SODELPA leader Viliame Gavoka has refused to attend a workshop in protest against the decision made by the Speaker’s office to hold the full privileges of some of their MPs.
In a statement issued yesterday, SODELPA general secretary Lenaitasi Duru said the party was shocked to learn of the “discriminatory and biased decisions’, saying the “repulsive action of the Speaker queations the independence of his Office in conducting the affairs of the Parliamentary office and recognising the principles of the Rule of Law in the presumption of innocence until proven guilty”.
“Although 11 of our members are under FICAC investigations relating to alleged breaches of the Parliamentary Remuneration Act of 2014, the Secretariat wishes to advise the Speaker that our SODELPA parliamentarians should continue relishing their privileges until they cease their term in Parliament.”
Mr Duru said the Party leader boycotted the workshop as a matter of principle in recognising that any public servant in Fiji should be provided the full protection of the law and access to justice.
“This includes SODELPA MP’s rights to enjoy similar privilege which their peers also received whilst attending official business as elected representatives.”
