INSIDE: The fight within the Opposition
Ratu Epenisa Cakobau stood his ground and steadied the SODELPA governance discussions yesterday.
There was no going back. The SODELPA president made it clear from the beginning of the Management Board meeting in Suva that they wanted to turn a new leaf. Despite intense discussions on the legality of the ban against three board members to participate in official activities, it was decided that the ban should stay pending investigations.
The three, MP Adi Litia Qionibaravi, Lautoka Urban Constituency Council president Ratu Tevita Komaisavai and Gilbert Vakalalabure from Vanua Levu, were instructed by a letter from Ratu Epenisa, to stay out of yesterday’s meeting. They still went and sat outside hoping to meet the party executives to plead their case. But they couldn’t and went home.
The ban was imposed after their names were found on a list of recipients of an email sent by Mataiasi Lomalona, the chief campaigner for Sitiveni Rabuka in the signature hunt to register a proposed new party.
Their investigation will determine whether they breached the party’s constitution and the Political Parties Act. This is the first time that SODELPA has taken a hardline approach to dealing with disciplinary matters.
It is a warning shot to other rebels, members of the conservative right wing that they will be taken to task if they are caught working against the interest of the party. Mr Rabuka has made it very clear that the rebels need to make up their mind whether they want to join him or stay with SODELPA. If they want to join him then they must resign.
They cannot be members of SODELPA and do work for Rabuka’s proposed party. It is illegal and they would be expelled by SODELPA.
The dilemma that faces rebels like Adi Litia is that they would lose their parliamentary seats and their monetary benefits if they quit SODELPA. It is unlikely they would do it now and would wait for the end of the current parliamentary to jump ship.
Ratu Epenisa and his executives are pressing on to follow good governance principles. During the heated exchanges, a motion of no confidence was moved against him because of the manner he wrote the controversial letter to the three and four other board members.
Highlights from the meeting
Seven board members who got their letters will not be allowed to attend any committee meetings
Ratu Epenisa’s letter to the Speaker of Parliament on the election of Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu was upheld by the Management Board. The unconstitutional election of Ratu Naiqama has not been resolved.
Ratu Epenisa and general secretary Emele Duituturaga have been given authority to make decisions in between Management Board meetings. They do not have to keep going back to the Management Board for its endorsement
Report on party constitution review has been adopted. A highlight will be three party deputy leaders in preparation for the 2022 election, one to be a woman. So far there is only one deputy leader in Suva lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo.
With extra power, Ratu Epenisa is set to move the party forward on the basis of good governance.