Three Cabinet Ministers are set to convene today to discuss a proposal for a special meeting between the Government and the University of the South Pacific (USP). Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has informed Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of the intention to organize this meeting, which will involve Finance Minister Biman Prasad and Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Minister Agni Deo Singh.
Radrodro emphasized that the agenda will include ensuring the USP Secretary is prompted to arrange this special meeting. The next USP Council meeting is scheduled for October or November, with the trio of ministers expected to meet early next week.
In related news, the Opposition is pressing the Government to swiftly address the ongoing conflict between staff unions and USP Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahluwalia. The University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) and the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) recently secured a mandate for a strike aimed at ousting Professor Ahluwalia, with over 90 percent of union members supporting the action.
Shadow Minister for Education Hem Chand highlighted that tensions have been escalating between the staff unions and the university’s management for several months. He noted media reports indicating significant dissatisfaction among the staff regarding the university’s leadership, with a substantial portion of the workforce being Fijian.
Chand urged the Fijian Government to prioritize the welfare of its Fijian staff in discussions with the USP Council. He called for a renewed focus on improving the quality of education and research at USP. Furthermore, he pointed out that the Minister for Education has acknowledged the concerns raised by the staff unions in Parliament. He warned that failure to address these issues might lead to strikes that could disrupt students’ education.