THE Solomon Islands National University Students Association (SINUSA) says they won’t call off the 14-day strike notice and demand an independent committee to look into this matter.
After a meeting on Tuesday students body president Reginald Ngati told the Solomon Star that the strike still stands and they want to call for an independent committee to look into this matter soon.
“Vice Chancellor Acting Professor Basil Marasinghe didn’t address our demands and continue to dwell on the infrastructure of the university just to play up our minds,” Mr Ngati said.
“Our strike still stands until they address our issues of concerns”.
But during the meeting yesterday Vice Chancellor Acting Professor Basil Marasinghe said the students should call off the strike and allow classes to resume normally.
“All you need to do is to be patience with us and allow those developments take place smoothly.”
But Mr Ngati said their strike still stands until they deal with their concerns.
“We have no confidence and trust in the pro vice chancellor (corporate) in his leadership and administration of the students’ welfare and alleged misuse of his office powers in his capacity as Vice Chancellor (corporate) to deal with students association matters, welfare and leadership issues at the university,” the students stated.
Mr Ngati explained the pro vice chancellor (corporate) Donald Malasa has falsely made a declaration to nullify the legitimate election of process of SINUSA under section 11(1) of the SINUSA constitution.
He added the Vice Chancellor Corporate has no constitutional mandate under the SINUSA constitution particularly section 11(1) of the SINUSA constitution to make declaration to nullify the legitimate election process of the students association.
He has misinterpreted section 11(1) in his power as vice chancellor (Corporate) to axe the legitimate executive committee of SINUSA.
Mr Ngati said that this is obvious evidence that Mr Malasa has misuses his power under his office to make an illegitimate and unconstitutional declaration under SINUSA Constitution. This obviously shows Mr Malasa’s incompetency to handle students’ matters.
“On this, the strike still stand and we want to call for an independent committee to investigate this.”
He suggested that independent body should consist of a person from the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development seeing that this is owned by the government, someone from the Parliamentary education committee, any legal officer (lawyer), someone from SINU and someone from the students.
“Thats what we want. Therefore during this 14 days strike notice, that committee should sit down and look into this matter to address it.”
Mr Ngati said, they have several plans to take if the SINU fails to deal with their claims.
The strike notice will lapse next Wednesday.
The meeting on Tuesday concluded with SINU council and student body all agreed that there will be a independent committee to look into this matter during these few days and update the students later.
By LESLEY SANGA
