Page 12 - IB June 2019

Cover Story

but from all our island nations.
“You know we have a very, very good staff and some of them
are already world class, it is just helping out our junior people,
because we are relatively short of professors. Like only 4% of our
workforce are full professors and to benchmark to the world’s top
universities, we will need about 20% professors in an institution.
So we have to build more capacity and this takes time, it does
not just happen overnight.
“We have the budget and we are working with it, and you know
that we have to prioritise, that is what strategic plan is all about,
it is about establishing some priorities, of how the money should
be spent and that is the vision that I will be taking back to the
council in November, that is to ask council to share that vision
USP staff and students meet in support of the VC in Suva Photo: Peni Komaisavai
and hopefully that they will approve this plan in November.”
threshold for publications, has already been met. He names So did the USP Council under the chairmanship of Fiji’s Thomp-
amongst other criteria; citations of publications, student-staff son make the right decision in leaving the future of the regional
ratios, the number of doctorate degrees in the teaching faculty, university in the hands of Professor Ahluwalia?
the percentage of international academics in the university, and The question was not directly put to the Vice Chancellor during
the number of undergraduates produced. the interview, but he alluded to his passion and determination to
“I think we are not that far [off], because the biggest area is do good for the university when talking about the vision he has
the publication one and that keeps most universities from the for the regional institution:
developing world out, because we have crossed that threshold, “One of the things that I have said time and time again since I
I am hoping next year we will be able to make a submission. have been in the university is that I am really here to serve and
“The scientists will play a big impact in this and we have world that I am a servant of the university and my core values, is that
class scientists. You know our work in climate change, on oceans I am a very faith-oriented person and spirituality teaches me that
it is really world class. So you know it is really our scientists, we you are not to be a boss but you are here to serve.
have some really good physicists. One of our physicists produced “For me the idea is whether you are a cleaner at the university
a paper in Nature, it is those things that really, really count in these or the Vice-Chancellor, we are all part of the same team trying to
rankings and that is why we are developing, we will continue to get USP to a much better place. Every single person in the uni-
need more international staff to come in and help us cross that versity is like a jig-saw, they are the little piece and when we put
threshold but at the same time it is my vision that we have to also all of them together and you make it work together, it becomes
nurture and build good capacity amongst the islands because that like a team that is super.
is the only way that we will become sustainable into the future.” “So including my senior team, management, my aim has al-
“Would that require more money from the 12-island countries ways been, I am not after individual star or stars, but I am after
that own the university?” we asked. a star team that delivers for the benefit of the university.”
“We need a mixture, we need both, neither one or the other is
the solution…because we need that help, we need people globally r editor@islandsbusiness.com
to help us to nurture, we have very good people not only in Fiji

It’s criminal – tax experts say: toms Authority) for tax evasion through the alleged interfer-
ence with FRCA’s point of sale application.
Deferring the payment of back pay when it is due to avoid The question of tax evasion was raised in the Ahluwalia
the payment of social responsibility tax is illegal under Fiji’s report, in which he alleged that Pro Chancellor Thompson
taxation laws, two tax experts have told Islands Business permitted his predecessor not to be paid his 2016-2018 back
magazine. pay when it was paid out to the rest of the university’s Senior
“It is tax planning to avoid paying taxes, and is illegal and can Management Team in July 2018.
be penalised under [the] normal set of tax penalties, or the tax No figures are mentioned in the report, although sources tell
office can put up a criminal case,” says a taxation consultant, Islands Business that the back pay amounted to F$242,949
who asked not to be named. (US$113,106).
“Deferment of salaries for high-end employees is viewed “When I assumed office on January 2nd 2019, I was
with all caution by the tax office. Also, deferment of salaried informed about the request for back pay deferment and
and wages to escape higher tax brackets are illegal.” payment,” wrote Professor Ahluwalia. “My investigation
A taxation lawyer we also consulted agreed. According to indicated that his back pay should have been paid in July
him, local authorities have come down hard on executives who 2018 to comply with the tax laws of Fiji.
are disclosing reduced incomes in order to avoid paying higher “I subsequently sought advice from the Tax Department and
percentage of income tax. was told that this must be taxed at 2018 rates as otherwise
He cited the case of two directors of a Suva supermarket who this would amount to tax evasion. I have therefore protected
are under investigation by FICAC (Fiji Independent Commission the University from engaging in any tax evasive acts.”
Against Corruption) for tax evasion, by declaring lesser salaries When this was put to Pro Chancellor Thompson, he said:
than they were actually paying themselves. “This matter is irrelevant. Whether back pay is paid out in
The two were reportedly dobbed in by a relative who was 2018 or 2019, taxes will still have to be paid.”
himself under investigation by FRCA (Fiji Revenue and Cus-

12 Islands Business, June 2019