USP Council says it has not made a decision to dismiss Ahluwalia

The University of the South Pacific Council has appointed a subcommittee to look at issues surrounding USP Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia’s contract and the council will meet again on the 16th of this month.

The Council has made a statement saying that it was not consulted over Professor Ahluwalia’s deportation, it has not made a decision to dismiss him and expressed disappointment that it was not advised, as Professor Ahluwalia’s employer, of the decision to deport him.

The committee will be headed by Nauru President and USP Chancellor, Lionel Aingimea, one representative each from Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Solomon Islands, and two representatives from the USP Senate.

The subcommittee will bring recommendations on these matters to the council.

In the interim, Dr Giulio Masasso Paunga, will be Acting Vice-Chancellor and President.

The council met all day today debating on Ahluwalia’s contract.

Fiji was represented by Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Education Minister Rosy Akbar, Permanent Secretary for Education Anjeela Jokhan, USP Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson, Mahmood Khan and Fay Yee.

The USP Staff Association President, Elizabeth Fong says they are happy with the fair outcome and they will now wait for the committee’s report and the Council’s decision.

Speaking to Legend FM News from Brisbane, Professor Ahluwalia says he was blocked from attending the council meeting via zoom.

He also says only the council can decide on his contract after we asked him on whether his contract will be terminated if he cannot operate from the Laucala Campus.

Ahluwalia says there have been illegal attempts to frustrate his contract by removing him from Fiji.

He says Nauru President and USP Chancellor, Lionel Aingimea had already circulated that the USP Council should agree in the meeting today that the Vice-Chancellor can operate the university from any of the member countries.

When questioned on the Fijian government’s statement that Ahluwalia and his wife, Sandra Price had repeatedly breached the Immigration Act, Ahluwalia says he was never told about this until officials appeared at his house on Wednesday night.

Professor Ahluwalia also says there was no political interference on his part and meeting some people at functions does not mean that he is politically interfering.

He also says he and his wife were manhandled by the officials on Wednesday night which also resulted in bruises on his wife’s arm.

We have sent questions to Fiji Police.

Meanwhile, the Fijian government has stated that the Immigration Department ordered Pal Aluwahlia and his partner to leave Fiji with immediate effect following continuous breaches by both individuals of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.

It says that under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.

The government statement says Aluwahlia and Price were foreign citizens in Fiji on work permits.

Although Fiji cancelled my work permit and frustrated my contract in a premeditated move, it is only Council that had the right to hire or dismiss the VCP. Please keep up your prayers for good to win over evil.

— Professor Pal Ahluwalia, USP VC (@pal_vcp) February 4, 2021

It says after repeated breaches by both individuals of the provisions of Section 13 of the Immigration Act, their actions have clearly violated the terms of their work permits, resulting in their subsequent deportation.

The government says similar criteria have been applied to other foreign nationals in Fiji in the past and, as a sovereign nation, Fiji will continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards any breaches of its immigration law.

It says there are thousands of foreign citizens on work permits in Fiji who conduct themselves and their business in line with the requirements of the Immigration Act while making invaluable contributions to Fiji's socio-economic development.

The government further says following recent amendments to Fiji's Immigration Act, foreign nationals can work and do business in Fiji more easily than ever, and Fiji will continue to welcome foreign nationals whose contributions, experience, and investments enrich the lives of the Fijian people.