Minister Rayalu Remembered for Service to Farmers and Communities

Tributes have flowed in following the passing of the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways, Vatimi Rayalu, who was widely respected for his commitment to farmers and rural communities.

Mr Rayalu passed away yesterday afternoon after a short illness.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed the news in a public statement, saying the government would honour the family’s wishes and traditional protocols.

“I wish to confirm that the Minister for Health, Honourable Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, has advised me of the sad passing of Honourable Vatimi Rayalu, the Minister for Agriculture and Waterways," Mr Rabuka said.

"I also wish to confirm that Cabinet and Government will respect the wishes of the family and his vanua in observing the protocols and customs relating to the sad and untimely death of Mr Rayalu," he said.

"Please keep Vasiti and the family in your prayers in this very sad and difficult time.”

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Alitia Bainivalu, writing from the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, reflected on her recent engagement with Mr Rayalu and the shock of his passing.

"Just last week, I had the honour of standing alongside him in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga, during the 10th Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (PHOAFS) Meeting. His sudden passing is deeply shocking and profoundly saddening."

She shared an account of Mr Rayalu’s approach to leadership and public service.

“I will remember the Honourable Vatimi Rayalu as a kind and steady colleague, a senior Cabinet Minister who led with humility, wisdom, and a deep sense of duty," Ms Bainivalu said.

"He once spoke to his staff with a message that reflected the kind of leader he was. He reminded us that many farmers travel long distances — some ride horses, some walk across rivers — just to reach an office, only to be turned away with harsh responses. He challenged that kind of attitude," she said.

"He believed that civil servants must serve — not excuse, not ignore. That if help was needed, we should pick up the phone, contact the right ministry, or even assist with transport. No one should be turned away.

"This was the kind of leadership he lived by — grounded, compassionate, and firm in principle. He was a champion for farmers and for the everyday  Fijians who work the land with little but give so much.

"To Mrs Vasiti Rayalu and the entire family, I extend my deepest condolences. May you be comforted by the strength of his legacy and the many lives he touched in service to our country. May he rest in peace.”

The Fiji Labour Party also expressed its condolences, describing Mr Rayalu’s dedication to agriculture and his connection with communities.

“Fiji Labour Party regrets the passing yesterday afternoon of the Vatimi Rayalu, Minister for Agriculture and Waterways. He was a hardworking minister, popular with the people he served. He was genuinely committed to promoting agriculture — seeing it as a means of alleviating poverty and other social ills.

"He had a ‘hands-on’ approach to tackling issues with the farmers in their farms as well as in their communities. May his soul rest in peace.”

Further details regarding official arrangements and commemorations are expected to be released by the government in consultation with the family.

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