Ro Filipe, Adi Litia and Waqatairewa appeal High Court decision

SODELPA parliamentarians, Ro Filipe Tuisawau and Adi Litia Qionibaravi, and Usaia Peter Waqatairewa have personally filed through their solicitors, their appeal in the Fiji Court of Appeal against the High Court judgement pronounced on 23rd April 2020 by the Suva High Court.

Ro Filipe says service has been effected on all the respondents.

They believe the appeal will assist with Fijian jurisprudence and clarify the SODELPA Constitution, in terms of practice and application.

Ro Filipe says they will be responsible for all appeal costs and not SODELPA. He says their appeal grounds are strong, filed within time, necessary to clarify the SODELPA Constitution and need to be determined urgently.

High Court Judge Justice Vishwa Datt Sharma had declared that the AGM of SODELPA in June last year in Savusavu breached the party’s constitution and the 2013 constitution and the election of Ro Filipe Tuisawau as SODELPA President and Adi Litia Qionibaravi as the Vice President at the AGM were invalid.

Justice Sharma has also declared the decisions, resolutions and outcomes of the AGM of SODELPA in June 2019 are invalid.

The High Court Judge has also declared that all subsequent actions, meetings, resolutions, decisions, outcomes and directives of the management board following the AGM of SODELPA including the acceptance of Adi Litia Qionibaravi’s retrospective resignation and the appointment of Usaia Waqatairewa as the General Secretary of SODELPA are unlawful, invalid and ineffective.

He also says it is a matter for the financial members of SODELPA to elect or remove office bearers of SODELPA and further it is not a matter for the court to do so.

SODELPA’s Suva Constituency President Watisoni Nata, SODELPA’s Youth Wing President, Jope Koroisavou, the party’s Vice President of the Women’s Forum, Doctor Mere Samisoni, the party’s Secretary of the Women’s Forum, Emele Duituturaga, SODELPA Women’s Wing Lami President, Kesaia Makita and the party’s Lami Youth executive, Asenaca Ravulo had taken legal action against the party executives.

The legal action was filed against Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Anare Jale, Adi Litia Qionibaravi and Usaia Waqatairewa.