The University of the South Pacific says Doctor Mahendra Reddy’s recent appointment to the USP’s Graduate School of Business was made following the University’s Human Resources Policy and Procedures.
While reacting to the union’s concerns, USP says the appointment of Doctor Reddy, like all appointments at the university, is based on merit, and USP’s policies and procedures do not discriminate based on political affiliations.
It says USP has a care of duty to all its staff and does not discuss HR matters outside of the respective appointments.
The university says they are aware of the concerns raised by the staff union and will respond to the union directly.
We are trying to get comments from Doctor Reddy.
The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff has recorded its strongest objections to the academic appointment of Doctor Mahendra Reddy at the Graduate School of Business.
In a letter to the Vice Chancellor of USP, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the Union President, Elizabeth Fong says they oppose Doctor Reddy’s appointment because he was a part of the Fiji Government that did not honour the decision of Parliament to pay its obligations and its outstanding member contribution due to USP.
Fong says this was a clear attempt to destroy USP as a regional institution.
She also says Doctor Reddy tried to undermine academic freedom by attacking the contribution of USP academics towards public policy debate in Fiji.
The Union President adds this is evident from his statements in and outside of the Fiji Parliament.
Fong also says Doctor Reddy was part of a Government that placed the regionally owned university in financial jeopardy that the students and staff of 12 countries are still feeling the effects of and now will be a beneficiary of the funds for personal gain that he voted to withhold for no valid reason.
She further says the staff increased workloads at all levels and negative impact on staff health are the result of the actions or decisions he took as a member of the FijiFirst Government. Fong highlighted comments by Doctor Reddy like one made at an international meeting in Nadi alleging “there is a lack of intellectuals in universities in the country … who are able to use their research to make a difference in policy making”.
She says his actions in Parliament went against the USP values that the staff are all measured against and expected to uphold.
Fong says this raises serious questions about Doctor Reddy’s ethics and integrity.
She also raises the issue that the process of appointment was not by advertisement.
The Union President says the USP Management has failed to consider the impact on the staff and students of this regional institution of the decisions that this man was party to.
Fong says staff are insulted at the appointment of such a person as the wounds of the FijiFirst Government are still raw and they call on the USP Management under its good governance responsibilities to review its decision.
We are trying to get comments from Professor Ahluwalia and Doctor Reddy.
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