USP Grants to Be Released, Says Prasad
Prasad said decisions in the daily operation of the university would be now made by its council members.
This means that when the council makes a decision, we will respect it unlike the previous government which disregarded their decisions Biman Prasad Minister for Finance
Good news for the University of the South Pacific (USP) with the Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad saying grants owed to the institution will be released.
Mr Prasad said the coalition Government would meet USP vicechancellor Pal Ahluwalia, council members and the management to discuss how and when the grants owed would be released.
He said the decision was a commitment made by all three political parties in Government.
Mr Prasad said the coalition Government would work on restoring respect and confidence to the regional institution. “We want to work out a timetable, not only to pay back what was due, but also when we should deliver the budget,” Mr Prasad said.
“From now onwards, Fiji will be a real partner with the University of the South Pacific.”
He said decisions in the daily operation of the university would be now made by its council members. “This means that when the council makes a decision, we will respect it unlike the previous government which disregarded their decisions,” he said.
“The previous government, because things did not go in their favour, wanted to withhold the grant of the university. There were bogus claims and calls for more investigations to be made into the university. None of those were true and reasonable.”
He said the coalition Government was looking forward to a very cooperative relationship with USP, and other tertiary institutions.