The Ball Is In Your Court, A-G Tells USP Council
While responding, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the grant had been stopped because Fiji was the largest grant contributor as a member country for USP and there were certain financial anomalies that did exist.
Wednesday 16 March 2022 | 11:33
University of South Pacific Students association vice president Lepani Naqarase (left) with Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during World Consumers Rights Day 2022 in Suva on March 15, 2022. Photo: Ronald Kumar.
The ball is in your court. Investigate the financial anomalies and we will release the grant.
This was the clear message made by Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday when questioned by University of the South Pacific (USP) Student Association regional vice-president Lepani Naqarase on why the Fijian Government is withholding its member country grant to the university.
Mr Naqarase posed the question to the Attorney-General during a question and answer session at the World Consumer Rights Day yesterday. He said Fijian students would be affected if the Government continued to withhold the grant.
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While responding, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the grant had been stopped because Fiji was the largest grant contributor as a member country for USP and there were certain financial anomalies that did exist.
“The Fijian Government’s position is that it needs to be investigated,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“If people had nothing to hide they would not hesitate to have an investigation. Period.
“If there was nothing to hide, why don’t we carry out an independent investigation, not by us, but by a third party, an independent accounting firm or whatever it is?”
He said when the anomalies were cleared they would release the grant.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also clarified that Fijian students at USP, who were on the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme (TELS), and Toppers scholarships, were still getting paid and that the withholding of the grant did not affect them.
“USP still gets the money from TELS and toppers and that has not stopped,” he said. “I’m sure you will acknowledge that none of your students have not had their fees paid. If they are under TELS or Toppers, they still get the money. Over a $100 million have been paid to USP so you are not affected by that.”
Mr Naqarase then questioned the A-G on why there haven’t been any investigations yet.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was the council that had not allowed for an investigation to be done.
“It’s up to the council; you’re in the council and you should know.
“They don’t want to do it, the ball is in your court.”
