Fiji has formally requested the University of the South Pacific Council to hold a Special Council Meeting, which is now set for later this month.
Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro communicated this decision to the USP Council Secretariat after discussions with Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad and Minister for Employment Agni Deo Singh.
Radrodro noted that the meeting was led by Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka while he was serving as acting Prime Minister at the time. He received a response from the Secretariat proposing dates in September for the meeting.
While he has not yet met with representatives from the two USP Unions, Radrodro acknowledged their concerns and will incorporate them into the meeting agenda.
“I hope that good sense will prevail in understanding the situation we are in. The University is a regional institution, and given that its headquarters are in Fiji, we are especially mindful that a majority of the staff are citizens of Fiji. This consideration is why we are exercising our authority to call for the Special Council Meeting,” Radrodro stated.