PM Wants FICAC to Probe USP Practices
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is of the view that FICAC (Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption) should investigate alleged corrupt practices at the University of the South Pacific.
While speaking in Parliament yesterday, Mr Bainimarama responded to SODELPA MP Ro Filipe Tuisawau and said, as the host country, Fiji has invested a lot in the success of USP students.
Fiji as the university’s largest shareholder, he said contributed around $27m in grants and $20m in TELS annually.
“In total, the Fijian Government has invested $315m to USP over the last 10 years. Not to forget the 100 acres of property the university sits on,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“We are so invested because we want to see the students of USP have the opportunity to do well. We want the same for all students in Fiji and throughout the Pacific.”
As the nation with the single greatest interest in the University, Mr Bainimarama said Fiji has and would always put a high value in USP’s good governance.
“Ultimately that is for the benefit of the students in the nation and the region,” he said. He said when issues of alleged mismanage
We are so invested because we want to see the students of USP have the opportunity to do well. We want the same for all students in Fiji and throughout the Pacific. Voreqe Bainimarama Prime Minister
ment surfaced two years ago, Fiji strongly supported the USP council’s decision to have the allegations investigated by an independent body.
Similarly, this was the same case when more issues of mismanagement were raised last year.
“The sooner we will accept that, the sooner the institution can move forward on the path towards good governance in the service of the regional students and that is why yesterday during the FICAC statements I said it will be good for FICAC to get into the university corridor because of the corrupt practices that is ravaging its corridors,” the PM said.