New Fiji PM vows to ‘settle’ University of the South Pacific row

Supporters of the University of the South Pacific (USP) are optimistic that a change in Fiji’s government will bring an end to the funding crisis that has afflicted the pan-regional institution for more than two years.

The three parties that have agreed to form a coalition government have committed to pay the university the tens of millions of dollars Fiji has withheld since the university leadership’s relationship with its biggest member country broke down in 2020.

Prime minister-designate Sitiveni Rabuka has vowed to “settle” the underpayment of at least F$78 million (£29 million) “as quickly as we can”. Running mate and former USP academic Biman Prasad, who leads the National Federation Party (NFP), has also promised to restore the funds.

The Social Democratic Liberal Party (Sodelpa), whose decision to align itself with Mr Rabuka’s People’s Alliance Party (PAP) gave him the numbers to form a government, accused the previous FijiFirst government of “bullying tactics” for withholding the university’s grants.

Former USP law lecturer Tess Newton Cain, who heads the Pacific Hub at Griffith University’s Asia Institute, tweeted that the undertakings by PAP and NFP to repay USP’s grants had helped convince Sodelpa to join their coalition.

Political sociologist Steven Ratuva, a USP alumnus who directs the Centre for Pacific Studies at the University of Canterbury, said he expected the three parties to fulfil their USP funding promises.

“Not only is it a way of contributing to the region, it will also support Fijian students who are the majority at the university,” Professor Ratuva said. “It will go a long way in ensuring that USP is able to carry out its research and teaching responsibilities for the 12 countries in the region which own it.”

New Zealand foreign affairs minister Nanaia Mahuta congratulated the three parties on forming a governing coalition. But their ascendency remains uncertain, with a planned parliamentary sitting – at which Mr Rabuka was expected to be formally voted into office – failing to proceed on 21 December.

Sodelpa general secretary Lenaitasi Duru also resigned over the decision to join the coalition, which was reportedly supported by just 16 of the party’s 30-member management board. Fijian politics is notoriously volatile, with Mr Rabuka’s elevation – if it proceeds – replacing one former coup leader with another.

USP vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia, who leads the university from Samoa after Fiji expelled him early last year, said that the institution’s treatment had been a “contributing factor” in the election result.

“The three opposition parties are committed…to release the USP funds. We’ll be working with whoever is in government to see that we hit the ground so we can continue to improve the university. There’s a lot of work to be done, particularly around our deferred maintenance and capital expenditure, which – if everything goes right – we should be able to start working on.

“It’s a historic day, regardless of anything. You can’t take the people’s will away.”

Professor Ahluwalia said that while the institution would “survive” either way, the outstanding funds’ release would be particularly important for campuses outside Fiji where facilities were “in very bad shape”. He said the money would allow the institution to “fix a lot of things and hire some high-quality staff.”

While a coalition government would also allow Professor Ahluwalia back into Fiji, he said that the university council would decide whether his headquarters were to be re-established there.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com