Page 14 - Islands Business March 2024

Cover Cover

University of the South Pacific staff gathered to press their demands as the USP Council met in November 2023.

WHERE IS USP HEADING AMID A

GATHERING STORM?

In February 2021, the University of the South Pacific (USP) as the number of unfilled vacancies and the strain that the
was plunged into crisis when Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal unions say it’s causing staff, concerns about the diminishing
Ahluwalia was unceremoniously thrown out of Fiji following presence of Pacific Island academics at what is a regional
a middle-of-the-night raid on his campus residence, accused institution, as well as the absence of female academics, and
by the then Fijian government of Voreqe Bainimarama of questions over the way some key contracts have been handled
breaching the country’s immigration laws. by management. Some of these concerns are shared by key
Within months of taking up the job in 2019, a bombshell members of the USP Council and its Senior Management
report by Ahluwalia had alleged widespread financial Team. Leadership emerged as a major point of discussion
mismanagement within the university under former in interviews conducted by Islands Business. Ahluwalia does
administrations. It triggered an independent investigation retain firm support from some Council members, and USP’s
by New Zealand-based accounting firm, BDO and Ahluwalia’s student association.
eventual expulsion from Fiji. USP itself has refused to respond to questions from Islands
Three years later, USP finds itself beset by a host of new Business. Over a seven-week period beginning January 22, we
problems, most prominent among them an overwhelming vote made several efforts to reach Vice Chancellor Ahluwalia. In
this month by staff across Fiji (97% of academic staff and 94% mid-February, his office said he would not be able to provide
of administration and support personnel) to go on strike over an interview while at Laucala Campus “because of his busy
pay issues. The pay demands headline other contentions such schedule” (they specified “engagements with stakeholders

14 Islands Business, March 2024