GENERAL SECRETARY OF SUSPENDED SODELPA WILL

BE NAMED TODAY: ACTING PRESIDENT

The suspended Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) is expected to name its new General Secretary in a Special Management Board Meeting today.

SODELPA (in suspension) acting president Vijay Singh said there was an overwhelming response from interested parties that had put forward expressions of interest for the role.

This was after the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, disapproved of Emele Duituturaga’s appointment as the general secretary at the Special Management Board Meeting on June 18.

The suspended party then advertised the position on June 20.

Mr Vijay Singh said applications from interested parties had closed on June 24 and a five-member independent panel were in the process of assessing all the applications.

“I cannot name the five people in the independent panel as the party is in suspension, but I can say that they are a team of highly qualified professionals that we trust to do a great job in appointing a GS,” Mr Singh said.

“I am not fully aware of how many had applied and I cannot discuss any names but I have been told that there was an overwhelming response.”

Mr Singh said the announcement would be made after a successful candidate was chosen and approved by the Registrar. He had also confirmed that the post of Treasurer for the suspended party will be advertised today.

He said the party in suspension also faced a strand of financial difficulties and welcomed donations from party supporters.