Ifereimi Vasu

The Honourable Ifereimi Vasu MP
Minister for iTaukei Affairs
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 December 2022
Prime Minister	Sitiveni Rabuka
Preceded by	Frank Bainimarama
Minister for Culture, Heritage and Arts
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 December 2022
Member of the Fijian Parliament for SODELPA List
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 December 2022
Preceded by	Premila Kumar
Personal details
Born	1959 or 1960 (age 64–65)[1]
Political 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]

References

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