The late Minister for Agriculture and Waterways Vatimi Rayalu was farewelled at a State funeral yesterday, with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Cabinet ministers and senior officials paying their final respects at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva.
In his eulogy, Mr Rabuka said Rayalu was a “humble yet visionary leader”.
Before entering politics, Rayalu spent decades as a civil servant in the Ministry of Agriculture, rising through the ranks to become chief economist and later deputy secretary.
He was elected to Parliament under the People’s Alliance in December 2022 and appointed minister on December 24.
Rayalu died on June 12 following a short illness. He was 57 years old.
