Fiji has invoked its authority as a member of the University of the South Pacific Council, requesting the convening of a Special Council Meeting set for later this month.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro disclosed to FijiLive that he had sent a formal request to the USP Council Secretariat after a meeting with Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad and Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka, during which Radrodro acted in the capacity of Prime Minister.
Radrodro noted that the Secretariat had responded with potential dates in September for the meeting. While he has yet to meet with the two USP Unions, he acknowledged their concerns and included them as part of the agenda for the upcoming meeting.
“I hope that good sense will prevail in terms of understanding the situation we are in. The University is a regional institution, and with its headquarters in Fiji, we must be mindful that the majority of the staff are Fiji citizens. This underlines the importance of our decision to call for the Special Council Meeting,” Radrodro stated.