Exchanges between AG and NFP Leader about academic freedom as FNU Amendment Bill is passed in parliament

The Fiji National University Amendment Bill has been passed in parliament without any opposition.

This Bill removes the Permanent Secretary for Education from the FNU Council.

While supporting the Bill, National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad claimed that academics in Fiji are afraid to talk about issues.

Prasad says how many academics are writing about government policies on education or health.

He further claimed that if a Professor from the Fiji College of Medicine says under the Health Minister things are not working, that person will be in trouble.

Prasad also claimed that former FijiFirst Minister Ashneel Sudhakar had once publicly stated that some of them were instructed to disrupt Prasad when he is talking in parliament.

The NFP Leader further claimed that Professor Wadan Narsey is afraid of coming back to Fiji.

In his right of reply, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says Professor Prasad always feels like he has to make a comeback and gain some lost ground if he has not done well in the previous parliament session.

Sayed-Khaiyum says Professor Prasad probably felt this before the lunch hour.

He says it is a trend if you observe Professor Prasad.

The Acting Prime Minister says it is unfortunate that the deceased Professor Brij Lal is being used as a political tool by NFP.

Sayed-Khaiyum says academic freedom means that an academic can comment on anything whether they support government policies or not.

The Acting Prime Minister adds that saying that Professor Warden Narsey is scared is hearsay.