The leader of the Unity Fiji Party and former Reserve Bank Governor, Savenaca Narube, emphasized the urgency of resolving the staffing issues at the University of the South Pacific (USP). This plea comes as the USP Staff Union has entered its fourth day of strike action, demanding the removal of Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka acknowledged the staff’s adherence to strike guidelines and called for an immediate meeting of the university council. The ongoing strike has highlighted concerns over good governance within the institution.
Narube visited USP’s Laucala campus today to express his solidarity with the striking staff. He underscored that the core issue is good governance and that a thorough investigation is warranted. “We need to drill down, and I believe what they (staff) want is an investigation to bring out the truth about this. What’s wrong with that?” Narube stated, adding that although the council has supported an investigation, progress has been slow regarding its Terms of Reference.
He criticized Professor Ahluwalia for his absence, as the Vice-Chancellor has been engaged in university business across several Pacific nations and is currently in Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Narube remarked, “When your organization is under fire, you go and put out the fire, don’t run away!” He urged Ahluwalia to prioritize resolving these pressing issues.
The strike has significantly impacted students, with many expressing concerns about postponed online tests and tutorials. “The welfare of the students, the education of our children is affected by this. Those with the authority to resolve this need to act quickly to ensure exams proceed as scheduled,” he urged.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rabuka confirmed that the USP Staff Union is compliant with the provisions of the Employment Relations Act 2007. He has directed the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, to convene a meeting of the USP Council to address the concerns raised by the staff unions.