FORMER prime minister Laisenia Qarase was a man who inspired young Fijian leaders to build loving and kind relationships in the communities they served in.

This was highlighted in a tribute to the former prime minister by Leadership Fiji.

Leadership Fiji CEO Sharyne Fong said Mr Qarase left a legacy of positive experiences with the Leadership Fiji family in the years that he was prime minister.

“Good people die every day, yet not all of them affirm for us the goodness in humanity and leadership in the way Mr Laisenia Qarase did,” she said.

“When we look back on who he was and what he did, we can see that his passion for leadership drove the communities he lived in to be better than he found them, he also embodied the mantra of ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care’.”

Ms Fong said Mr Qarase’s humanity extended to his family, friends and anyone else who knew him.

“While we mourn the loss of Mr Qarase who was a great leader and son of Fiji, we also celebrate that his legacy will live on with our leadership alumni and fellows and all our leaders who he had inspired to do good for our communities.”

Mr Qarase died on Tuesday at the age of 79.