NO APPEAL: RABUKA

BUT THREE OF THE DEFENDANTS HAVE LODGED DOCUMENTS IN COURT TO APPEAL

Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) will not appeal against the High Court judgment over governance issues. Caretaker party leader Sitiveni Rabuka said he would try to work on reconciling the plaintiffs and respondents in the court.

But three of the defendants Adi Litia Qionibaravi, Ro Filipe Tuisawau and Usaia Waqatairewa have decided to go against Mr Rabuka and filed appeal documents in court. The plaintiffs were served with a notice yesterday.

High Court Judge Vishwa Datt Sharma ruled that the annual general meeting held on June 28, 2019, at Yaroi Village, Savusavu was null and void, therefore invalid.

Mr Rabuka said although he had initially said the decision of the court would be appealed, he found that he was not personally affected and his position was still there. Mr Rabuka said he believed he could use his position to try to bring the factions together to sit and talk

without going through the court. He said he could take some actions in between the court ruling and the next annual general meeting and he intended to do so. He indicated that the appeal would cost

money and he would rather save it for the 2022 election campaign. “I will be needing a lot of money for the campaign. I am involved and my role involves getting the party ready for election and I need a lot of money for that, “he said. “At the moment, I know we are

running short of money and our contributions from the Members of the Parliament towards the party are just barely enough to maintain the party office going.

“My best interest and the best interest of the party from a financial point of view is not to have an appeal to drain party financial resources,” Mr Rabuka said.

He also said the annual general meeting would be decided later.