Hundreds of people, including family members, government officials, and friends, gathered this morning at the FMF Gymnasium to pay their final respects to the late Minister of Agriculture, Vatimi Rayalu.
Rayalu started his career in 1988 as a Junior Field Officer at the Lautoka Sugar Mill, where he worked from 1991 to 1995.
He also worked for the Ministry of Agriculture as an Agriculture Assistant at the Wainigata, Mau, and Nadurulolou Research Station Division.
A representative from Vanuavatu, Lau expressed his gratitude to the government and Ministry for helping mould a Lauan son into one of the country's leaders.
A family member and cousin of the late Minister shared a brief family genealogy of Rayalu’s family and expressed the impact he has brought to the family.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Rayalu made a huge change in the Agriculture sector from 2023.
He says he was a big man with a big heart for the service to the people and the development of infrastructure for the farming communities.
Rayalu attended Queen Victoria School and was in the same House, Verata House, with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, MSME and Communications Manoa Kamikamica.
Kamikamica spoke on behalf of the Queen Victoria School Old Boys Association and shared that the late Rayalu had an interest in knowing his roots and family and teaching the importance of family history knowledge. Kamikamica says that the late Minister emphasized the importance of recognizing rural farmers and building an economical course of agriculture in Fiji.
He adds that Rayalu’s late father was a legend of his generation, William A. Dombat.
He also says the late Dombat was a flamboyant handsome young man, who worked in the private sector before becoming a Minister under the very young Honourable Prime Minister Rabuka at that time.
Rayalu was laid to rest at Suva Cemetery.
