SODELPA will meet this hour to have discussions on majority of the party parliamentarians voting for increased allowances for MPs, ministers and the Speaker in parliament last week.
Some sources within SODELPA had said last week that party leader Sitiveni Rabuka had given the green light for the MPs to vote for the increased allowances as this is required for their work.
When questioned by Fijivillage today, Rabuka said that any comments will come after the party meeting this afternoon.
When asked on his stand on the parliamentarians voting for the increased allowances, Rabuka said that he does not have a stand at the moment.
SODELPA President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu says he is busy in a meeting when contacted for a comment.
Party General Secretary Adi Litia Qionibaravi says the meeting this afternoon is to discuss the appointment of the Opposition Whip and Deputy Whip.
Party sources had earlier said that Ratu Naiqama had sent a letter out last week before the parliamentary vote to say that the MPs should not vote for the increased allowances.
When asked about this issue, Adi Litia said that the party is not against increasing allowances but the process itself and the timing of the increase as people are still recovering after Cyclone Winston.
Adi Litia says that Ratu Naiqama had advised that parliament select an independent committee to recommend whether there should be increased allowances.
She says Ratu Naiqama believes that parliamentarians should not recommend and decide themselves that there should be an increase.
When asked on the SODELPA MPs voting for the increase, she said that it was their decision.
Adi Litia says we should now await the outcome of the meeting as there may have been some miscommunication.
Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa could not be reached for comments.
