Statement
[80/12/8/2015]
Leader of the Opposition responds to Hon Bulitavu claims
Firstly, I want to reassure all SODELPA members and supporters that SODELPA is not only stable; it is here for the long haul, with its eyes fixed firmly on forming the government of Fiji.
It is unfortunate that Hon Bulitavu has chosen to collaborate with Fiji First's propaganda arm the Fiji Sun to criticise my leadership and smear me and other officials. For reasons only he can explain, he has unjustifiably endeavoured to stir up a crisis with the eager assistance of the Fiji Sun. In the end he has only succeeded in creating a crisis for himself.
Attempts by the propagandists at the Fiji Sun and Hon Bulitavu to create a wedge between me and the Tui Cakau, the SODELPA president, will not succeed. The Tui Cakau has pledged his support for my leadership and I have pledged my support for his. We are fortunate as leaders of SODELPA to have many dedicated and loyal supporters and officials to help us steer the party through the turbulence of the present and the future. They stand with us in our struggle for restoration of stability, freedom and authentic democracy for all the long-suffering people of Fiji, and in our local and international campaign for just recognition of the full rights, defining traditions and legitimate aspirations of our Indigenous community.
The Tui Cakau and Hon Niko Nawaikula, who are in Australia, have made known their positions on the “crisis” contrived by Hon Bulitavu and the Fiji Sun.
Two grievances are currently lodged with the Management Board of the party. One is from Hon Bulitavu and the members who co-signed his complaint. The other is from our Principal Administrative Officer, Mr Beddoes. The Management Board is now obliged to follow disciplinary procedures as laid down in our Party Constitution. I will not, therefore, comment on the specifics involved in order to allow the process to take its course.
Hon Bulitavu's threat to resign on Friday is a matter for him. Under the current electoral system, any resignation by a Member of Parliament does not result in a by-election; the vacant seat will simply go to the candidate in our party with the next highest number of votes. We have about 30 candidates on our list who can step in and fill any vacancies that arise from resignations. If Hon Bulitavu resigns, the Electoral Commission will initiate the process for his seat to go to the next person in line. This is Ratu Yavala Kubuabola, a highly qualified former Minister of Finance.
In the meantime I ask our supporters and members to please be patient and allow our Management Board the opportunity to carry out its responsibilities in this matter so that the truth is established.
Authorized By
Ro Teimumu Kepa
[80/12/8/2015]
Leader of the Opposition responds to Hon Bulitavu claims
Firstly, I want to reassure all SODELPA members and supporters that SODELPA is not only stable; it is here for the long haul, with its eyes fixed firmly on forming the government of Fiji.
It is unfortunate that Hon Bulitavu has chosen to collaborate with Fiji First's propaganda arm the Fiji Sun to criticise my leadership and smear me and other officials. For reasons only he can explain, he has unjustifiably endeavoured to stir up a crisis with the eager assistance of the Fiji Sun. In the end he has only succeeded in creating a crisis for himself.
Attempts by the propagandists at the Fiji Sun and Hon Bulitavu to create a wedge between me and the Tui Cakau, the SODELPA president, will not succeed. The Tui Cakau has pledged his support for my leadership and I have pledged my support for his. We are fortunate as leaders of SODELPA to have many dedicated and loyal supporters and officials to help us steer the party through the turbulence of the present and the future. They stand with us in our struggle for restoration of stability, freedom and authentic democracy for all the long-suffering people of Fiji, and in our local and international campaign for just recognition of the full rights, defining traditions and legitimate aspirations of our Indigenous community.
The Tui Cakau and Hon Niko Nawaikula, who are in Australia, have made known their positions on the “crisis” contrived by Hon Bulitavu and the Fiji Sun.
Two grievances are currently lodged with the Management Board of the party. One is from Hon Bulitavu and the members who co-signed his complaint. The other is from our Principal Administrative Officer, Mr Beddoes. The Management Board is now obliged to follow disciplinary procedures as laid down in our Party Constitution. I will not, therefore, comment on the specifics involved in order to allow the process to take its course.
Hon Bulitavu's threat to resign on Friday is a matter for him. Under the current electoral system, any resignation by a Member of Parliament does not result in a by-election; the vacant seat will simply go to the candidate in our party with the next highest number of votes. We have about 30 candidates on our list who can step in and fill any vacancies that arise from resignations. If Hon Bulitavu resigns, the Electoral Commission will initiate the process for his seat to go to the next person in line. This is Ratu Yavala Kubuabola, a highly qualified former Minister of Finance.
In the meantime I ask our supporters and members to please be patient and allow our Management Board the opportunity to carry out its responsibilities in this matter so that the truth is established.
Authorized By
Ro Teimumu Kepa
MP Mosese Bulitavu responds to Ro Kepa's comments: The Sodelpa President [Naiqama] has called me directly today and he has also called the Chiefs behind me especially Ratu Kilipati Vakalalabure with assurance that he will not only handle the grievances that now sit with the Management Board when he arrives next week, but he has also specifically directed me not to resign! The Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau has not spoken to her so who is she speaking to?"
PRESS RELEASE
I am heading the call of my Paramount Chief and the Head if the Tovata Confederacy the Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. I am not resigning despite the wishful thinking of the Opposition Leader and her team.
Given I had made a challenge for the Party Leader to step down as Opposition Leader and to have all her staffs vacate the Office of the Opposition or resign by tomorrow, the Sodelpa President has called me directly today and he has also called the Chiefs behind me especially Ratu Kilipati Vakalalabure with assurance that he will not only handle the grievances that now sit with the Management Board when he arrives next week, but he has also specifically directed me not to resign! The Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau has not spoken to her so who is she speaking to?
It is indeed ironic that the Opposition Leader believes in lies and illusions!
This is her exactly and I am glad the whole of Fiji will now see her true colors!
Instead of welcoming an investigation into the Gaunavinaka report, they are trying to derail from the situation and accuse me of creating this whole saga.
Whatever happens, I am under oath to the people of Fiji to uphold and serve them according to the principles of good governance, democratic rule and communication and wisdom.
Unfortunately I have seen nothing of the above in our Opposition Leader. All I have seen is her selfishness and her deceit.
Why doesn’t she wait for the Management Board? Leave it there!
BY MOSESE BULITAVU
Mobile no. 8371094
I am heading the call of my Paramount Chief and the Head if the Tovata Confederacy the Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. I am not resigning despite the wishful thinking of the Opposition Leader and her team.
Given I had made a challenge for the Party Leader to step down as Opposition Leader and to have all her staffs vacate the Office of the Opposition or resign by tomorrow, the Sodelpa President has called me directly today and he has also called the Chiefs behind me especially Ratu Kilipati Vakalalabure with assurance that he will not only handle the grievances that now sit with the Management Board when he arrives next week, but he has also specifically directed me not to resign! The Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau has not spoken to her so who is she speaking to?
It is indeed ironic that the Opposition Leader believes in lies and illusions!
This is her exactly and I am glad the whole of Fiji will now see her true colors!
Instead of welcoming an investigation into the Gaunavinaka report, they are trying to derail from the situation and accuse me of creating this whole saga.
Whatever happens, I am under oath to the people of Fiji to uphold and serve them according to the principles of good governance, democratic rule and communication and wisdom.
Unfortunately I have seen nothing of the above in our Opposition Leader. All I have seen is her selfishness and her deceit.
Why doesn’t she wait for the Management Board? Leave it there!
BY MOSESE BULITAVU
Mobile no. 8371094
Ratu Naiqama’s lawyers want audio recording in which he allegedly made derogatory comments against the Speaker leading to his suspension from Parliament; case listed for mention on 29 September
Suspended parliamentarian, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s lawyers have asked the Suva High Court if civil procedure rules can be invoked to find and produce the audio recording which had Ratu Naiqama making derogatory comments.
Ratu Naiqama’s Queens Counsel, Julian Moti says they have never had the opportunity to listen to the audio recording.
He says the audio recording should be made available if they may need to visit it.
QC Moti has also given an invitation to the Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma if they could have discussions to agree on some facts.
However, QC Moti says they are unlikely to consent to the proposed derailment of Ratu Naiqama’s constitutionally guaranteed application for redress.
He says they are inclined to move the case along very swiftly and have proposed that everything is time tabled.
Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma has put forward a summon to strike out the application for constitutional redress made by Ratu Naiqama’s lawyers.
Sharma says it is important that the question of law which is formulated in the summon be answered first before the case is taken any further.
He then said that the court has to satisfy its jurisdiction first before going into the substantive matter of deciding whether any of Ratu Naiqama’s rights were infringed.
Chief Justice, Anthony Gates says he does not want this to be a case where when they look back there was not enough material.
The case will be called for mention on the 29th of next month. Source: Fijivillage News
Ratu Naiqama’s Queens Counsel, Julian Moti says they have never had the opportunity to listen to the audio recording.
He says the audio recording should be made available if they may need to visit it.
QC Moti has also given an invitation to the Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma if they could have discussions to agree on some facts.
However, QC Moti says they are unlikely to consent to the proposed derailment of Ratu Naiqama’s constitutionally guaranteed application for redress.
He says they are inclined to move the case along very swiftly and have proposed that everything is time tabled.
Solicitor General, Sharvada Sharma has put forward a summon to strike out the application for constitutional redress made by Ratu Naiqama’s lawyers.
Sharma says it is important that the question of law which is formulated in the summon be answered first before the case is taken any further.
He then said that the court has to satisfy its jurisdiction first before going into the substantive matter of deciding whether any of Ratu Naiqama’s rights were infringed.
Chief Justice, Anthony Gates says he does not want this to be a case where when they look back there was not enough material.
The case will be called for mention on the 29th of next month. Source: Fijivillage News
CRIME, CHIEFTAINCY AND CORONATION: George Speight's co-treason convict Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure installed as the Vunivalu of Natewa!
RATU Rakuita Vakalalabure was traditionally installed as the Vunivalu of Natewa today. His installation will be the second in the vanua of Natewa following his nephew Ifereimi Buaserau Rakuita's installation last year, also as the Vunivalu.
The ceremony, held at Natewa Village in Cakaudrove, was attended by about 150 people.
Speaking at his installation, Ratu Rakuita said he would serve the interests of his people and the vanua adding that death would separate him from his chiefly position.
Ratu Rakuita was traditionally installed by elders of his own mataqali (landowning unit) Valenisau.
Mr Buaserau who belongs to the mataqali Valelevu was not at the ceremony.
But police and officials from the Cakaudrove Provincial Office were at the ceremony as observers. Source: Fiji Times, 19 August 2015; none of the news media mentioned his conviction; he was jailed by Justice Nazhat Shameem for six years (reduced to four on appeal) for illegally accepting and taking an oath of office for a ministerial position in the rebel government proposed by Speight.
The ceremony, held at Natewa Village in Cakaudrove, was attended by about 150 people.
Speaking at his installation, Ratu Rakuita said he would serve the interests of his people and the vanua adding that death would separate him from his chiefly position.
Ratu Rakuita was traditionally installed by elders of his own mataqali (landowning unit) Valenisau.
Mr Buaserau who belongs to the mataqali Valelevu was not at the ceremony.
But police and officials from the Cakaudrove Provincial Office were at the ceremony as observers. Source: Fiji Times, 19 August 2015; none of the news media mentioned his conviction; he was jailed by Justice Nazhat Shameem for six years (reduced to four on appeal) for illegally accepting and taking an oath of office for a ministerial position in the rebel government proposed by Speight.
