The University of the South Pacific will be receiving additional funding from Government in the 2023-2024 National Budget, says Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Finance Professor Biman Prasad.
Speaking at a public consultation in Lautoka this week, he said the additional funding was to pay off arrears owed by the Fijian Government to the regional university. As of February this year, the Fiji Government owed USP $116 million in unpaid grants.
“We gave $10 million already,” the Deputy PM said.
“I attended their council meeting and I made a commitment.
“We are restoring the annual grant to the university which is about $34 million.
“From this year the annual contribution that the Fiji Government always used to contribute will be included in the budget and that will be paid.
“We are going to include an additional amount to clear out the arrears from the past years and so the university will have a lot of money.”
Prof Prasad was responding to queries raised by USP staff member Teresa Ali on Government’s commitment to the university’s annual grant.
