Fiji will always remember New Zealand’s former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves, known as the “father of Fiji’s Constitution”.
That was the sentiment of Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama as he paid his last respects to the man regarded as New Zealand’s greatest statesman.
“It was with great sadness that I learnt of the passing of the former governor general of New Zealand, Sir Paul Reeves, on Sunday, August 14. Sir Paul Reeves will be remembered by the nation of Fiji,” Commodore Bainimarama said in a statement.
Speaking to his New Zealand counterpart, Commodore Bainimarama said despite Sir Paul passing, the former governor general would be remembered by the people of Fiji.
Sir Paul died aged 78 after losing his longstanding battle with cancer. Sir Paul’s ties to Fiji began in 1995 when he chaired the Constitution Review Commission until 1997.
He was instrumental in Fiji’s readmission to the Commonwealth until its suspension in 2000. Sir Paul’s last visit to Fiji was in 2007 when he held talks with current Government officials on issues that arose in 2006.
Apart from his many credentials in New Zealand, Vanuatu, Israel and South Africa, Sir Reeves is also a Companion of the Order of Fiji.
His funeral will be held in Auckland on Thursday.