Savenaca Narube, the leader of the Unity Fiji Party and former Reserve Bank Governor, emphasizes the urgent need to resolve the staff issues at the University of the South Pacific (USP). This statement comes as the USP Staff Union enters the fourth day of a strike, demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka acknowledged the staff’s adherence to strike regulations and has called for an urgent meeting of the USP Council. The ongoing strike is focused on promoting good governance within the university.
During a visit to the Laucala campus, Narube expressed his support for the striking staff. He highlighted that the core problem lies in governance and stressed the necessity for an investigation to uncover the truth. “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? To me, the USP Council needs to support that,” Narube stated. He believes that while the Council has backed an investigation, the delay mainly rests on the terms determining its scope.
Narube criticized Professor Ahluwalia for not attending campus during this critical period, as the Vice-Chancellor has been engaged in official university business across the region, including visits to Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. He argued, “When your organization is under fire, you go and put out the fire, don’t run away!”
Narube noted that this strike has affected students, many of whom are concerned about the postponement of online tests and tutorials. He called for those in authority to address the situation promptly to ensure that exams proceed as scheduled, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing students’ education and well-being.
In addition, Prime Minister Rabuka reinforced that the USP Staff Union is complying with the strike provisions outlined in the Employment Relations Act of 2007. He has instructed the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, to convene a meeting of the USP Council to discuss the staff union’s demands.