Former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase passed away this morning at the Oceania Hospital in Suva, following a short illness.
Confirming the death this afternoon, his traditional spokesperson, former newspaper editor Mesake Koroi said the former Prime Minister died at 6.10am.
“The Qarase Family with deep regret hereby confirms the passing of the former Prime Minister of Fiji Laisenia Qarase. Mr. Qarase passed away at the Private Hospital in Suva at 6:10am today, Tuesday 21st April 2020.”
“Mr. Qarase “being a village boy” will be laid to rest at his home village of Mavana in Vanuabalavu. Funeral arrangements are yet to be finalised.”
The statement explains Mr Qarase did not want traditional funeral protocols or reguregu to be carried out.
Mr Koroi said a family delegation had visited Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama to formally inform government of Mr Qarase’s passing.
The 79 year old is survived by wife Leba Qarase, their 7 children, 26 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Mr Qarase was the Tui Kobuca, the chief of Mavana village on Vanuabalavu.
A banker by profession, Mr Qarase was Fiji’s sixth Prime Minister.
He held the position twice from 2000-2006; the first time was in the interim government after the 2000 coup, on the appointment of current Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama who was then Commander of the military.
Twice after Mr Qarase was PM as a result of parliamentary elections in 2001 and 2006 before he was removed from power following the military coup of December 5, 2006. Mr Qarase is the first Prime Minister to have led a multi-party government.
He was educated at Queen Victoria School and Suva Grammar School before he studied Commerce at the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
In his early career, Mr Qarase served government in the Fijian Affairs Board, and in the Ministries of Finance, Commerce and Industry and Public Service.
As a banker, Mr Qarase was the first itaukei managing director of the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) from 1983 to 1998. In the 1980s he designed the formation of Fijian Holdings Limited to represent the itaukei in the business sector.
He was chairman of the country’s first television company; Fiji Television from its inception in 1994 to 1998. He was also head of the Fiji Merchant Bank.
Mr Qarase was awarded the Star of Melanesia by the Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, Sir Paulias Matane in recognition of his contribution to promote the interests of Melanesian people in the Pacific.
SUVA, FIJI – DECEMBER 05: Fijian Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase sits during a Kava Ceremony with his supporters after the Fijian Military placed the Prime Minister and his staff under house arrest during a Military Coup December 5, 2006 in Suva, Fiji. Commodore Frank Bainimarama has seized sole control in Fiji, and has assumed presidential powers after sacking the entire government, including the President, who refused to sanction the military takeover. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) 
TOKYO, JAPAN – JUNE 24: Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi shake hands during their meeting at Koizumi’s official residence on June 24, 2005 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by The Asahi Shimbun via Getty Images)
