Vasant Kumar Bunwaree (born वसन्त कुमर बुन्वरी on 7 April 1947) is a former Cabinet Minister of Mauritius. He is more commonly known as Vasant Bunwaree.[1]

Vasant Bunwaree
वसन्त बुन्वरी
Minister of Education
In office
13 September 2008 – December 2014
PresidentSir Anerood Jugnauth
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Preceded byDharam Gokhool
Succeeded byLeela Devi Dookun Luchmun
Minister of Labour
In office
5 July 2005 – 13 September 2008
PresidentAnerood Jugnauth
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Preceded byShowkatally Soodhun
Succeeded byJean Francois Chaumiere
Finance Minister of Mauritius
In office
16 November 1996 – 16 September 2000
PresidentCassam Uteem
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Preceded byRama Sithanen
Succeeded byPaul Bérenger
Member of Parliament
for
Mahebourg & Plaine Magnien
Assumed office
5 July 2005
PresidentSir Anerood Jugnauth
Prime MinisterNavin Ramgoolam
Personal details
Born (1947-04-07) 7 April 1947 (age 77)
Rivière du Rempart, Mauritius
Political partyMSM, Mauritius Labour Party
OccupationPhysician - Cardiology
Website[1]

Early life, education & medical career

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After completing his secondary education at Royal College Port Louis he worked as principal and teacher of private secondary school Collège Idéal in Rivière du Rempart for two years.[2] He then studied medicine in France at the University of Bordeaux II and was appointed "Docteur en Medicine" in 1977. He later specialised and obtained the "Certificat d'Edudes spéciales en maladies cardiovasculaires" in 1981. He also hold diplomas in Tropical Medicine as well as Human Cytogenetics. In 1982 he joined the government service as the first Specialist in Cardiology with the Ministry of Health and was posted to Victoria Hospital, Mauritius. As Cardiologist, Dr. Bunwaree was responsible for the setting up of a full-fledged ICU and Diagnostic Cardiac Unit at the Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam National Hospital in view of starting permanent cardiac surgery centre in Mauritius.

Political career

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Vasant Bunwaree's political career started in April 1987 when the Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth announced by-elections in Constituencies 12 (Mahébourg-Plaine-Magnien) and 13 (Rivière-des-Anguilles-Souillac). Jugnauth presented Vasant Bunwaree and socio-cultural activist Dhandeo Bahadoor of the Human Service Trust as candidates of the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). However these by-elections were not held as General Elections were held in August 1987, as a result of which Bunwaree was elected in Constituency No.12.[3]

He later joined the Mauritian Labour Party where he served as the Vice President and Secretary General. Dr. Bunwaree was also elected as a Member of Parliament in 1991, 1995, 2005 and 2010 in Constituency No 12, Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien.[citation needed]

He was Minister of Education from 13 September 2008 to December 2014. He had previously held the office of Finance Minister from November 1996 to September 2000 and also Minister of Labour from 2005 to 2008.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES". Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  2. ^ "Radjiv Bunwaree,Recteur du collège Idéal de Rivière-du-Rempart". L'Express. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2006.
  3. ^ "Dans la presse le 9 avril". L'Express. 9 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  4. ^ "BUNWAREE Dr Vasant Kumar". Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.