SODELPA has internal divisions and the FijiFirst has the upper hand - Bulitavu

SODELPA MP, Mosese Bulitavu who is awaiting the Speaker’s decision after the party’s request for Bulitavu’s seat to be vacated from Parliament, says SODELPA has internal divisions and the FijiFirst has the upper hand going into the next elections when it comes to governance, service delivery and accountability.

General Secretary of SODELPA, Lenaitasi Duru has revealed that the Party Secretariat, through the Management Board is also following up on the party’s constitutional provisions to seek Bulitavu’s expulsion from the SODELPA.

Duru says this is consequential to Bulitavu’s blatant disregard for a party directive to its Members of Parliament in relation to the party stand on Bill 17 and the 2021/2022 National Budget.

Bulitavu had supported the 2021/2022 National Budget and the Bill to Amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act in Parliament.

He has told Legend FM News that there was no party instruction for all SODELPA MPs to oppose the National Budget and Bill 17 when he spoke on Monday.

Bulitavu says even the whole of the SODELPA caucus did not raise any objections to the National Budget during the voting on Thursday.

Bulitavu says he is waiting for due process to take place according to the party’s constitution, and not just a letter to be sent to the Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau for his parliamentary seat to be vacated.

He says the investigation has to be done first and the findings and recommendations can then be given to the Speaker.

Bulitavu says the investigation should prove the arrival of the party instruction and whether Bulitavu had knowledge of the instruction.

He has written to the Speaker responding to SODELPA’s claims and highlighting that no due process has been followed.

Bulitavu has also written to the Registrar of Political Parties about SODELPA not complying with the code of conduct section of the Political Parties Act for them to practice natural justice.

He also says it is concerning for SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka to say that FijiFirst should give Bulitavu a ticket for the next general election.

Bulitavu says looking at the way his own party is doing things at the moment, the FijiFirst definitely has the upper hand going into the 2022 general elections.