The Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Jito Vanualailai has today stressed in a statement that all recruitments at University of the South Pacific are on merit in compliance with policies and procedures.
Professor Vanualailai says he also wants to correct the misreporting of his statement by Fijian Broadcasting Corporation on the appointment of Doctor Rajni Chand as the Director of USP’s Centre of Flexible Learning.
He says at no point during the interview with the FBC journalist did Professor Vanualailai mention that Doctor Chand was appointed because the Fiji Immigration would not allow a foreigner.
His recorded statement said “Because it is just an Academic position and we normally just look at the internal expertise that we have. If we can get our own people why should we have to go and get overseas people? In any case, the Fiji Immigration will not allow it. If we don’t have people inside then, of course, we have to go outside, but in this case, we have more than enough expertise.”
To clarify further, Professor Vanualailai says his statement means if there are experts within USP who meet the job requirements in terms of skills and qualification, there is no need to look outside USP and recruitment can proceed internally. The position was advertised internally.
He says when there is a need to recruit from outside USP, including advertising regionally or internationally, like any other employer in Fiji, USP has to justify its intention to recruit from abroad to the Fiji Immigration and state the reasons why the position cannot be filled by a Fijian citizen.
Fiji Immigration are the approving authority for work permits.
FBC News Manager Indra Singh says they are confused about what Vanualailai is denying because his direct quote is on their website.
Singh says they only referred to immigration based on what Vanualailai said in his grab or voice clip.
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the University of the South Pacific Council needs to do a good clean up at USP and he is raising the question on why the position of Director for the Centre of Flexible Learning was not advertised externally.
Bainimarama is also raising the question where does National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad bring the issue of the Prime Minister making misogynistic comments when he is raising the issue about the appointment process.
The Prime Minister has called on Professor Biman Prasad to help in combatting corruption at USP and to ask his wife, Doctor Rajni Chand to resign from the post of Director for the Centre of Flexible Learning.
Speaking to fijivillage from Seaqaqa today, Bainimarama says the issue is about the appointment of Doctor Chand and he is raising the question on why the USP position was not advertised internationally based on the university’s practice.
The Prime Minister also calls on Professor Prasad not to bring the USP students into this issue. He says he now wants to know where is the GDP in this debate.
When contacted by fijivillage, the NFP Leader says this is cheap politics and he does not determine who gets appointed and how they get appointed at USP.
Prasad says it is childish of Bainimarama to attack him for something he is not responsible for when the Prime Minister should know that the university policy is not determined by Prasad.
Prasad stresses that it is not his place to ask Doctor Chand to resign and it is childish for the Prime Minister to be saying that he is walking out of parliament with his PHD and to see where is his GDP now. Doctor Chand’s office has referred all questions to the USP Communications Department.
Professor Pal Ahluwalia says he will not comment.
Fijivillage is still waiting for USP Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson’s comments regarding these claims.
Fijivillage had questioned Thompson last week whether he had received reports and complaints of political interference, whether any investigations were conducted and whether questions were raised about certain appointment processes. He is yet to respond.
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