Page 10 - IB June 2020

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USP student protests Photo: USPSA

THE USP SAGA

WHY IT MATTERS AND WHAT’S NEXT?

By Samisoni Pareti and Samantha Magick students, who see it as a victory for good governance, activ-
ism and regional unity, the matter is far from over.
When University of the South Pacific Vice Chancellor and Bad blood between VC Ahluwalia and Pro Chancellor
President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia walked back onto USP’s Winston Thompson first emerged more than a year ago, and
Suva campus on June 22, he was accompanied by songs of was made public in Islands Business’ May 2019 issue, which
celebration from staff and students who lined the path to his revealed “allegations of serious cases of mismanagement and
office. abuse of process” at USP under the former Vice Chancellor,
The embattled VC was returning to his office three days Rajesh Chandra and Thompson. In that article, Thompson
after the full USP Council had reinstated him at a meeting told Islands Business that he regretted the appointment of
called on the insistence of USP governments, resolving that Professor Ahluwalia five months earlier.
“it was not persuaded that due process was followed in [his] Publicity over the allegations prompted the USP Council to
suspension”. appoint Auckland-based accounting firm BDO to undertake an
Two weeks earlier on June 8, an Executive Committee of independent investigation into the matter. Their report was
the Council had suspended Professor Ahluwalia from duties handed to USP on August 21, 2019, and a short, summarised
with pay so that “an independent investigation” into allega- version was publicly released. A Council sub-committee,
tions against him could be conducted. The Committee ap- headed by Samoa’s Deputy PM Fiame Naomi Mataafa, and
pointed Professor Derrick Armstrong as Acting Vice-Chancellor including Fiji Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Cook
and President to manage the affairs of the University. Islands PM Henry Puna was appointed to look at the recom-
It was the latest salvo in a conflict that has come as the uni- mendations. It in turn appointed a three-person Commission
versity has struggled to retain its place as a cradle of learning to examine the BDO report and make specific recommenda-
for future Pacific leaders, to recruit, retain and nurture aca- tions to the USP.
demic staff, continue to deliver courses and support students The Commission members are independent education con-
through COVID-19, put regionalism into practice, ensure it sultant Graeme McNally, the Deputy Head, School of Business
remains relevant and stays financially afloat. at the University of New South Wales Professor Satish Chand
And while the reinstatement of Vice Chancellor Ahluwalia and Professor Jenni Lightowlers, who is a founding Partner
has brought joy and a sense of vindication to many staff and of Francis, Abourizk, Lightowlers (FAL) law firm. The work of

10 Islands Business, June 2020