Social Democratic Liberal Party General Secretary, Emele Duituturaga. [File Photo]

Social Democratic Liberal Party General Secretary, Emele Duituturaga has dismissed allegations that the Party office is abusing the Parliamentary grant.

In a statement, this afternoon Duituturaga says the annual Parliamentary Grant for 2020/2021, came with a new policy directive communicated to the Party Office through the Leader of Opposition that funds are solely for the use of the administrative needs of the Parliamentary office.

She says the salaries and operational overheads for SODELPA Headquarters Party Office have been funded from Members of Parliament deductions, donations, and fundraising and not from the Parliamentary grant.

She adds staff at the Opposition Office are funded by the Parliamentary grant.

Duituturaga says the Party office has adhered to the policy directive and submitted monthly financial reports to the Leader of Opposition for the use of the Parliamentary grant.

She also says the report was presented to the Opposition Caucus last week and at no point were there allegations of Parliamentary funds being misused.

The SODELPA General Secretary says the annual parliamentary grants are deposited into the Party accounts with other funding sources and administered by the Party office.