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Govt has not stripped off any funds to be given to USP however certain issues need to be resolved first- AG

Govt has not stripped off any funds to be given to USP however certain issues need to be resolved first- AG

By Priteshni Nand
13/10/2020
Attorney General, Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum

Attorney General, Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum says the government has not stripped off any funds they are giving to the University of the South Pacific but certain governance issues need to be addressed before they start giving funds again.

Sayed-Khaiyum made this comment after the USP Council meeting that was held at the USP Japan ICT Centre.

On the 25th of last month, the Fijian Government said that they will withhold $27.7 million USP grant until a grant agreement is signed after governance issues highlighted in a letter are resolved.

When asked what was discussed in the USP Council meeting, Sayed-Khaiyum referred all questions to the secretariat.

Minister for Education, Rosy Akbar, Acting Permanent Secretary for Education, Susan Kiran, Chairperson of the USP Audit and Risk Committee Mahmood Khan, Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, Winston Thompsom and Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia were present in the meeting.

Pat Walsh was appointed the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor during the meeting.

Mahmood Khan refused to make any comments on what was discussed during the meeting.

Thompsom says he is ready to work with anyone as it is part of the business.

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