SODELPA leader Ro Teimumu Kepa yesterday sought forgiveness from the former party president, Ratu Silivenusi Waqausa.

The Opposition Leader said she was sorry for “things that may have been done” that disappointed him.

She was addressing members at the party’s annual general meeting at Epworth House in Suva.

“I take this opportunity to thank the outgoing president, Ratu Silivenusi Waqausa, for his tremendous effort and sacrifices during difficult times leading up to elections in the execution of his task as president during our struggle for the return to democracy.

“He would be a hard act to follow, he is not here but there are things that we may have done to disappoint him. I would like to take this opportunity to seek his forgiveness. He is a very busy person that is why he is not here today.

“I also thank the management board, the national executive committee and all the coordinators and party workers in the western, eastern and central and northern divisions for all the work undertaken in order to move our political agenda forward.”

Ro Teimumu Kepa said the party had a lot of lessons to learn from the past nine months.

She said: “We need to take stock of what would be beneficial for the party and not for ourselves as individuals as we heard from this morning’s lotu (church service).”

He urged members to build relationships which would enable them to move forward with renewed strength.

The president, she said, was a very important position in the party.

“I urge all to choose wisely a leader that will provide a critical leadership role in steering our party towards the upcoming 2018 general elections.

She said if the party worked smart and strategically and start mobilising now they should become the next government.

“Team work and consultation processes are very critical for our party. Both the SODELPA caucus and party management and most importantly you the party members and our supporters who are our eyes and ears on the ground must work in sync. We must think and work together towards common vision, mission and goal.”

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