Fijian Teachers Association general secretary Paula Manumanunitoga says after receiving a cheque of $8500 from the Social Democratic Liberal Party for rent arrears, they handed the party keys to their office because they did not want SODELPA to be deregistered.
He said the rent arrears were due from August last year.
Speaking to The Fiji Times yesterday, Mr Manumanunitoga said SODELPA has made a commitment to pay their monthly rent for their headquarters on 66 McGregor Rd, an FTA-owned property.
It is understood the party managed to clear the rent arrears with monies collected from a fundraising event last week.
“I had given them back the keys. Three days after locking them out last month,” Mr Manumanunitoga said.
“Because it might cause deregistration of the political party which we do not want.
“And they have made another commitment to keep paying their rent of $1500 by the due date.”
SODELPA vice president Anare Jale told journalists at a news conference on Monday, Lenaitasi Duru was no longer the general secretary of the party.
Mr Jale alleged the former general secretary had used the funds received from the parliamentary allocation to pay for other expenses. He said the party would conduct an internal investigation before lodging a police complaint.
Meanwhile, attempts to get comments from Mr Duru regarding the allegations were unsuccessful as his mobile phone was switched off yesterday.
