Chang free to return

FORMER University of Fiji vice-chancellor Sushila Chang — who was banned from Fiji after breaching a mandatory Lautoka confined area order in 2020 — is now free to return.

The news was made known to Ms Chang earlier this year through correspondence from Minister for Immigration Pio Tikoduadua.

“I received it when I was in the USA,” she told this newspaper.

“I saw the email when I woke up in the morning after a long trip and jet lag and my first feelings were, I was delighted, relieved, and just wanted my husband and children as they had been very supportive, and concerned.

“So, I facetimed them even though it was late in the night for my husband, and he was very happy. This also meant a lot for me, as I could visit Fiji, a lovely country that I enjoyed very much and visit my very dear friends who are like family to me,” Ms Chang said.

Now that her travel ban has been lifted, she said she had plans to return to Fiji.

“I have been invited by Pacific Polytech to give a public lecture on the need of a national testing laboratory for Fiji. Dates have not been finalised.”

Ms Chang was terminated from her role as VC as her work permit was cancelled by the Department of Immigration on March 24, 2020, after she left the country.

The Immigration directive also declared her a ‘prohibited immigrant for an indefinite period’.

It was alleged then that Ms Chang was aided by two taxidrivers when she breached the Lautoka lockdown restrictions.

In doing so, she travelled to Nadi International Airport, where she boarded and left in a flight to Sydney, Australia.