primeminister = Sitiveni Rabuka
| term_start = 24 December 2022
| term_end = 12 June 2025
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| constituency_MP10 = PA List
| parliament10 = Fijian
| term_start10 = 14 December 2022
| term_end10 = 12 June 2025
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| successor10 = Inosi Kuridrani
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| birth_date = {{Birth based on age at death|57|2025|6|12}}{{cite news |last1=Rabonu |first1=Lnoke |title=Minister Rayalu to be Laid to Rest on Friday |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2025/06/16/minister-rayalu-to-be-laid-to-rest-on-friday/ |access-date=16 June 2025}}
| birth_place = Vanua Vatu, Fiji
| death_date = {{Death date and given age|2025|6|12|57|df=y}}
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| party = People's Alliance
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Vatimi Tidara Tuinasakea Kaunitawake Rayalu (1967 or 1968 — 12 June 2025) was a Fijian politician, and Cabinet Minister. He was a member of the People's Alliance.
Life and career
Rayalu was from Vanua Vatu in the Lau Islands. He was educated at Queen Victoria School and the University of the South Pacific. He worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of Agriculture, rising to the position of Deputy Permanent Secretary.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/politics/former-magistrate-named-by-pa/ |title=Former magistrate named by PA |publisher=FBC News |author=Filipe Naikaso |date=10 May 2022 |access-date=3 January 2023}}
He contested the 2022 Fijian general election as a PA candidate{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2022/11/11/7-women-and-48-men-for-the-peoples-alliance/ |title=7 Women And 48 Men For The Peoples Alliance |publisher=Fiji Sun |author=Jone Salusalu |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=29 December 2022}} and was elected{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Indira |date=18 December 2022 |title=Top 55 confirmed |work=FBC |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ |url-status=live |access-date=24 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221218063858/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ |archive-date=18 December 2022}} with 2072 votes.{{cite web |url=https://2022results.feo.org.fj/Home/CandidateResults?Id=68&CandidateBallotNumber=240&Year=2022+Official |title=Vatimi Tidara Tuinasakea Kaunitawake Rayalu (240) |publisher=Fijian Elections Office |access-date=29 December 2022}} On 24 December 2022 he was appointed Minister for Agriculture and Waterways in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.{{cite web |url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/parliament/siromi-turaga-sworn-in-as-new-ag/ |title=Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG |publisher=FBC News |author=Apenisa Waqairadovu |date=24 December 2022 |access-date=24 December 2022}}
Rayalu died on 12 June 2025, at the age of 57.{{cite web |publisher=Fiji Village |title=Minister Rayalu passes away |url=https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Minister-Rayalu-passes-away-x4fr85/ |access-date=13 June 2025 |date=13 June 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2025/06/13/minister-rayalu-remembered-for-service-to-farmers-and-communities/ |title=Minister Rayalu Remembered for Service to Farmers and Communities |publisher=Fiji Sun |date=13 June 2025 |access-date=13 June 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{People's Alliance (Fiji)|state=autocollapse}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rayalu, Vatimi Tidara Tuinasakea Kaunitawake}}
Category:Year of birth uncertain
Category:Politicians from Lau Province
Category:University of the South Pacific alumni
Category:Fijian civil servants
Category:People's Alliance (Fiji) politicians
Category:Members of the Parliament of Fiji
Category:Agriculture ministers of Fiji
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