It was the first day at the SODELPA headquarters for newly-appointed general secretary of the Social Democratic Liberal Party, Emele Duituturaga.

This time around she did not have any problems getting access to the building. She was locked out after the first Holiday Inn management board meeting last month that saw her elected as general secretary. This appointment was rejected by the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem, who had suspended the party.

But yesterday, Ms Duituturaga has started laying the groundwork for a united front moving forward following the lifting of the suspension.

She said it was time to reconsolidate and plan the way forward.

There are still strong feelings between the two factions in the divided party. Ms Duituturaga acknowledged that there needed to be some consolatory process between the members of the party before Parliament sits on July 17 for the National Budget announcement.

“Of course we want to have a united platform when the budget comes in and I see it as part of my responsibility to be talking to different people in the party as SODELPA takes back its seat in Parliament,” she said.

Party workers were back at the headquarters in Denison Road after Mr Saneem lifted the party’s suspension on Monday.

“First day in office and obviously taking charge of the office, I’ve called the staff and I want to meet with them to get the establishment structure,” she said.

“I need to work on the accounts of the organisation and unfreeze the accounts in the bank since our suspension has been lifted.”

She said they would be paying a courtesy visit to Party Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, at the Opposition office in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Pio Tabaiwalu, who was general secretary in the lead up to the 2014 poll, said last night that he would not appeal the decision to contest the position.

“I want the party to move ahead as a united party, we do not have time to waste.

“I trust that the party is the right place and direction and we need to choose a Party Leader quickly as we need to prepare early for the 2022 Elections.”

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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