Lynda Tabuya, the recently ousted Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection, will learn her fate with the People’s Alliance (PA) party in the forthcoming 21 days. This decision follows a meeting of the party’s executive committee that took place yesterday at their headquarters in Suva, where they initiated her disciplinary hearing.
This marks her second review within the party. Earlier this year, she faced scrutiny in February regarding allegations related to a scandal involving another minister, which resulted in her removal as the party’s deputy leader. In a statement from March, the PA indicated that the scandal had inflicted “potentially irreparable damage” to its reputation.
The latest controversy surrounds an explicit video that was leaked on Christmas Eve, which Ms. Tabuya has admitted is real. According to her, it was a private video intended for her then-husband, Robert Semaan, from whom she divorced in 2016, as per the investigations by FICAC.
Following the video leak, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka dismissed her from her ministerial position on December 26. Notably, Mr. Rabuka participated in the recent executive committee meeting virtually from Savusavu.
The disciplinary process is set to follow the PA’s constitutional guidelines, ensuring independent handling to maintain integrity and privacy. Sila Balawa, the PA’s general secretary, confirmed that the committee has a timeline of 21 days to conduct their review and provide findings and recommendations. Ms. Tabuya will have the opportunity to present her version of events during this process.
The names of the current disciplinary committee members remain undisclosed, although the previous committee included notable figures such as Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo and was chaired by Alefina Vuki.
This situation emphasizes the importance of due process within political parties and highlights the ever-present challenges of maintaining public figures’ reputations amidst controversies. As the process unfolds, there remains hope that it will lead to a fair resolution that serves both the party’s interests and Ms. Tabuya’s right to defend herself.
The outcome of this disciplinary action could indeed shape the trajectory of the PA party moving forward, reflecting how it navigates complex issues of personal conduct linked with public service.
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