The People’s Alliance (PA) leaders have treated the party like a village shop. How can they run the Fiji Government?

These were the remarks posed by the party’s former Nadi district branch president, Abel Camillo, after he resigned from the party on Monday.

He shared his disappointment about the leadership of the party as the reason for his resignation.

“They have treated the party like a village,” he said.

“There was abuse of money from the youth during the launch in Nawaka.”

Mr Camilo said he was invited to the party by the late Na Momo Levu na Tui Nawaka, Ratu Asaeli Driu.

“When he died, everything went sideways. He initially agreed for me to take the post of president because I am a Rotuman in the vanua of Nadi,” he said.

“Another reason for my resignation is the lack of communication between Mr Rabuka and his members.”

“Today I learned from someone overseas that they didn’t choose me because my uncle, Dr John Fatiaki from NFP (National Federation Party), will stand. Rabuka has let me down,” he said.

“The Tui Nadi, Ratu Vuniani Navuniuci, who is president of the party, was disappointed with the selection of candidates. When we had a meeting in Narewa, Tui Nadi was not present.”

“He was disappointed with the selection of candidates.”

“We don’t even know who the selectors are and nor the selection criteria. I know I met the criteria.”

He said there were a few people nominated as candidates who did nothing for Nadi district.

“It was like a family friend and rich people kind of arrangement. Mr Ditoka and Mr Kamikamica didn’t listen to me.”

“There was too much interference from the vice president regional, Salacieli Rawalui in my role as the president of Nadi. Basically they didn’t respect my role as a Rotuman holding the post of president of Nadi District in Nadi.”

Mr Camillo claimed there was no respect in certain elements of the party.

“The women and the executives didn’t respect the decision of the youth to appoint myself,” he said.

“I was appointed as an interim and we went to the AGM, I was reappointed again by forum. But still there was no respect from certain elements inside.”

“They also didn’t respect Lynda Tabua in the decision making of the party. She is the star of PA.”

“I also resigned because they didn’t give the post to Vijay Lal, the president of Ba, despite all the hard work. We felt that we were used.”

“In my last communication, I told Mr Rabuka that he could no longer look after Rotuma and that is why I resigned. I said Rotuma will look after itself and I don’t trust him.”

He added: “When the party started to progress, some business people came in and interfered in the selection process and also interfered in the party decision making.”

He claimed he also asked for a regional meeting and it did not happen.

“The District SGM, the Regional SGM and the National SGM did not follow the PA constitution.”

“They ran the party like a village shop and how can they run the Fiji Government,” he added.

Rabuka Responds To Claims

Responding to the claims, Mr Rabuka said: “Mr Camillo was an applicant, and they were subjected to all the interviews, pre-interviews, selections, and shortlisting.”

“He was appointed president for Nadi and now we have to find a new president.”

Mr Rabuka also refuted claims that members of the business community were involved in the selection process.

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