SODELPA MEMBERS WAIT IN SUSPENSE OVER POSSIBLE MOTION AGAINST BULITAVU
Because of the public uproar and hurt he caused, he could be sanctioned by Parliament and suspended.
SODELPA Opposition members of Parliament are waiting with bated breath about a possible motion against their controversial colleague Mosese Bulitavu.
Discussion on this issue has intensified within SODELPA’s rank and file in anticipation of the new Parliament sittings beginning today.
There is speculation that there might be a motion.
If there is something brewing on that front, the Government side is certainly keeping it close to its chest.
Mr Bulitavu could face the possibility of suspension from Parliament if the motion sanctions him for racist remarks that breach parliamentary standards.
The noise is mostly coming from the different groups in the Opposition camp.
The most worried group is the Vanua Levu bloc, of which Mr Bulitavu is a prominent and influential member.
He has been passionate about his role as a frontline advocate of the former party president Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, party leader and Opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka and the bloc’s interests. If he is suspended it will be a major blow to the strength of the bloc. But it will work in favour of the anti-Bulitavu group on Viti Levu. It is understood that it is waiting for Parliament’s action on this issue before it plans its next move. It has raised its concerns about several governance issues and also questioned the way officers were elected in the General Assembly at Yaroi Village in Savusavu in June. One way or the other Bulitavu’s racist and sexist comments have been widely condemned by people from all walks of life.
He labelled Indo-Fijian women as promiscuous and that was why they were attacked with knives by their husbands.
He said iTaukei women were lucky that they didn’t get hit with knives.
Women’s groups have called the remarks misogynistic, appalling and having no place in Fijian society.
The Women in Business group said the country should reject him and remove him from all processes of public life.
“We cannot allow our young people to hear from such men as we work hard to progress as a Country with equal opportunity for all,” it said. Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s use of the word “vulagi” could also be scrutinised in Parliament. Like Mr Bulitavu’s comments, Ratu Naiqama’s reference to “vulagi” parties also caused a public outcry. Most of the Indo-Fijians support the FijiFirst, National Federation Party and Fiji Labour Party.
The generic meaning of “vulagi” is visitor or foreigner.
Both the NFP and the FLP criticised Ratu Naiqama.
Expect to hear more of this in Parliament. Is it serious enough to warrant a motion?
The conduct of MPs is dealt with by the Privileges Committee. Under Section 134 of the Standing Orders, notice of a motion can be given to the Speaker, one hour before the sitting opens if it is not listed on the day’s Order Paper. No such motion is on today’s Order Paper
The Speaker may read it out in his communication from the chair. Then there will be a debate before it is passed or rejected.
If it is passed the issue will go to the Privileges Committee to discuss it and make recommendations. It may take a few days before the committee submits its report to the Speaker.
The Speaker will read the committee’s findings before the House votes.
It’s the same process that saw Ratu Naiqama suspended for two years for making derogatory remarks against the former Speaker, the late Dr Jiko Luveni in the last Parliament.