Vasant Kumar Bunwaree (born वसन्त कुमर बुन्वरी on 7 April 1947) is a former

Cabinet Minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ' prime minister', ' p ...

Mauritius Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island country in the Indian Ocean, about off the southeastern coast of East Africa, east of Madagascar. It includes the main island (also called Mauritius), as well as Rodrigues, Ag ...

. He is more commonly known as ''Vasant Bunwaree''.

Early life, education & medical career

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. 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 Tropical medicine is an interdisciplinary branch of medicine that deals with health issues that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or are more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions. Physicians in this field diagnose and tr ...

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 Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (18 September 1900 – 15 December 1985), often referred to as Chacha "Uncle" Ramgoolam or SSR, was a Mauritian physician, politician, and wikt:statesman, statesman. He served as the island's only chief minister, first ...

National Hospital in view of starting permanent cardiac surgery centre in Mauritius.

Political career

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. He later joined the Mauritian Labour Party where he served as the

Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

and Secretary General. Dr. Bunwaree was also elected as a Member of Parliament in 1991, 1995, 2005 and 2010 in

Constituency An electoral (congressional, legislative, etc.) district, sometimes called a constituency, riding, or ward, is a geographical portion of a political unit, such as a country, state or province, city, or administrative region, created to provi ...

No 12, Mahebourg and Plaine Magnien. He was

Minister of Education An education minister (sometimes minister of education) is a position in the governments of some countries responsible for dealing with educational matters. Where known, the government department, ministry, or agency that develops policy and deli ...

from 13 September 2008 to December 2014. He had previously held the office of

Finance Minister A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfoli ...

from November 1996 to September 2000 and also

Minister of Labour Minister of labour (in British English) or labor (in American English) is typically a cabinet-level position with portfolio responsibility for setting national labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, traini ...

from 2005 to 2008.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunwaree, Vasant 1947 births Living people Ministers of finance of Mauritius Education ministers of Mauritius Industry ministers of Mauritius Labour ministers of Mauritius Members of the National Assembly (Mauritius) Cardiologists Mauritian physicians Militant Socialist Movement politicians Labour Party (Mauritius) politicians Mauritian Hindus Mauritian politicians of Indian descent