Ifereimi Vasu Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Ifereimi Vasu
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office8:Minister for iTaukei Affairs
Primeminister8:Sitiveni Rabuka
Term Start8:24 December 2022
Predecessor8:Frank Bainimarama
Office9:Minister for Culture, Heritage and Arts
Term Start9:24 December 2022
Constituency Mp10:SODELPA List
Parliament10:Fijian
Term Start10:14 December 2022
Predecessor10:Premila Kumar
Birth Date:[1]
Party:Social Democratic Liberal Party

Ifereimi Vasu (born ~1960) is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. He is a member of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).

Vasu previously served in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel.[2] He did not participate in the 1987, 2000, or 2006 coups, being in training or overseas at the time. Following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état he was appointed as commissioner for the Eastern District by the Bainamarama regime.[3] In 2011 he was appointed Corrections Service Commissioner.[4] [5] As corrections commissioner he oversaw the imprisonment of former prime minister Laisenia Qarase.[6]

In December 2015 he was fired as corrections commissioner and charged with abuse of office following an investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.[7] He was acquitted by the High Court of Fiji in December 2019.[8] [9]

In June 2022 he was selected as a SODELPA candidate for the 2022 Fijian general election.[10] He was elected to the Parliament of Fiji[11] with 1427 votes.[12] On 24 December 2022 he was appointed Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts in the coalition government of Sitiveni Rabuka.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vasu looks at options . Fiji Times . 15 June 2015 . 24 December 2022.
  2. Web site: ‘I am a clean man’ – Vasu . Fiji Times . Arieta Vakasukawaqa . 11 November 2022 . 24 December 2022.
  3. Web site: Colonels deployed for divisional administration . Fiji Sun . NANISE VOLAU . 25 August 2009 . 24 December 2022.
  4. Web site: Vasu is prisons chief . Fiji Sun . 28 January 2011 . 24 December 2022.
  5. Web site: Prisons chief ‘ready for challenge’ . Fiji Sun . LOSALINI RASOQOSOQO . 31 January 2011 . 24 December 2022.
  6. Web site: Fiji's Qarase released from prison this week . RNZ . 2 April 2013 . 24 December 2022.
  7. Web site: Fiji prisons boss sacked amid corruption charges . RNZ . 10 December 2015 . 24 December 2022.
  8. Web site: High Court Acquits Vasu And Kunatuba . Fiji Sun . Ashna Kumar . 19 December 2019 . 24 December 2022.
  9. Web site: Court acquits ex-FCS officers . Vishaal Kumar . Fiji Times . 19 December 2019 . 24 December 2022.
  10. Web site: SODELPA names another 12 candidates for 2022 General Election . Fiji Times . Timoci Vula . 7 June 2022 . 24 December 2022.
  11. News: Singh . Indira . 18 December 2022 . Top 55 confirmed . FBC . live . 24 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221218063858/https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/fijian-elections/top-55-confirmed/ . 18 December 2022.
  12. Web site: 2022 General Election: Vasu says will go wherever the party takes him . Fiji Times . 22 December 2022 . Arieta Vakasukawaqa . 24 December 2022.
  13. Web site: Siromi Turaga sworn in as new AG . FBC News . Apenisa Waqairadovu . 24 December 2022 . 24 December 2022.