Former Director of Immigra­tion Nemani Vuniwaqa has died at the age of 48.

The news of his passing was con­firmed to the Fiji Sun by Mr Vuni­waqa’s brother Isikeli Vuniwaqa yesterday.

According to his brother, Mr Nem­ani Vuniwaqa had succumbed to an illness he had been battling for some time.

Tributes to remember the life of the former civil servant and of­ficer in the Republic of Fiji Mili­tary Forces flooded social media yesterday describing the late Mr Vuniwaqa as a man who was com­mitted to his work, loved his family and one who was always willing to make time for everyone who needed his help.

Mr Isikeli Vuniwaqa said he had rushed his late brother to the Co­lonial War Memorial Hospital on Saturday morning, however doc­tors had pronounced him dead on arrival.

He said the family was mourning over the loss of a humble man, one who would always put the needs of others before his own.

He added that the family was gath­ering at his house in Cunningham Stage One yesterday to finalise fu­neral plans and preparations with an announcement expected to be made later today.

The late Mr Nemani Vuniwaqa had served in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces for almost two dec­ades before his stint in the civil ser­vice for 10 years.

Mr Vuniwaqa was appointed to the Director Immigration position in March, 2009 when he was a Ma­jor in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

He had served in the director’s po­sition until December 2019.

In 2020, was made a recipient of the Fiji 50th Anniversary of Inde­pendence Commemorative medal.

The late Mr Vuniwaqa is sur­vived by his three children and one granddaughter.

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