Suspended Party Shows Rabuka Where He Stands
The Holiday Inn faction of the suspended Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) has shown Member of Parliament Sitiveni Rabuka where he stands in the ranks of the suspended Party.
Yesterday, Mr Rabuka and his team waited for the meeting to start at Holiday Inn. That was not the venue. Was he deliberately misled on the meeting venue or was this his ploy to wait at the wrong venue to give the impression that he was not kept in the loop?
What will happen to those who oppose the Holiday Inn faction? Within caucus, the likes of Mosese Bulitavu and Ro Filipe Tuisawau will have to toe the line. If they don’t, the Management Board which is the support base of the Holiday Inn faction could use their Constitution to expel them. This will make way for the candidates who had failed to secure a seat in Parliament but are sympathisers of the Holiday Inn faction.
What happened behind closed doors?
When Mr Rabuka finally reached the right venue, he demanded that the caucus representatives be allowed to sit on the Management Board. Why did he insist on it? The reps are clearly supporters of the Kshatriya Hall faction which now seems to be led by Mr Rabukathey are Mr Bulitavu, Ro Filipe and Jese Saukuru.
Coming back to the question on why Mr Rabuka insisted that the reps be present at the meeting?
Was it a tactic to stall the filling of the general secretary position and to ultimately get the suspended Party deregistered?
One thing became very clear when Tanya Waqanika informed Mr Rabuka that his demands would not be met.
What many do not know is that after Mr Rabuka and his followers left the venue, considerable discussion took place about his role in creating a ruckus in the morning. Some were also of the view that the Board go ahead to appoint another leader but this idea did not gain much traction. Ro Teimumu Kepa was nominated to be on the suspended Party’s constitution review committee. After some drama there, she withdrew her name. Lawyer Sainiana Radrodro was nominated on the committee as well. It is understood that her name was confirmed late yesterday afternoon.
One major issue that was not given enough attention was how the Holiday Inn faction once again failed to follow their Constitution and appointed an acting treasurer. Their Constitution says that position should also be advertised. This is the second time this faction has acted without full knowledge of the suspended party’s workings and have time and again relied on the Registrar of Political Parties to tell them what their very own Constitution says.
What is Vitivou?
On the side-line, considerable discussion took place about this elusive Vitivou. Some spoke at length that Mr Rabuka’s act was to lay the foundation of VitiVou, seeing that he and his faction are getting increasing support from their voters. Some suggested that this is a political party that Mr Rabuka and his supporters are planning on forming.
Many are of the view that given the humiliating manner in which Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu was treated at the last meeting, and the manner in which Mr Rabuka was treated yesterday, it showed that the Holiday Inn faction have got their ducks in a line and are also preparing for any attempts to split the suspended Party.