The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party has been dissolved today and work has now started to set up a new party with the same initials to be known as the Social Democratic Liberal Party.
This is after a Special General Meeting at the Fijian Teachers Association Hall today where more than 100 supporters were present.
SDL patron and one of the founders of the party Ro Teimumu Kepa said this is the last meeting under the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Party as a political party.
She said under the Registration of Political Parties Decree, all parties have to have their names in the English language and they have no option.
She said the main purpose of the meeting today was to voluntarily wind up the assets and liabilities of the party and to dissolve the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua.
Ro Teimumu said this step has to be taken based on the current circumstances.
She said the challenge now is to form a new party under the Political Parties Decree.
The proposed Social Democratic Liberal Party will need 5,000 registered members who are also registered voters.
Ratu Jone Kubuabola said after they have secured the members’ signatures, a meeting will be called to appoint the executives of the proposed Social Democratic Liberal Party.
With the voluntary winding up of the assets and liabilities, the proposed SDL has time beyond the February 14th deadline as it is not re-registering as the old SDL.
However, the old SDL has to ensure that it does not hold itself out to be a party after the deadline and has to wind up.
If they fail to do that, then under the decree the party will be wound up.
The proposed party will only exist as a party when it is given the official registration by the Registrar after meeting all the requirements.
Story by: Vijay Narayan & Watisoni Butabua
Feature
The new SDL revealed while the old SDL dissolved
