Vosarogo Accuses SODELPA of ‘Technical Amnesia’

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo has accused SODELPA General Secretary Levi Vere of suffering from “technical amnesia”, reminding him that almost half of SODELPA’s Management Board voted to return Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to power following the 2022 General Election.

The phrase appears to be a sarcastic reference to SODELPA’s earlier use of the term “technical genocide” to describe the removal of the exclusive indigenous use of the name “Fijian” under the Bainimarama government.

In a strongly worded social media post, Vosarogo said 14 of SODELPA’s 30 Management Board members voted to form a coalition with FijiFirst, while 16 supported the People’s Alliance Party (PAP) and National Federation Party (NFP).

“That means SODELPA came within just two votes of returning Fiji to the dictators we worked so hard to defeat,” Vosarogo said.

He said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and many of PAP’s founders had spent much of their political lives opposing FijiFirst and fighting for democratic change.

Vosarogo claimed PAP was formed because SODELPA had failed to provide the leadership and unity necessary to remove the Bainimarama government.

“We had to build a new political party to achieve what SODELPA had been unable to deliver,” he said.

He also questioned SODELPA’s complaints about an alleged unfulfilled promise concerning the Presidency of Fiji.

“What exactly does the Presidency have to do with the constitutional provisions SODELPA now claims to be defending?” he asked.

On Constitution Amendment Bill 32, Vosarogo reminded SODELPA that the Bill was still undergoing parliamentary scrutiny and public consultations.

He said SODELPA should use the consultation process to propose changes to provisions concerning immunity, indigenous rights and emergency powers rather than simply attacking its coalition partners.

“The Bill is not yet a final constitution. The purpose of consulting the public is to hear concerns, consider objections and determine whether changes should be recommended before Parliament makes its final decision,” he said.

Vosarogo described Vere’s criticisms as “political tantrums” and encouraged him to present constructive proposals.

His comments followed a statement by Vere accusing PAP of political manipulation, undermining SODELPA’s influence through the recruitment of 11 former FijiFirst MPs and pushing constitutional changes that SODELPA believes threaten indigenous rights.

Vere also accused PAP of breaking coalition promises, including an alleged agreement concerning the Presidency of Fiji.