Rabuka, and Duituturaga apologise to Party supporters
Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) Caretaker leader Sitiveni Rabuka and General Secretary Emele Duituturaga apologised to party members and supporters who were locked out during their meeting.
The party held their special Annual General Assembly at the Novotel Suva Lami Bay yesterday.
About 100 supporters, who came from Naitasiri and Nadi to attend the meeting, were refused entry because of the COVID-19 social gathering restrictions.
The supporters braved the rain as they waited for the meeting to end. Among members locked out of the meeting venue was SODELPA Member of Parliament, Inosi Kuruidrani, who refused to enter the meeting venue without members of his constituencies.
Party supporter, Ana Mataitoga, who was among the crowd, said it was unfortunate that the very people who supported the party during general elections were denied the right to be in the meeting and be given the opportunity to raise their concerns. Mr Rabuka said all 28 constituencies were represented during the meeting. “We had agreed with seven constituencies and if they had not arrived on time and are not able to fill in their slots, then it would go to another constituency,” he said.
Ms Duituturaga said the Management Board had determined that there was an equal number of representations of the 28 constituencies. “We had to weigh up a fair distribution and we had to be fair and do a first come first serve basis,” she said.
“We believe everyone has a constitutional right and we are so sorry that we couldn’t accommodate everyone. “We were given the permit by the Ministry of Health to accommodate only 200 people.”