Gavoka rubbishes claims by long time SODELPA campaigner that the leadership is getting cozy with the govt

SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka has rubbished claims by long time party campaigner and member, Joni Rayawa who says SODELPA’s vision, values and principles may have been compromised by the current party leadership in its recent actions, including planting trees with the Attorney General, and cozy photographs of the General Secretary Emele Duituturaga with the Minister for Education.

Rayawa is also a plaintiff who has filed legal proceedings in the Suva High Court in December 2020 to set aside the results of the SODELPA’s Special General Meeting held on 25th July 2020.

He says many financial members are very concerned whether the current SODELPA leadership has compromised its philosophies and principles.

Gavoka says he was contacted by a youth group from Caubati to visit his village in Cuvu and plant some trees.

He says the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum took some photos with them when he turned up to visit the village with Gavoka’s grandchildren while they were all planting trees.

The SODELPA Leader says Rayawa’s claims are laughable.

Gavoka has also rubbished Rayawa’s claims that the Government paid for the trip of the SODELPA leadership to Vanua Levu to distribute relief items today.

The SODELPA Leader says this is misleading as SODELPA had done a fundraising drive but worked with the government as they did not want to duplicate the assistance.

Rayawa says he believes SODELPA is committed to a bipartisan approach in the formulation and implementation of a policy based framework on consensus and collective agreement that will support the development of the nation as a whole, rather than buying votes or providing selective support.

He says he wants to remind the current leadership that SODELPA is not an NGO and the Leader and General Secretary do not dance to the tune of the FijiFirst.

Rayawa goes on to say that the picture painted is very confusing and upsetting to SODELPA supporters.

He says the bipartisan approach is crucially required on important national challenges like COVID-19 or the plight of the sugar industry but when it comes to cyclone relief, other Opposition parties have organized their own direct relief with no need for photo opportunities with the ruling party.