Page 5 - IB Mar 2020

We say

STOP THE ROT AT USP

The rot continues at the University of the South Pacific. As
we went to print, news broke that the USP’s supreme body,
the USP Council has established a team to investigate its vice
chancellor and president Professor Pal Ahluwalia.
The formation of the investigative team was announced
in a letter Pro Chancellor and chair of USP Council Winston
Thompson sent to Council members dated March 16 in which
he wrote:
“I write to advise the Council that following legal advice
and in accordance with the provisions of the ordinance
to govern the discipline of the vice chancellor, and in
consultation with the deputy pro vice chancellor, I have
appointed a subcommittee to investigate allegations of
material misconduct against vice chancellor and president
Professor Pal Ahluwalia.”
The committee appointed by Thompson consists of three
Fijians, Mahmood Khan (chair), Fay Yee and Semi Tukana. The USP Vice Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia USP Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson
fourth member is Petunia Tupou, a Tongan lawyer.
Thompson has declined to comment to Islands Business on
the letter he had sent to members of the USP Council.
“I would neither confirm nor deny,” was all he said.
The Pro-Chancellor’s letter does not specify what against COVID-19. A statement provided to Islands Business
allegations he is making against Professor Ahluwalia, but by Associate Professor Morgan Tuimalealiifano in response
another document he authored and sighted by Islands Business to the latest developments says: “The current state of
from August 2019 criticises the new Vice Chancellor for his regionalism is under threat by the apparent political
attitude towards the induction process prepared for him, interference from Fiji government representatives on
perceived disrespect for decisions made by the USP Council , council in the routine operations of the region’s university.”
public criticism of the university, “irrational decision making”, Professor Tuimalealiifano says the Pro Chancellor’s directive
undermining of USP’s strategic plan and alleges that “staff that Professor Ahluwalia self-quarantine after returning from
morale plummeted and some important senior managers were Australia is another attempt to sack the Vice Chancellor.
sidelined from the beginning.” Thompson also refers to the We say that for the sake of USP’s member nations,
decline in income suffered by the university as the result of academics and most importantly its students, greater
controversy there. efforts be made to independently appoint members of any
It’s unclear how the newly-appointed subcommittee will investigative committees. The perception is that Thompson
operate, given that in its last meeting, the USP Council is too close to the controversy to be considered independent.
had formed a three-member commission to oversee the The differences between him and the Vice Chancellor seem
recommendations of an earlier investigation that BDO intractable. By appointing Khan to this new committee, the
accounting firm in New Zealand had produced. Pro Chancellor has only entrenched perceptions of vested
That BDO audit examined allegations of mismanagement interests.
and questionable appointments at the university that were The full BDO report should also be released. The brief
raised by Professor Ahluwalia against his predecessor Professor summary leaked to media has been interpreted in wildly
Rajesh Chandra. differing ways by those with vested interests, only adding to
The BDO report has never been publicly released in the confusion and conspiracy theories.
its entirety. A summary released last September noted: We say a well-functioning, top quality regional university
“oversight, governance and control of remuneration is a key still has a place. Many of our current leaders across all fields
weakness across the university” and that four remuneration of society are alumni of USP, and the relationships they have
mechanisms—inducement allowances, responsibility and forged in lecture halls, tutor rooms, libraries and dining halls
acting allowances, bonuses and consultancy arrangements— are critical to building and maintaining regional understanding
“have collectively been exploited and have led to significant and unity at a time when that unity is more important than
cash leakage across USP over a number of years.” ever.
For now Professor Ahluwalia is in self-isolation following
a recent overseas trip. USP cancelled two of its scheduled editor@islandsbusiness.com
graduation ceremonies in March as a precautionary measure We say is compiled under guidance of the editors.

Islands Business, March 2020 5