The USP staff unions are demanding that the USP Council Sub-Committee looking into issues surrounding the contract of Professor Pal Ahluwalia obtains a second independent legal opinion and present the two opinions to the USP Council.
The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff and the University of the South Pacific Union are concerned about statements made by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in parliament last Friday about the law firm Munro Leys and Fijian Government on Professor Ahluwalia's deportation.
Sayed-Khaiyum told parliament that USP's lawyers are Munro Leys and they gave a legal opinion.
The USP staff unions say the USP Council as Professor Ahluwalia's employer has not revoked his contract and therefore, in justice and fairness, they have been informed that the USP Council has agreed that Professor Ahluwalia will continue to receive his salary and full benefits of the position including reinstatement of his official email until a final decision is taken on the matter.
After the special meeting yesterday, the USP Council said it was not able to consider further the matter of the contract of Professor Ahluwalia as the Sub-Committee is yet to present its recommendations to the Council.
The USP Council has extended the appointment of Dr Giulio Masasso Tu'ikolongahau Paunga as Acting Vice-Chancellor and President until further notice.
Fiji was represented at the special USP Council meeting by Education Minister Rosy Akbar, Permanent Secretary for Education Anjeela Jokhan and the Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma.
We have asked USP for a response to the statement by the USP Staff Unions.
