The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) was ruled out by the University of the South Pacific Student Association (USPSA) in facilitating their elections next month.

USPSA president Martin David said the USPSA felt that it was too early without proper awareness and consultation because USP was of a diverse composition.

“We need to make proper consultation and awareness to the whole of the university so that students are aware,” Mr David said.

“Then if they say it is the right time for us to involve FEO to facilitate the election, then we will do it when it is the right time. It was just the process.”

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem, said that he would not comment on this issue.

“If they do not want us to do it, they are the ones who wrote to the Minister, that is their call,” Mr Saneem said.

Mr David said the USPSA initially wanted to involve FEO to conduct the elections.

“What happened was, we wrote to them, asking if they can assist to run the elections. Because we are not a registered union, so we had to write to the Attorney General.”

According to Mr David, USPSA budgets close to $10 000 to organise the election but only use close to $6000.

“It is quite an expensive exercise for the association,” he said.

He said if FEO were to facilitate the upcoming election, the association would spend less than $5000.

He said the Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra had also supported the Executive’s decision to involve FEO.

But since the USPSA was an independent institution the university’s administration and management board could only provide suggestions.

He said the USPSA Executives would have a consultation with the student body regarding FEO’s facilitation in next year’s election.

He said the Association would inform the students about the cost benefit of having FEO’s involvement in the next Annual General Meeting that would be held after the elections.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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