There is no denying it now – SODELPA is split.

Party Leader Sitiveni Rabuka admitted this. He said there was a need to resolve this.

It came after a day of drama with rival groups holding separate meetings.

Mr Rabuka attended one. His predecessor Ro Teimumu Kepa was prominent at the other.

“Yes, there is division within the party and that is why we are still working towards bringing the two factions together,” he said.

“It was agreed first of all to be held at the FTA, but we were told that it was going to be at the Holiday Inn, I don’t know how that came up.

“When I looked at the constitution of the party and who had called the meeting, I knew this was the legitimate one to go to.

“I’m sure the meeting in Holiday Inn went well too. My role as a mediator continues, I will have to have a look at the decisions they make and I will communicate the views of the two parties so that I know what’s going on in the other camp.

“The meeting here today (yesterday) resolves that I should continue in attempting mediation and we have taken onboard the upheavals we have had in the party and how we will be resolving that before the Annual General meeting in June.”

A day earlier Mr Rabuka had confirmed Holiday Inn, Suva, as the venue.

After a day, which started with confusion, ended with a confirmation from Mr Rabuka on what the future would hold for the party.

If the party fails to provide names to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, by Wednesday, there is a danger the party would be dissolved.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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