The stand-off must not be allowed to continue at the expense of the education of our children.
This the message from Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu as the stand-off between the University of the South Pacific and its Staff Association continues into its fifth day without a resolution in sight, and this is becoming serious, considering that it's happening on the eve of the assessment of the students attending USP.
In a statement, Seruiratu says this is the result of many months of tension between the organization and its staff, which would have been averted, had USP taken the time to listen to its employees' grievances.
He says the Staff Association is calling for an investigation into governance issues at USP which primarily sits on the shoulders of the Vice Chancellor as the Head of the institution.
He further says that he finds the call for the Vice Chancellor to go on leave to allow for an investigation to be conducted into the affairs of USP, is not unreasonable.
The Opposition Leader says he finds it rather disconcerting for USP to issue a statement saying that the strike is over an issue that the management considers to be outside their collective contracts and conditions of employment.
He says this is sad because the USP Management should seek the intervention of the Council if it feels that it is not in a position to resolve the issues raised by the striking staff.
Seruiratu says after all, it is the Council that is the appointing authority for the Vice Chancellor of the University, and the stand-off must not be allowed to continue at the expense of the education of our children.
The Opposition Leader adds the allegations by the staff association are serious and must be investigated.
He says if it is true that employment contracts of promising Pacific Islands academics at USP who have invested so much in the organization for the sake of children are not being renewed, then the issues raised by the USP Staff Association call for urgent attention from all stakeholders.
Seruiratu says USP must continue to stand tall in the international arena as a premier organization nurturing and grooming future Pacific Islands and international leaders.
He also says to continue on that path, USP must be guided by leaders who have the best interest of the Pacific and our people in their hearts.
He says this is the time for the Fiji government, as the largest single donor to the USP and Member of the USP Council, to come forward and seek to resolve the situation.
He adds this will take decisive leadership, and the Government cannot sit back and allow the future of our children and the region to be denigrated.
