Reddy was an outstanding leader not only for the community but for the country - Patel

National Federation Party member Vinod Patel says the late Justice Jai Ram Reddy was an outstanding leader, not only for the community but for the country.

While speaking during the memorial service at Girmit Centre, Patel says Reddy’s political leadership lasted over 3 decades.

He says if we recall, the 1990 constitutions advocated positive discrimination against a community and this contributed to the widespread fear, and insecurity to the massive number of people migrating to other countries.

He says this situation deeply pained Jai Ram Reddy to see the helplessness of the people and it was time for the leaders to build differences to unite the community and walk towards reconciliation to peaceful means in making Fiji a better place for everyone including justice, equality and dignity through dialogue, discussions, multi-racial path and unity amongst the people of Fiji.

Patel says the 1997 constitution was the greatest gift from Jai Ram Reddy to the people of Fiji because, without him Fiji would not have formulated and approved the best constitution which gave equality, justice and dignity to the people of Fiji and kept Fiji's honour and respect internationally and the democratic nation with promises to uphold democratic values and principles in the government of Fiji.

He says the late Reddy left a legacy of leadership who moved with vision, courage, compassion, honesty, integrity and sacrifices.