All staff contracts including terminations, are confidential – USP

The University of the South Pacific will not comment on the termination of Dr Tamara Osborne-Naikatini, Lecturer in Biology and President of the Association of USP Staff, stating that all staff contracts, including terminations, are confidential.

In a statement, the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the USP Staff Union (USPSU) showed their concern about the termination, which they said was seen as bullying and vindictive.

USP says they are not at liberty to discuss staff information with third parties.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff and the USP Staff Union will be pursuing relevant processes to address the termination of Dr Osborne-Naikatini.

The Association says on the 9th of this month, the Vice-Chancellor of USP Professor, Pal Ahluwalia, launched a vicious attack on the staff unions and freedom of speech at USP through the issuance of the termination letter for Dr Osborne-Naikatini effective from the 12th of this month for speaking to the media.

They say Dr Osborne-Naikatini stood for the staff of USP and fought for good governance, which ultimately led to her termination.

They also say the University’s claim of `gross misconduct’ stems from information Dr Osborne-Naikatini allegedly shared, as Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff President, in an Islands Business interview reported in the March 2024 edition that revealed a flawed process in the review of the performance of the Vice-Chancellor and President (VCP), Professor Ahluwalia that subsequently led to a two-year renewal of the contract.

They add that Dr Osborne-Naikatini was the staff representative on the Senate to the Review Committee.

They say senior staff can only be terminated by the VCP, and HR is the implementer of the decision.

They further say staff have no recourse for appeal as the Vice-Chancellor has failed to fill the `Visitor’ position. They add that this is not only an attack on the unions at USP but on the freedom of unions in Fiji.

They are urging their sister unions, NGOs, and relevant organizations to stand in solidarity with them to condemn this action in the strongest terms.

The Association says a joint letter was sent from the unions to the Vice-Chancellor last Thursday calling for the reconsideration of his decision, and the letter reminded Professor Ahluwalia of the 2019 saga where the unions stood steadfast with him when he was victimized as the whistleblower.

They say he seems to have a short-lived memory.