Three Cabinet Ministers are expected to convene today to discuss plans to facilitate a special meeting involving the Government and the University of the South Pacific (USP). Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro conveyed to the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka that his ministry is keen on organizing this meeting among the three ministers.
The meeting will involve Mr. Radrodro, Minister for Finance Biman Prasad, and Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh. Mr. Radrodro stated that this topic will be on the agenda to urge the USP Secretary to arrange the special meeting. He noted that the next USP Council meeting is scheduled for around October or November, and the ministers are expected to meet at the beginning of the week.
In other news, the Opposition has called on the Government to urgently address the ongoing internal conflict between staff unions and USP’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia. The University Staff and Support Staff Union (USPU) and the Association of USP Staff (AUSPS) received a mandate for a strike last Wednesday, increasingly favoring the removal of Professor Ahluwalia, with over 90 percent support from union members.
Shadow Minister for Education Hem Chand stated that tensions have been rising between university staff and management in recent months. He highlighted media reports indicating a significant level of dissatisfaction among staff regarding the institution’s leadership. Mr. Chand emphasized that approximately 70 percent of USP’s workforce consists of Fijians, who contribute significantly to the government grant.
He urged the Fijian Government to prioritize the welfare and concerns of Fijian staff and to ensure these issues reach the USP Council through their representatives. Mr. Chand added that the university should focus on improving the quality of education and research. He reiterated that the Minister for Education (Aseri Radrodro) had acknowledged the staff unions’ concerns in Parliament last week, warning that unresolved issues could lead to strikes disrupting students’ learning experiences.