Ro Filipe questions termination of 6 opposition parliamentary staff & funds paid into SODELPA account

Opposition Whip, Ro Filipe Tuisawau says the termination of the contracts of six opposition parliamentary caucus staff is an act of deliberate sabotage by SODELPA General Secretary, Lenaitasi Duru designed to undermine the preparations for the last sitting of parliament however Duru says these staff are still employed until the end of this week and will not be needed after the last sitting of parliament.

According to Ro Filipe, the six staff are Pita Wise, Vuki Qionibaravi, Aliti Bainivalu, Siteri Qaunavinaka, Seni Rosi and Jone Tuisawau.

Ro Filipe says these staff are appointed by the Leader of Opposition, who is a constitutional office holder and their contracts do not expire until Parliament is dissolved.

Ro Filipe says these are highly qualified and experienced staff providing high level policy advice and research for the debates and no one from the party office can just walk in and do their duties.

Ro Filipe adds they are also concerned that taxpayers funds given to SODELPA in the form of a grant from Parliament for the administration of the Office of the Leader of Opposition, has been used for the party’s election campaign.

He says it is surprising that the SODELPA headquarters is in financial difficulties given that the annual grant to the party from Parliament is $315,000 since the 2018 elections.

He is also asking what has happened to the $52,000 that has been recently paid into the SODELPA account from Parliament and is calling for a special audit into how these funds have been used.

When questioned, Duru says these staff were given 30 days notices informing them that their contracts will be coming to an end.

Duru adds there are other experienced staff who can meet the demand of opposition members during next week’s parliament sitting.

He also says SODELPA’s sponsors were affected badly during the COVID-19 pandemic and the grant is the party’s income.

Duru says the question is what they will do with the left over funds and whether Ro Filipe wants them to refund it to government.

Duru confirms the funds were paid into the SODELPA account however he did not reveal the amount. He says the money will be used to pay the salaries and other expenses of the work that will be carried out by party and opposition parliamentary staff.

Duru stresses the six staff in question are not opposition office staff but SODELPA’s staff of the opposition office.