Page 14 - Islands Business October 2024 edition

Education

a distortion of the discussions in the Special Council meeting, action against Fiji’s Permanent Secretary of Employment,
but it also covers up the numerous complaints that staff and Productivity, and Workplace Relations, and threatening its
students have regarding Ahluwalia and his administration.” staff against participating in the strike.
Among the allegations against Ahluwalia is Osborne- The email sent to all staff and students on October 17, the
Naikatini’s termination, an issue against which several student evening before the strike, said, “Please note that staff who
groups continue to protest through letters and petitions. are on strike will not be paid for the period they are on strike.
A week prior to the special council meeting, on September “Staff who are members of either of the two unions who do
18, a letter signed by 65 people was sent to the Council from not report to work or keep their normal office hours and who
such a student group. are not on prior-approved leave, will be assumed to be on
“We, the undersigned alumni, conservation practitioners strike.”
and Early Career Researchers (ECRs) of the University of Several staff members have shared their concerns at the
the South Pacific (USP) member countries, write conjointly ethics of this threat but have remained resolute in their
to voice support for the immediate reinstatement of Dr demands, claiming the loss of wage is a small price to pay for
Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, who we understand was recently positive change for the University and region.
terminated from the University of the South Pacific (USP) The email also stated that support for the students and
without natural justice and in retaliation for the public their uninterrupted education were the University’s utmost
expression of her academic opinion on poor governance at the priority.
institution,” the letter read. An email sent shortly after by the University’s Student
The signatories claim that Osborne-Naikatini’s termination Association President, Christopher Siliva, made similar
as Discipline Coordinator for Biology “would have far reaching statements.
consequences not only for her students and colleagues, but “The student body recognises the valuable contributions
for the wider Pacific Island-based researchers in our region, of all staff. However, the strike threatens to disrupt classes,
and for the development of biological, ethno-biological, delay academic progress, and hinder access to essential
environmental and conservation science expertise that is services that students rely on daily, especially as final
supported at USP which is supposed to be a factory of local examinations approach.”
and regional experts for the South Pacific Island member This email echoed the sentiments of the correspondence
countries.” from the University’s human resources department which
“We respectfully ask the USP Council to reconsider the claimed the demand to remove the Vice Chancellor “may
termination of Dr Osborne-Naikatini’s employment at USP, not align with the legal requirements under the ordinance
and the long-term negative consequences which this would governing the discipline of the vice chancellor at USP.”
have for the University and for the region. We understand While claiming to speak for the student body, the
that the USP council has the ultimate decision-making power Association conducted no surveys or consultations beyond its
at the University, and therefore humbly ask that the USP own internal meetings. Due to this and several controversial
council revert the decision by the current Vice Chancellor actions taken by the Association following Osborne-Naikatini’s
and investigate the matter with the due diligence expected termination and its impact on her students, students
of member country government representatives,” the letter were sighted at the strike venue sporting signs saying the
stated. Association was compromised.
At the time of print of this article, the student group had Student groups which wrote to the council ahead of the
not received any response from the council. However, Islands special meeting had initially approached the Association for
Business has been reliably informed that Osborne-Naikatini’s support months ago, but their pleas were reportedly brushed
case was among the issues on the agenda at the special aside.
council meeting and is among the “human resource decisions A collective of staff and students remains on strike at USP,
and processes” soon to be under investigation. with a shared experience of feeling ignored by those meant to
The investigation will reportedly be conducted by an protect their interests. But has there been a misunderstanding
external body, the results of which are expected to be regarding the outcomes of the Special Council Meeting?
presented to council at its upcoming council meeting at the While some who were present at the council meeting claim
end of November 2024. This is also the date at which a Visitor it had been a step in the right direction, confidentiality rules
is expected to be appointed for the University. bar them from sharing any details. With the ambiguity of the
While the Council busies itself with these resolutions, staff statement regarding the “investigation into HR matters”,
stood outside the Vice Chancellor’s office at the Laucala it is possible an investigation into the actions of the Vice
Campus of USP chanting their demands and singing of their Chancellor was already in the cards.
solidarity. All council members approached for clarification into the
Upon word of the strike, the USP Human Resources office vagueness of the investigation maintained that they could not
sent out an email claiming the University will take legal comment on confidential council proceedings.

14 Islands Business, October 2024