Bloc ‘will prevail’ – Gavoka says expectations need to be managed

THE vast majority of the people in Fiji want the coalition Government to prevail — and it will.

Deputy Prime Minister and Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Viliame Gavoka said the mood in the country was “upbeat”.

Mr Gavoka said expectations need to be managed, and “we believe we are doing that well”.

In terms of the coalition agreement, he said committees had been set up and they were meeting regularly to ensure the provisions in the agreement were implemented.

“All in all, the coalition is performing well. Much has been accomplished and much remains to be done, but we are very clear, very committed, on the way ahead and we will get there,” he said.

“We are into the first month with the coalition and as you can appreciate, expectations need to be managed, and we believe we are doing that well,” the Deputy PM said.

Mr Duru claimed that if the coalition Government did not honour the agreement, SODELPA would not be bound by it.

While Mr Gavoka did not respond specifically to the questions this newspaper put to him, he said the mood in the country was “upbeat and the vast majority want the coalition to prevail”.

When asked if Mr Duru was still the general secretary after he resigned on December 20, 2022, with the resignation considered final on January 20, 2023, after completion of the 30-day notice period, Mr Gavoka replied in the affirmative.

In terms of the appointments to various statutory bodies and diplomatic missions, the Deputy PM said there were established protocols in place to ensure the coalition agreement was adhered to.

“Committees have been set up in line with the structure of the coalition agreement and they are meeting regularly to ensure the provisions in the agreement are implemented.

“All in all, the coalition is performing well, much has been accomplished and much remains to be done, but we are very clear, very committed, on the way ahead and we will get there.”

SODELPA board member Tanya Waqanika says the general secretary should only speak on the directive of board members.

“Because I know as a board member, that was not an instruction given to him,” she said. “The board will only have a meeting when the board members say so.”