Deputy Prime Minister, Viliame Gavoka has been given an ultimatum by the SODELPA Management Board to relinquish his Education Ministry portfolio by tomorrow to allow incoming party leader and SODELPA MP, Aseri Radrodro to take up the ministerial post again.
SODELPA General Secretary, Viliame Takayawa confirms that Gavoka has been handed the letter from the management board to comply with the directive.
He only said that if Gavoka does not do this, they will move forward.
Takayawa says SODELPA wants one minister for one portfolio, and Gavoka has to comply based on what the management board wants as part of the coalition agreement.
He adds that based on their assessment, Radrodro did not breach anything when he was dismissed as Minister for Education.
Takayawa says the appointment of Radrodro as SODELPA Leader was unanimous and they have also agreed to appoint Ofa Swann as the party’s Deputy Leader. Gavoka did not apply for the party leader’s position.
Radrodro who now assumes leadership, is expected to get a think tank together and start plans for the 2026 general elections.
Takayawa says the management board has resolved that Gavoka is to relinquish the Education portfolio back to Radrodro, and focus on his Tourism portfolio due to the sluggish tourism forecast. The party leadership appointments are approved and will be announced at SODELPA’s AGM at 10am Saturday at Suva Civic Centre.
While Gavoka still holds the SODELPA parliamentary leadership, Takayawa says they have asked the 3 SODELPA MPs to collectively agree on the parliamentary leader and inform the party after Radrodro’s appointment as SODELPA Leader.
Gavoka had a meeting with Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica and Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad yesterday afternoon.
Rabuka has maintained to fijivillage News that he decides on ministerial appointments, and Gavoka will continue as Education Minister.
When questioned by fijivillage News on who he will support as SODELPA parliamentary leader, SODELPA MP and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Ifereimi Vasu says he cannot inform us as they need to sit down and discuss it.
Gavoka has not made any comments.
