Three Cabinet Ministers are set to hold a special meeting next week to address the ongoing situation at the University of the South Pacific’s Laucala Bay Campus. Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, currently on a ministerial tour in the Lau Group, announced his plans for this meeting to the media.
The University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) along with the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) recently received a mandate for a strike aimed at the removal of the university’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia. In a secret ballot held on Wednesday, over 90 percent of participating members voted in favor of dismissing Professor Ahluwalia. The secret ballot was facilitated by the Ministry of Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations, with more than 550 individuals now registered as union members.
The unions claim that Professor Ahluwalia has demonstrated a lack of good governance regarding staff welfare.
The upcoming meeting will include Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh, and Minister for Finance Biman Prasad alongside Mr. Radrodro. “I have requested the permanent secretary to set the agenda for the meeting,” Mr. Radrodro stated. “Upon my return to Suva next week, we’ll be convening a meeting with the three Ministers to discuss the situation at USP.”