Reddy has carved a niche for himself in Fijian history as an outstanding leader – Chaudhry

Fiji Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry says the late Jai Ram Reddy has carved a niche for himself in the annals of Fiji history as an outstanding leader and statesman and he will always be recognized for his contribution to the promulgation of the multiracial 1997 Constitution which replaced the racist post-coup 1990 constitution.

Reddy who was the former Leader of the Opposition, former Judge of the International Court of Rwanda, former National Federation Party Leader and former Attorney General, passed away yesterday.

Reddy was the Leader of the Opposition from 1992 to 1999, Attorney General in May 1987, President of the Court of Appeal in 2000, and 2002 to 2003, and Judge of the International Court of Rwanda from 2003 to 2008.

He was also the first Indo-Fijian to be invited to speak to the Great Council of Chiefs.

While paying tribute to Reddy, Chaudhry says as a National Federation Party leader and politician, Reddy will be remembered as a towering figure in Fiji politics for close to 30 years, serving as Leader of the Opposition on two occasions from 1977 to 1983 and from 1992 to 1999.

He says Reddy was a distinguished and respected politician, widely recognized for his moderate, accommodating stand on politics.

Chaudhry says he took over as leader of NFP at a tumultuous time in the party’s history in the late 1970s when it was driven by internal friction and power struggle, and ably rebuilt it into a unified, credible parliamentary opposition.

The former Prime Minister says he held Reddy in high esteem as a senior politician, leader and friend, and valued his advice as a trade unionist and in his early political career.

He adds regrettably, their subsequent political paths became more divergent and adversarial mainly on methods and approach, although their goals often remained the same.

Chaudhry has conveyed his deepest sympathy and condolences to Mrs Chandra Reddy and their children.