Savenaca Narube, leader of the Unity Fiji Party and former Governor of the Reserve Bank, emphasizes the urgent need to address the ongoing staff strike at the University of the South Pacific (USP). The strike, which has entered its fourth day, is led by the Staff Union demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has acknowledged the staff’s adherence to the strike’s regulations and has called for an immediate meeting of the USP Council to discuss the situation.
Narube visited the Laucala campus to express his support for the striking staff, stating that the core issue revolves around good governance and the necessity for an investigation. He asserted, “We need to drill down, and I believe what the staff want is an investigation to bring out the truth about this. What’s wrong with that? The USP Council needs to support that.” He noted delays in establishing the Terms of Reference for the investigation as a point of concern.
The Vice-Chancellor has been absent from the campus due to official commitments in various regional locations, including Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and currently Papua New Guinea for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Narube criticized this absence, questioning why Ahluwalia is not addressing the issues at hand.
Additionally, Narube raised alarms about the impact of the strike on students, highlighting worries regarding postponed online tests and tutorials. He urged those in authority to resolve the situation promptly, stating that the students’ welfare and education should be a priority.
The Prime Minister also reaffirmed that the USP Staff Union is following the procedures outlined in the Employment Relations Act 2007 during the strike. Rabuka has instructed the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, to convene a meeting of the USP Council to discuss the claims presented by the Staff Union.