Page 10 - IB June 2019

Cover Story

USP’s new Vice Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia Photo: Peni Komaisavai

A rocky start for USP’s tendency to dig up the dirt of the past, and to associate with
Ambassador Thompson claims Professor Ahluwalia has a
those who have a clear agenda and an axe to grind against the
new Vice Chancellor previous management. Ambassador Thompson claims he had to
counsel Professor Ahluwalia twice on the need to keep matters
of the university confidential.
By Samisoni Pareti Ambassador Thompson has not accused his Vice Chancellor
of leaking the confidential and controversial report. But he says
WITH the leak of a damaging internal report about the University when the report was first tabled at the university’s executive
of the South Pacific, which details allegations of widespread abuse council meeting in March, as chair he put a stop to the discussion.
and questionable appointments—including speedy promotions “Firstly the report was not made available to council members
and the unilateral renewal of certain staff contracts—does the until the morning of the meeting. Second, I felt that since the
future of the regional institution hang in the balance? report had not sought the views of those accused or named in the
It’s an emphatic yes if you ask Winston Thompson, retired report, it was one- sided and therefore prejudicial to those named.
Fijian diplomat and current Pro Chancellor of the USP. He believes “I insisted that the views of those named in the report be
that in Professor Pal Ahluwalia, USP’s new Vice Chancellor and obtained before the matter is then brought back to the council
President, the USP is not in safe hands. for discussions.”
“Do you want to sack him,” Islands Business asked Ambas- “I then instructed that all copies of the report be returned and
sador Thompson in a recent interview. these were to be kept by the Audit and Compliance Unit of the uni-
“Yes I want to,” he replied. versity. I don’t know how a copy was leaked to your magazine.”
“Do you have the powers to sack him,” IB asked. Our sources say some Executive Council members insisted
“No I don’t,” was the response. that the rules of the university ought to be followed, in that an
“But didn’t you head the committee that selected Professor independent investigation must be done to look into the report
Ahluwalia in the first place,” we asked. of the new Vice Chancellor. This was carried, and the matter was
“Yes, that’s the unfortunate thing,” answered Thompson, on the agenda of the Council’s meeting in April.
before adding: “But this was before this other trait of him was It was at the April meeting that Pro Chancellor Thompson and
noticed.” the chair of the executive council learnt that Fiji’s Independent
Professor Ahluwalia is the author of the report that makes a Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) was investigating al-
large number of damning allegations about management of the legations of financial abuse and questionable promotions and
university. Ambassador Thompson says it was not until after appointments of senior university staff. Thompson was reportedly
the new VC was hired, that he became aware of his “vindictive” furious at the involvement of FICAC.
nature. The matter is now out of Thompson’s hands with the full

10 Islands Business, June 2019