SODELPA general secretary Levi Vere has hit out at the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), declaring that SODELPA does not need lessons on political loyalty because its members are not “ship jumpers”.
Mr Vere accused PAP of attempting to lecture SODELPA on political timing and parliamentary numbers while overlooking the sacrifices made by the party during the Bainimarama administration.
“We do not need lessons on loyalty because we are not ship jumpers,” Mr Vere said.
He said SODELPA had stood virtually alone in opposing the Bainimarama government long before PAP emerged as a political party.
“Long before PAP ever emerged as a political party, SODELPA stood virtually alone in the trenches fighting the Bainimarama regime.”
Mr Vere claimed that since 2014, SODELPA members, particularly women and youths, had faced political persecution and public humiliation for defending indigenous rights.
“Since 2014, while today’s so-called political champions were silent, compromised, or nowhere to be seen, SODELPA’s members, our youth, and our mothers paid dearly,” he said.
“Our people faced political persecution, were hauled before the courts, and were shamed publicly for standing up for indigenous rights.”
He also credited SODELPA with leading opposition to the former government’s proposal to change Fiji’s national flag.
“Our youths and women fought the Bainimarama regime when it wanted to change our national flag,” he said.
“SODELPA led the fight that saved our national flag and identity!”
Mr Vere maintained that the party’s political standing was built on years of struggle rather than political convenience.
“SODELPA earned its mandate through blood, sweat, tears, and relentless sacrifice—not through political convenience.”
His comments come amid political differences between SODELPA and PAP over constitutional reform and parliamentary support.
