SODELPA has hit out at its Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya as their exchange exploded into a fully blown war of words.

General secretary Lenaitasi Duru says it is obvious that Ms Tabuya is out to harm SODELPA’s image.

He adds that her outburst over the Kadavu Constituency Council row “is sad given her history of disregarding processes and procedures whereby her entry into SODELPA was marred by the suspension of her former PDP when it failed to comply with rules surrounding resignations.”

He says her actions then had also almost caused SODELPA breaches in law.

Ms Tabuya yesterday criticised SODELPA executives for not allowing Kadavu reps into the recent Management Board meeting because they failed to follow the constitutional requirements. She said she would continue to hold the party accountable until she was expelled. She claimed that more provinces could pull out as confidence in the current leadership dwindled.

Her remarks provoked a hard-hitting response from Mr Duru.

He said: “It is unfortunate that Hon Lynda Tabuya is choosing to portray a picture that SODELPA is unfairly treating Kadavu. The President for Kadavu Constituency was given branch setting forms that is aligned to the SODELPA Constitution.

“However, the Secretariat was presented with two (2) unsigned, handwritten documents purporting to be minutes of the Kadavu Constituency AGM. This is the level of unprofessionalism that Hon Tabuya is now championing.

“She is aware that during the suspension of the party, one of the issues directed by the office of the Registrar of Political Parties was for a copy of the meeting minutes selecting all board members be made available to his office for their future reference, given the various disputes of legitimate board membership in the past.

“The Kadavu Management Board representatives were informed by the party that all other constituencies around Fiji except Kadavu and Bua had filled the forms designed by the party during their branch settings and meetings. Kadavu would thus have to comply and use those forms when they have their constituency branches formalized so that their Management Board member can to sit in legitimately.

“SODELPA in the meantime is appreciative that Kadavu has a lot of well-educated people who in their professional lives have attained admirable standards of professionalism. “SODELPA therefore trusts they will understand the need for Kadavu to be professional and legally compliant to the expected processes as per the SODELPA Constitution.

“With reference to her media statement that other political parties have expressed interest in her joining them, SODELPA has no problems with that. “The party is aware that other MPs have also been approached by other parties, and we will respect their choice should they decide to join those parties or proposed party(ies).

“However, Hon Tabuya must note that her utterances are portraying a picture of her publicly that will only harm her own political career. Suggesting that SODELPA terminates her is unnecessary as she needs to leave if she wants to personally.

“SODELPA urges her to remember that members of the party are being hurt by her behaviour to destabilize the party. Unfortunately, these are voters who trusted her enough to vote for her. She should understand that when she joined SODELPA, she became marketable. That’s why she is in Parliament today. Had she remained with PDP where she received a little over 1300 votes in 2014, it can be argued that she may have not have received the votes she received in 2018. SODELPA was the springboard that catapulted her into Parliament, and she should remind herself of that while she is out trying her best to irresponsibly taint our image publicly.”