Opposition Questions Minister's Support For Pacific Polytech

Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu questioned why the Minister for Finance Biman Prasad seem to be falling over backwards regarding Pacific Polytech.

Pacific Polytech was established between February and March 2021 by former staff of Technical Colleges of Fiji, supported by the Fiji Institute of Applied Studies and the Global Girmit Institute.

Mr Seruiratu said they were concerned and surprised about the effort to get Pacific Polytech off the ground when the NZPTC at the Fiji National University had a fare more solid reputation.

“It has the facility and staffing to be able to deliver the training required.

“It seems that the Minister for Finance has a soft spot for the principals of Pacific Polytech, who by the way was an organisation of which funds were provided for the Girmit Day celebrations.”

Pacific Polytech was awarded $1m in the 2023-2024 National Budget.

From outside Parliament, Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry reiterated his call for an independent investigation into the allocation of taxpayer funds to the Global Girmit Institute (GGI).

In May, Attorney-General Siromi Turaga said that he would look into the claims.

Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj