The Management Board of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) in suspension, will always have the final say, says the suspended party’s president Vijay Singh.

He was responding to Fiji Sun’s questions on social media postings. The postings say that the outsourced recruitment company, Maxumise, (which had assessed applications of the position of general secretary) had recommended Pio Tabaiwalu as the best candidate for the position.

Social media postings on Saturday night claimed that since Emele Duituturaga was not the top candidate recommended by Maxumise, the most equitable, democratic and transparent process to adopt for appointing the secretary-general, was for the Management Board to allow itself the opportunity to interview all the candidates who were recommended.

Mr Singh confirmed that Mr Tabaiwalu was the candidate recommended by the recruitment firm.

However, he had also confirmed that Maxumise had shortlisted three candidates from the applications received.

The three that were shortlisted for the position included Usaia Waqatairewa, Mr Tabaiwalu and Ms Duituturaga.

Mr Singh remained adamant that the Management Board would always have the final say with issues pertaining to the suspended party during the Management Board meeting.

He added the votes of board members had the final say on Saturday and the majority had voted Ms Duituturaga to the position.

Ms Duituturaga was appointed to the role after the Management Board members, who were present during the meet on Saturday, voted for her unanimously.

Ms Duituturaga had also said that her appointment was a nationally recognised practice and it was unfortunate that the other members of the Management Board were not in the room.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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