SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka has urged its members and supporters to give the new executive leadership of the Party time to sort matters out as Fiji enters the New Year and draws a step closer to the 2022 general elections.

In his 2021 New Year’s message, Mr Gavoka acknowledged the many discussions and “disappointments over the events that overtook the Party during this already difficult year”.

He noted the party’s suspension from Parliament, the internal disputes that occurred within the Party, the change in leadership, and the resignation from Parliament of the Leader of Opposition, Sitiveni Rabuka.

“Many of us were taken to the brink of endurance as is expected of human nature, when our hopes are tested, and we wonder whether things could get any worse,” Mr Gavoka said.

He downplayed the views of detractors of SODELPA being a “divided party in conflict” saying: “… The truth is, SODELPA is democratically structured. Competing individual and group interests is commonplace as it should be, and the party leadership is expected to deal with this and manage it as best we can.”

Mr Gavoka said the Party respected every member’s right to freely express themselves and object when they did not agree.

“So, as we enter 2021 and a step closer to the 2022 general elections, I urge our members and supporters to give the new executive leadership time to sort matters out and remain steadfast and engage fully in the process to help SODELPA and our opposition partners get over the line and form the new government in 2022,” he said.