The Association of the USP Staff and the USP Staff Union say everyone should ask the question why is the Fijian Government so hell-bent on damaging the premier regional institution that has benefitted Fiji more than any other country, by overruling a decision of Parliament; threatening the education of Fiji voters and students and Pacific students; threatening the employment of staff of whom 80 percent are Fijians and jeopardising the Pacific vuvale relationships.
They have released the statement after Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made it clear that Fiji does not accept Professor Pal Ahluwalia as the Vice Chancellor of USP, and will not release any grants to USP until proper processes are followed to appoint a new VC and an independent investigation is carried out against Ahluwalia.
In a statement, the President of the Association, Elizabeth Fong and President of the Union, Tarisi Vacala say whilst the university has challenges due to the COVID pandemic, the financial challenges resulting from Fiji reneging on its obligations since 2019, adds to an already difficult situation.
They say USP will survive this assault on its integrity with the collective efforts of all its staff and students across the 14 campuses and centres under the leadership of Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia from the Samoa Campus.
Fong and Vacala say the USP staff are deeply perturbed at the extent to which the Fijian Government will go to disrupt and undermine the university in its personalised vendetta against Professor Ahluwalia.
They say the University Council currently comprises 32 members from Cook Islands (1), Fiji (5), Kiribati (1), Marshall Islands (1), Nauru (1), Niue (1) Samoa (2), Solomon Islands (1) Tonga (1), Tokelau (1), Tuvalu (1) Vanuatu (1) Australia (1), New Zealand with (1) Staff Representatives (2), Student Representatives (2), Senate Representatives (2), Pro-Chancellor (1), Vice-Chancellor (1), Co-opted (4) & Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (1) and is the legal appointing body of the Vice-Chancellor and President as well as his employer. Fong and Vacala say what is significant in this process is that a substantial majority voted in accordance with Council recommendations to give Professor Ahluwalia a new contract. They say abstentions and opposition were insignificant in this democratic process, and the minority included the Fiji members.
They say the majority ruled and the dignified response is to accept the decision with respect and humility, a Pacific trait sorely lacking in the Fiji representation.
Fong and Vacala say it should be noted that since the USP Council as the employer did not terminate Ahluwalia’s employment, therefore any reference by the Attorney General to the process of appointment are null and void.
They further say the Attorney General is insulting the supreme governance body of the university that includes Heads of sovereign Pacific States, Ministers, students, staff, donors and members of the community.
They reiterate that the AG does not understand that since the Council did not terminate the Vice Chancellor Ahluwalia’s contract, a new advertisement for recruitment was not required.
The Association and the Union say it should also be noted that all allegations against Ahluwalia have been cleared by the USP Council.
They say Fiji has the highest number of USP enrolments and beneficiaries, it must pay its dues’ accordingly, noting that for every dollar it gives, the Fiji economy receives $9 in return.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has today stressed that Fiji does not accept Professor Pal Ahluwalia as the Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, and will not release any grants to the USP until proper processes are followed to appoint a new VC and an independent investigation is carried out against Ahluwalia.
While speaking in parliament, Sayed-Khaiyum says they are also considering options to recommend to the Prime Minister to have a Commission of Inquiry into the USP.
He says with the Vice Chancellor’s Office located in Samoa, it should now be the responsibility of the Samoan Government to host the office.
Sayed-Khaiyum says a KPMG Report has found 7 instances where he alleges Ahluwalia had seriously breached the authority of the Vice Chancellor. He says he refers to Ahluwalia as a former Vice Chancellor as they do not recognize what he calls the illegal appointment.
The Attorney General made allegations of mismanagement, nepotism, cronyism and fraud against Ahluwalia in parliament.
He also raised questions on a number appointments of certain individuals and says they were allegedly done in breach of processes.
Sayed-Khaiyum says Fiji has demanded on numerous occasions that the USP Council must carry out an independent investigation on all the allegations by the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Mahmood Khan.
Fiji is the largest contributor to USP. In 2019, Fiji paid a grant of $26.6 million which is 70.85 percent of the grants paid by the regional countries.
He says since 2014, Fiji has also contributed about $140 million to USP by way of TELS and Toppers fees.
National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says here we have a COVID crisis in the country with many deaths and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum finds time to make gutter level attacks against some people at the USP.
Professor Prasad says he is proud of his wife and she is a role model for thousands of girls and women in the country.
He says this gutter level attack is coming from a man who is allegedly practicing nepotism by appointing some of his relatives.
Professor Prasad says his wife, Doctor Rajni Chand holds a PHD in Distance Education and Flexible Learning, and the KPMG Report found that all the appointments including Doctor Chand’s were done properly.
The NFP Leader says the USP Council has regional representatives including people from Australia and New Zealand, and they are dealing with the issues and making decisions.
He says by all means they all want good governance and they can have a Commission of Inquiry but there is a governance structure within the USP, and that should be respected as well.
Professor Prasad says Fiji is also the largest beneficiary for the last 50 years from USP with thousands of students going through the university and even businesses like taxis, shops and flat owners also benefitting from it.
He also says the grant paid to the USP is not the government’s but it is from the Fijian taxpayers.
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