The University of the South Pacific (USP) will receive an initial payment from the Fijian Government next week, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
He said this on Monday while responding to President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere’s Parliament opening address.
The Fijian Government owes USP in excess of $90 million after the Voreqe Bainimarama-led FijiFirst administration stopped all grants to the university amid claims financial anomalies existed and the grant would be paid if investigations were conducted.
Prime Minister Rabuka said the coalition Government has prioritised mending its relationship with the USP, “the most successful example of co-operation in our region”.
“We will make an initial payment to begin reducing our significant debt left with the USP, and we will do that later this week,” the PM said.
“I’m glad the vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia has returned to Fiji and I look forward to meeting him later this week.”
Prof Ahluwalia and his wife Sandra Price claimed on Wednesday February 3, 2021, a 15-strong group made up of immigration officials and police stormed into their USP home and forcefully removed them at about 11.30pm.
They claimed they were driven the same night to Nadi International Airport and deported on the morning of Thursday, February 4 to Australia.
The FijiFirst government on February 4, 2022 issued a statement that the Immigration Department had ordered Prof Aluwahlia and Ms Price to leave Fiji with immediate effect following continuous breaches by both individuals of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.
Government said under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner was permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.
