Methodists to meet as planned

The Methodist Church of Fiji will go ahead with its annual meeting this month as earlier planned, says assistant general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra.

And the Church will also abide by the conditions set by Police.

Speaking to FijiLive Rev Nawadra said they had asked the police if they could extend their meeting but were told otherwise.

“We will only have our meeting for three days and we will try to discuss as much as we can,” said Rev Nawadra.

“We thought that after the meeting permit was taken away we could extend our meeting but we were wrong, it seems that there is another clause that would restrict us from doing so and we have been told about it,” he said.

“But we are thankful that we will have our meeting anyway,” he said.

He also said they have sent a copy of last year’s meeting agenda to the police and are still yet to finalise their final agenda.

Meanwhile police have warned the church to only discuss church matters and not to discuss political issues.

In granting the permit approval earlier, Police Commissioner Brigadier General Ioane Naivalurua said the Church must exclude those activities that will financially burden its members at the three-day meet such as the bazaar and choir competition.

The meeting is scheduled to begin this month but one of the conditions laid is that it does not coincide with the Hibiscus Festival that will begin next Friday.

By Mereani Gonedua