Three Cabinet Ministers are scheduled to hold a special meeting next week to address the ongoing situation at the University of the South Pacific (USP) Laucala Bay Campus. Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, currently on a ministerial tour of the Lau Group, announced his plans for this meeting to the media.
The University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) alongside the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) received a mandate on Wednesday to initiate a strike aimed at ousting Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia. A secret ballot conducted by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations revealed that over 90 percent of union members voted in favor of Professor Ahluwalia’s dismissal. Currently, more than 550 individuals are registered as members of these unions, who have raised concerns regarding the professor’s governance related to staff welfare.
The upcoming meeting will also include Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad. Minister Radrodro mentioned, “I have requested the permanent secretary to organize the agenda for the meeting. Upon my return to Suva next week, we’ll convene a meeting with the three Ministers to discuss the situation at USP.”