A TECHNICAL error has been blamed for yesterday’s walk-out at the People’s Alliance Party’s Young Alliance annual general meeting in Suva.
More than 100 members who represented and travelled from Vanua Levu walked out of the meeting after their nominee, Salote Bulitavu, was not allowed to contest the president’s position.
The error, PAP general secretary Sila Balawa said, was a technical issue but according to the northern youths The Fiji Times spoke with, it was a communication issue.
“So when the meeting began, the general secretary stated that out of the five nominations for president, only one was validly received and this excluded our nominee Salote Bulitavu,” a youth member said.
“And so there was a bit of a dispute that happened in the discussion in there. So the whole of the CBM (Cakaudrove, Bua, Macuata) that supported Salote walked out.
“There was a good number of us. We had given her name via email to our headquarters but it couldn’t get through. But when we returned to the meeting, we advised Salote to withdraw her nomination, which she did, and then the general secretary, under the constitution could then throw the nominations to the floor to open it up.”
It is understood that Ms Bulitavu’s name was not initially accepted because her nomination, according to the party constitution, is to be given 15 days before the AGM.
But Ms Bulitavu, who hails from Kedra, Dogotuki in Macuata, is ready to lead the young members.
“I thank God for this opportunity, I am grateful for the support, I am 20 years old and we already have issues to work on,” she said.
“One of the issues brought to our attention by our young members is the selection of seasonal workers from villages. Some members told us that they have not had any recipients from their villages so we’d like to take this up with the ministry responsible.”
The other office bearers are: vice president Kava Fuata, secretary Manasa Navara, treasurer Neha Kumar. Committee members are: Central president Charlotte Rauca, Western president Leone Tagicakibau, Eastern president Saiasi Vakaloloma, Northern president Rapoama Raqi.
