FNU Students' Association Council confirms that Natabua Hostel students are being provided with meals

The President of the FNU Students’ Association Council, Ketan Lal has confirmed that all 180 students at the FNU Natabua Campus have been provided with free meals for the last 5 weeks and food ration packs.

The council has expressed its disappointment at National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad and the Fiji Times for what Lal says a false article titled “NFP Wants Explanation” on the 24th of May 2021 which claimed that 180 students at the FNU Natabua Campus had not received food.

Lal says no student at any of FNU’s Hostel facilities has gone hungry and each student is provided with food at the University’s cost.

He says it is very disheartening to see false information being published on the media without any verification, and even more disheartening to see the welfare of students being used as a political tool.

The President has apologized to the concerned parents and guardians of the hostel students and assured that no student is going hungry.

When questioned, NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad says he got his information from FRIEND Fiji CEO Sashi Kiran who went with the Commissioner Western and found out that one of the problems the students faced was the availability of food.

Prasad says he made the comments based on what he was told and he is not sure why the Students Association President is saying that Kiran and the Commissioner Western have lied about the food shortage.

The FNU Students Association Council also expressed its concern that the Commissioner Western’s Office did not contact the University Senior Leaders, or the FNUSA Council before contacting FRIEND Fiji, as stated in the article.

FNUSA has asked the Ministry of Health to investigate and ensure COVID-19 protocols were followed during the ration distribution, as it alleges that FRIEND Fiji and the Commissioner Western's Office did not follow proper channels before going to the campus.

Meanwhile FRIEND Fiji CEO Sashi Kiran says she finds this statement funny because the Commissioner Western and Head of Campus were there when they went for distribution.

We are currently trying to speak to the Commissioner Western and the Health Ministry.