Ratu Epenisa Cakobau dismisses allegations of tampering with results of interview

SODELPA President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau has defended the integrity of the procedures followed in the selection of the Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader, and dismissed allegations of tampering with results of the interview.

Ratu Epenisa is again calling on party members and supporters to respect the decision made by the Management Board on the appointment of Viliame Gavoka as Party Leader Filimoni Vosarogo as Deputy Party Leader.

He says the party constitution states that the Party Leader is appointed by the Management Board through a competitive, transparent and nationally recognised selection process, and that has guided the process followed.

Ratu Epenisa says the Management Board approved that the management of the interviews be outsourced to an external HR Recruitment Company.

He says the interview panel report was signed off with a cover letter signed by the Chairman and delivered to Ratu Epenisa on the afternoon of Thursday 26th November.

Ratu Epenisa says no other party or person was privy to the interview report last Thursday.

He says he announced the top two rated candidates for each of the positions and the Management Board voted.

The SODELPA President says the decision of the Management Board is final as they have the constitutional authority to make the appointment. He also says each member of the Management Board is accountable to their respective constituencies for the way they voted at the meeting. Ratu Epenisa says the only changes to the Management Board before the voting took place were caucus representatives who were approved by the Leader of Opposition and Parliamentary Leader Sitiveni Rabuka.

The SODELPA President says the Navosa Constituency representative in attendance in the Management Board was appointed by the Navosa Constituency Council as per the Party constitutional procedures.

He says with respect to the members of the interview panel, they were requested to submit their CV’s which were accepted in good faith.

The SODELPA President says the allegations relating to a member of the panel is an employment matter with a former employer and does not warrant a review of the interview process.

He says the party now needs to focus on strengthening their branches under the 28 constituencies; the National Youth Forum and the National Women’s Forum to ensure the members are fully engaged with the party at the local level.

Ratu Epenisa says he is asking party members and supporters to unite and support the new Leader and Deputy Leader and the party executives towards 2022 to secure the greatest number of seats in Parliament.