Focus on Working Committee meeting today as party moves after directive
The first attempt to kickstart SODELPA after the fallout from a court ruling begins today.
The remanents of the Working Committee, a body set up to do the leg work for the Management Board, the governing body, will meet at party headquarters in Suva. The meetIng will fill casual vacancies after the landmark Civil High Court ruling that last year’s annual general meeting atYaroi Village, Savusavu was null and void.
The Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, then removed president Filipe Tuisawau, general secretary Usaia Waqatairewa, Vice President Adi Litia Qionibaravi and others.
Adi Litia was reinstated to her former position as general secretary.
Mr Saneem has given the party Until May 22 to fill the vacant posts.
Caretaker party leader Sitiveni Rabuka has been given the green light to help facilitate the process.
As party staff scramble to organise today’s meeting, a new drama has surfaced. Some members of the Women’s wing are requesting that they be represented in the meeting to articulate women’s issues.
But it is understood they have been told by the party they do not have a seat because the appointment has to be made by the Management Board.
Their previous rep in the committee was the late Litia Maiwiriwiri, the former Women Forum’s president. She was appointed by the Management Board.
The Forum cannot nominate a rep directly to the committee, the women have been told. But the women are saying that this is ridiculous because they are not being given a chance to make their voices heard.
Adi Litia had not responded to queries when this edition went to press.