EXPLAINER
Bid to remove Lynda Tabuya as Opposition Whip?
There are plans within the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) to appoint Member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu as Opposition Whip and to have MP Salote Radrodro as his deputy.
Those who watched the last Parliament sitting would have noted the chaos SODELPA side were in regarding who would be speaking on which motion and on their responses. Now, the SODELPA Parliamentary Caucus seems to put the blame of their poor performance squarely on Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya.
MPs critise Lynda Tabuya
During the week-long session, more SODELPA MPs were heard openly criticising Ms Tabuya. 17 out of 21 SODELPA MPs had already tabled a petition calling for the removal of Ms Tabuya as Opposition Whip, but she was not removed only because caretaker leader Sitiveni Rabuka backed her. Now, the Parliamentary caucus is determined that come November, they want the changes done. Ms Tabuya’s ‘term’ as Opposition Whip expires in November and this is when Mr Bulitavu is expected to be appointed as Opposition Whip and Ms Radrodro as his deputy. And, the SODELPA Parliamentary caucus has already taken steps to establish their online presence, away from the various SODELPA
Facebook pages which exist on Facebook. A page which was created on May 13, 2016 on Facebook, which was initially named Social Democratic Liberal Party Fiji was renamed on August 4, 2020 to Sodelpa Parliamentary Caucus.
Division still visible
While this page purports to be for all 21 SODELPA MPs, the only ones who are featured on the page are those MPs who are part of the Kshatriya Hall faction. There are no mentions of those who have supported Ro Teimumu Kepa or those who are supporting the Holiday Inn faction.
Since August 4, the only MPs who were featured were: Salote Radrodro’s statement delivered in Parliament, and three other updates shared from her personal page. Also shared were comments of MP Inosi Kuridrani, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, Dr Atonio Lalabalavu, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Adi Litia Qionibaravi and Mosese Bulitavu. Prior to the renaming of the page, the content was largely promoting the Kshatriya Hall faction.