All is well in SODELPA

"All is well in SODELPA".

This was the response from both Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu and Minister for Education, Civil Aviation, and Tourism Viliame Gavoka when asked about the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) update during its break at the Civic Centre today.

Mr Vasu and Mr Gavoka are two of the three SODELPA candidates in Parliament.

Ba West constituency president Seremaia Tuiteci walked out of the AGM a few minutes after the meeting started this morning.

Mr Tuiteci expressed disappointment that agenda item eight of the AGM, which is "to appoint officers of the party as and when necessary," was not addressed as agenda item one.

Constituencies including Nadroga and Ba West have indicated their support for MrGavoka and insisted that he remain the party leader.

This comes amid a letter from the SODELPA management board earlier this week, demanding that Mr Gavoka relinquish the position of Minister of Education and facilitate the reinstatement of Mr. Radrodro.

However, only valid party members will be allowed to participate at the AGM, and membership was registered through the respective branches, not at the AGM venue.

Already, a number of constituencies, including Nadroga and Ba West, have indicated their support for Mr Gavoka and insisted that he remain the party leader.

Minister for Education, Civil Aviation, and Tourism Viliame Gavoka

But the SODELPA constitution is clear about the party leader application process. The party leader

is appointed by the management board through a competitive, transparent, nationally recognised selection process, before the second meeting of the General Assembly following the last general election.

Last month, the party advertised the role through the Pacific People Recruitment Agency. Only three applications were received. Mr Gavoka did not apply.

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