Rabuka vs Kepa: New Row breaks Out
THE GLOVES ARE OFF AS SODELPA LEADER CRITICISES OPPOSITION LEADER OVER STAFF OVERTIME DISPUTE
SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated the gloves are off when he criticises Ro Teimumu Kepa. Mr Rabuka told reporters in Suva yesterday that it was irresponsible for Ro Teimumu as a high-ranking official, to speak out on the staff members overtime row.
But Ro Teimumu has defended her position saying that what she said at the party’s annual general meeting at Namoli Village in Lautoka was for the SODELPA family. Although she did not elaborate, what she meant was that it was not for public consumption.
While the meeting was closed to the news media during the discussion, the Fiji Sun was still able to obtain some details.
The first official comments outside of the AGM from the party came from Mr Rabuka yesterday.
In doing so he has not only escalated the dispute, he has reopened old wounds. Ro Teimumu is understood to be upset over this latest incident. She has been working very hard to try to unify the different factions in preparation for the 2018 General Election.
At the party’s annual general meeting in Namoli Village in Lautoka, last Saturday, she spoke out about the serious implications of not paying overtime to party staff members even though it was not covered in their job contracts.
She understood there was no media present at the meeting and she spoke from the heart. There was no malice intended or attempt to undermine the party as suggested now by Mr Rabuka.
She understood that she was talking to the SODELPA family and her views would be received in the spirit it was intended for. In a family, members can be frank, open and candid.
But it now appears her comments have been misinterpreted to look like she was hurting the party.
For Mr Rabuka, his comments against one of the founders of SODELPA, are likely to have negative repercussions for the party.
Either his outburst shows his frustration that things may not be going his way or he now feels he has a big enough support to be able to flex his muscles and talk about Ro Teimumu like that.
Depending on who you talk to, there are conflicting reports coming out of Namoli Village. One report says the bulk of the members who attended the party AGM in Lautoka last Saturday came from Suva.
It is understood some of those in the West who promised the Rabuka-Lynda Tabuya camp they would be there did not show up. This might have been linked to the decision to drop a motion calling for two extra vice-presidents. The West had lobbied hard to be represented with a vice-president. In the end Vijay Singh was elected as the third vice-president and he is from Lautoka. The other report from Lautoka said Mr Rabuka and Ms Tabuya had enjoyed overwhelming support in the West.
In the latest Fiji Sun-Razor poll, Mr Rabuka has overtaken Ro Teimumu, jumping from 10 per cent to 13 per cent while she has dropped from 14 to nine per cent in the preferred prime minister stake.
As the sea-saw tussle continues in the polls, the two camps are now more polarised.
Mr Rabuka seems wary of Ro Teimumu’s growing threat in their battle for the most votes. His comments against her came out of the blue. He could have confined his statement to the overtime issue. Instead, he dragged her name in as if it would enhance his statement.
The Ro Teimumu camp is incensed with Mr Rabuka’s remarks. Whatever progress was made in the last peace talks is now lost.