Suspension against SODELPA lifted

Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem has confirmed that Emele Duituturaga has been approved as the General Secretary of SODELPA and he has also declared that the suspension against SODELPA is lifted.

However there is also confirmation that Party Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka did not sign the application for Duituturaga to become the registered officer of SODELPA.

SODELPA Party Leader Sitiveni Rabuka

Saneem confirms that 3 of the 4 required executives had signed off for Duituturaga’s appointment and only Sitiveni Rabuka had not signed off on this.

The Registrar says the 3 signatures of Acting President Vijay Singh and Acting Vice Presidents Ratu Epenisa Cakobau and Ratu Jone Lesuma are sufficient for the appointment to be approved and recognized.

SODELPA Vice Presidents Ratu Epenisa Cakobau and Ratu Jone Lesuma

Saneem says that objections were also received by unsuccessful General Secretary candidates, Pio Tabaiwalu and Usaia Waqatairewa however the Registrar says this is an employee issue and the party has to deal with the matter.

The Registrar says after assessing the party’s constitution and the requirements, he has approved Duituturaga’s name for the General Secretary position.

Saneem also confirms that SODELPA will have their Special General Meeting in Lami on the 25th of July as they had a deadline to have their AGM on the 30th of June.

Senior SODELPA Management Board members concerned about Rabuka approaching Saneem to appoint Adi Litia as GS of SODELPA

Saneem says Rabuka had attempted to get Adi Litia appointed

The senior management board members of the SODELPA are still concerned that Sitiveni Rabuka had a meeting with the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem last week where Rabuka had asked Saneem to reinstate Adi Litia Qionibaravi as the General Secretary of SODELPA.

Rabuka was confronted about this issue at the Grand Pacific Hotel on Saturday by Tanya Waqanika however he had denied that he had asked Saneem to reinstate Adi Litia Qionibaravi.

Adi Litia Qionibaravi at the SODELPA special management board meeting at the GPH on 27/06/2020.

When asked by Fijivillage today, Saneem confirmed that Rabuka had attempted to get Adi Litia appointed as the General Secretary of SODELPA although the position was advertised already.

There are also revelations that 21 members of the management board remained in the meeting room on Saturday and Rabuka and 13 others had opted not to be part of it. The 3 caucus members could not go in as the party was still suspended at the time.

It has also been confirmed that Rabuka and his supporters then went and met at his home after they decided to leave the meeting venue.

The management board members who did not go out with Rabuka are concerned that the party leader is causing a rift in the party and also did not make any attempts to get the suspension lifted. They are also concerned that the talk is growing within Rabuka’s group to try and break away and form another party.

Rabuka is yet to comment.