Page 5 - IB August 2024

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

In December last year, when we first started probing the issues that were Publisher
emerging at the University of the South Pacific (USP) at that time, it was not Netani Rika
about digging up dirt – to score an exposé or some inside scoop.
General Manager
The editorial position that drove our initial coverage of what we knew was Samantha Magick
going to be an ongoing story over some time was, how the quality of tertiary
education that USP was charged with delivering to the students of the South Editor
Pacific, was going to be impacted by the politics and the internal problems Richard Naidu
besetting the region’s biggest university.
Sales, Marketing & Subscriptions
In our special report on USP in this issue, we see the key players in the story Waisale Rokotuiveikau
starting to talk about what really matters. Which is, how these problems will
eventually translate into the impact on the developmental framework of the Reporters
Pacific through the loss of seasoned academics guiding students who will shape Aisha Azeemah
this framework in various ways. Kite Pareti
At the core of it is a long-drawn-out tug-of-war between USP’s two unions and Prerna Priyanka
its management. We now have some senior, long-standing academics coming
out to say that these tensions are building up into a loss of staff morale and Designer
confidence that’s damaging to the overall environment at USP. Dick Lee
Things came to a head as we went to press, with the staff at USP’s Laucala
Campus in Suva voting to go on strike demanding the removal of Vice- Contributors
Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia. Nic Maclellan
Akka Rimon
The USP Council, as the institution’s governing body, is being looked to, for
action. Rowena Singh
Natasha Turia
The students, the staff, and indeed, all those who understand the vital role
that the University of the South Pacific plays in the development agenda of the
region, wait with bated breath.
Islands Business is published monthly by
It is no longer a matter of who is right and who is wrong. The downward slide Front Page Pte Limited
simply must be halted. There is far too much at stake. The burden of the Editorial & Advertising Offices
failure to protect this pillar of the Pacific cannot be left to the people of the GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands
Pacific to bear, while those who are appointed to manage it on their behalf get Tel: +679 9719660
caught up in agendas that are contrary to the interests of the region.
Emails
Editorial: editor@islandsbusiness.com
richard@islandsbusiness.com
Richard Subscriptions: subs@islandsbusiness.com
Advertising: marketing@islandsbusiness.com
richard@islandsbusiness.com
Printing:
Printhouse Pacific Pte Limited, Suva, Fiji Islands

Correction: On page 44 of the June/July issue of Islands Business, Wesley W. www.islandsbusiness.com July-August 2023 FJD $8 www.islandsbusiness.com
Simina was incorrectly identified as Maikani Mereng Andres. December 2023 FJD $8

THE BEAUTY AND PACIFIC PERSON
BUSINESS OF BILAS MANASSEH SOGAVARE
OF THE YEAR
Copyright © 2024 Front Page Pte Limited.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
www.islandsbusiness.com reproduced without the written permission of the
publisher.

Islands Business, August 2024 5