Mosese Qionibaravi

Qionibaravi was born in September 1938.[1] He was educated at the Ratu Alifereti Finau Memorial Primary School and then Ratu Kadavulevu School and Queen Victoria School.[1] He subsequently attended the University of Auckland, where he earnt a Bachelor of Commerce in 1962 and a Master of Commerce in 1964.[1][2] After returning to Fiji, he joined the Central Planning Office as an assistant secretary, rising to become Deputy Chief Planning Officer by 1969.[1] In 1970 his wife Anaseini became Fiji's female Senator. He transferred departments to become Permanent Secretary for Finance in 1971.[1] He became a member of the Great Council of Chiefs and served on the Fijian Affairs Board and the Native Land Trust Board.[1]

In 1973 Qionibaravi left the public sector to become managing director of Naviti Investments.[3] In the same year he contested the Suva East by-election as the Alliance Party candidate following the death of incumbent Edward Cakobau and was elected to the House of Representatives.[4] He was re-elected in both elections in 1977 and was appointed Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1979 Birthday Honours, and in 1981 was elected president of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and became a Pro Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, a role he held until 1985.[1][5]

After being re-elected in 1982 elections from the Lomaiviti–Muanikau constituency, Qionibaravi was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism.[6] In late 1983 he was appointed Minister of Finance following the resignation of Charles Walker.[7] In 1985 he was also appointed Deputy Prime Minister.[8] Although he was re-elected in April 1987, the Alliance Party was defeated and he became an opposition MP until Parliament was dissolved following a military coup. He died in Sydney in September 1987 due to liver problems.[9]