Savenaca Narube, the leader of the Unity Fiji Party and former Governor of the Reserve Bank, has called for an immediate resolution to the staff issues at the University of the South Pacific (USP). This appeal comes as the Staff Union at the regional university enters the fourth day of a strike demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has acknowledged the staff’s adherence to strike regulations and has urged the USP Council to convene an urgent meeting to address the situation. The ongoing strike highlights employee demands for good governance.
Narube visited the Laucala campus today to express his support for the striking staff. He emphasized that the central issue revolves around governance and the need for an investigation into the matter. “We need to drill down, and I believe what they want is an investigation to bring out the truth about this. What’s wrong with that? The USP Council needs to support that,” he remarked. Narube highlighted the delay in establishing the Terms of Reference for the investigation as a point of concern.
He also stated that Professor Ahluwalia should be present on campus to address the issues raised. The Vice-Chancellor has been preoccupied with official duties throughout the region, including travel to the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and currently, Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
“When your organization is under fire, you go and put out the fire, don’t run away!” Narube asserted. He urged the Vice-Chancellor to focus on resolving the current crisis, which has adversely impacted students, many of whom have had their online tests and tutorials postponed.
“This is a significant concern, as the welfare of the students and the education of our children are at stake. Those in power must come together and resolve this issue to ensure that examinations proceed as scheduled,” Narube added.
In related developments, Prime Minister Rabuka confirmed that the USP Staff Union is following the strike procedures outlined in the Employment Relations Act 2007. He has directed Education Minister Aseri Radrodro to arrange a meeting of the USP Council to discuss the claims proposed by the staff unions.
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