THE national budgets that allocated grants to Pacific Polytech were scrutinised and approved by Cabinet, says National Federation Party (NFP) president Parmod Chand.
Mr Chand was responding to a statement by Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry, posted on the party’s social media page, claiming that the Higher Education Commission (HEC) had decided not to release a $7million government grant which he alleged was unlawfully allocated to Pacific Polytech by former Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad in the 2025–2026 Budget.
Mr Chand said the grants allocated to Pacific Polytech in successive budgets were done with transparency and accountability.
“The budget that allocated grants to Pacific Polytech, were scrutinised and approved firstly by a high-powered Cabinet sub-committee, received the approval or Cabinet itself, and then with the Cabinet’s concurrence, announced in Parliament,” Mr Chand said.
“This is what transparency and accountability is about in a genuine democracy.”
He said the $7m grant allocated in the 2025–2026 Budget was significantly less than the amount initially submitted to the Higher Education Commission.
He said this information was based not on leaked material but on verified and authentic documentation.
“More importantly, the Higher Education Commission requested the Finance Ministry to allocate the grant.
“And Parliament, after thorough debate and scrutiny of each element of budget allocation, approved it.”
In his statement, Mr Chaudhry maintained that the Finance Ministry could not act outside statutory requirements and must comply with principles of transparency and accountability.
“The party renews its pressure for a thorough investigation into the $13 million government grant allocated unlawfully to Pacific Polytech by ex-Finance Minister Prof Biman Prasad since 2023,” he said.
“We note that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs had in October last year, called for a thorough parliamentary investigation into the funding.”
Mr Chaudhry said complaints had also been lodged with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and must be pursued.
“Since the refusal by HEC to release the funding for 2025-2026, Pacific Polytech has been in financial straits unable to even meet its staff salaries.”
Questions sent to the Higher Education Commission remained unanswered when this edition went to press last night.
