Ahluwalia’s contract was terminated because his work permit was cancelled - AG

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says USP Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia’s contract was terminated after his work permit was cancelled while SODELPA MP Ro Filipe Tuisawau claims that Ahluwalia was deported because he was a whistleblower.

Sayed-Khaiyum said in parliament that it was stated in Ahluwalia’s contract that as soon as his work permit is cancelled, his term as Vice Chancellor ends and the USP Council meeting last Friday discussed whether Ahluwalia's contract is still in place.

He says they have also met with the university lawyers who have given them their legal opinion.

The Attorney General also highlighted that there was an unhealthy relationship between Ahluwalia and some members of the Council.

The Attorney General says Fiji’s stand is that procedures and regulations need to be followed in the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor.

SODELPA MP Ro Filipe Tuisawau claimed in parliament that one reason why Ahluwalia was removed because he was a whistleblower which was highlighted in the BDO report.

Ro Filipe also questioned the government why Ahluwalia’s deportation was handled in a hush-hush manner, where claims were made in social media that the couple were manhandled.

Responding to the claims by Ro Filipe, the Attorney General says the immigration officers assisted the couple and they were kept in the VIP lounge and the photos on social media proves what happened.

Sayed-Khaiyum says Ahluwalia’s deportation has nothing to do with the BDO report.

Education Minister Rosy Akbar highlighted that all they wanted from the USP Council is for them to investigate the report put forward by Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Mahmood Khan, and they will accept the findings of this investigation.

Akbar says it was the USP Council’s decision not to release the BDO report to the public and the rumours going around about the Fijian government trying to stop the publicising of the report are not true.

Akbar says if the Council had wanted to release the report, they could have released it, but it was not Fiji’s decision to hide the report from the public.

The Minister stressed that the Ministry of Education and the Fijian Government as a whole do not interfere with the internal governance issues at the University of the South Pacific.