Page 19 - IB May 2024

Education

USP Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, with New Zealand deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister Tongan Prime Minister, Siaosi Sovaleni, who led a motion to
for Foreign Affairs, Carmel Sepuloni. Photo: University of the South Pacific Facebook vote on Ahluwalia’s return to Fiji, at a USP event.
Photo: University of the South Pacific Facebook

USP PROBLEMS FESTER BEHIND VEIL

OF SILENCE

One month after the University of the South Pacific’s deportation from Fiji in February of that year by the then-
(USP) Council voted to move controversial Vice Chancellor, government of Voreqe Bainimarama.
Professor Pal Ahluwalia from Samoa to Fiji, the University’s He continued to work from Samoa after a new Fijian
two unions are demanding Ahluwalia’s removal in a paper government lifted his ban in February 2023. Following that,
they’ve circulated among Council members detailing claims of the two unions—the Association of the University of the South
mismanagement. Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff
In what was apparently an intrigue-ridden meeting in Fiji in Union—began advocating for his return to Fiji over claims of
November, the Council voted by a narrow 13-to-10 margin to skyrocketing expenses from working offshore.
grant Ahluwalia a further two-year term until 2026, since his In November, they called for the termination of his
current contract expires this year. employment.
The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Union leaders told Islands Business they asked members via
(AUSPS) and the Administration and Support Staff Union a ballot before the November Council meeting whether they
claim the staff paper highlighting concerns over a range of wanted Ahluwalia to remain at USP.
management issues was supposed to have been presented to “The admin and support staff voted 100% for his removal,
the Council at the same meeting, but the move was blocked and AUSPS (comprising professional and academic staff) voted
by the management team. 96%,” they said.
Islands Business has made several attempts to reach The leaders said the outcome of the votes was
Ahluwalia and the Council for their comments. Except for communicated in a staff paper that was to be presented
a brief, two-line response regarding the present status of to Government representatives at the November Council
Ahluwalia’s new contract, the USP management has continued meeting, but the paper was blocked.
to remain silent. “The Council secretariat and Ahluwalia’s team removed the
paper from the agenda item.
Deportation and return “They act on instructions,” they said.
Ahluwalia has been operating from USP’s Samoa Campus The union leaders said the paper was then distributed to
since 2021, after a short stint in Nauru following his Council members outside the meeting proper, and to USP’s

Islands Business, May 2024 19