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those commissioners continues. legations, other unusual salary and allowance arrangements
This month—and almost a year later— the full BDO report were found to be true: “When analysed critically they do not
was leaked. It names 25 senior USP academics and staff who, make commercial sense,” BDO said. Payments were made as
it was alleged in the original dossier from Professor Ahluwalia, “inducement allowances’, “responsibility allowances” and
were involved in payment manipulation. Most of the cases “acting allowances” and bonuses.
involved a system of allowance payments not usually seen in Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson Pro Chancellor has told
other universities. the Fiji Times that “people should stop trying to resurrect the
While BDO dismissed some of Professor Ahluwalia’s al- BDO report, as it is “now history.” But now that it is in the

READING FIJI’S SUDDEN CHANGE OF TACK

By Samisoni Pareti

“We call for the immediate suspension of the individu-
als who are holding current positions at USP and further
investigation about the matter,” demands a petition being
circulated on the internet a day or so after the governing
body of the university, the USP Council ordered the rein-
statement of its vice chancellor and president, Professor
Pal Ahluwalia.
Just 24 hours after its online launch, the petition had
already collected more than 700 signatures. Its sponsor is
Dr Rohitesh Chandra, is a former lecturer of the university.
“Immediate suspension of individuals implicated in the
BDO Report on mismanagement at USP” was the petition’s
headline.
Dr Chandra and supporters of the petition plan to submit
it to the incoming Chancellor of the USP, President Lionel
Aingimea of Nauru. It stems from fears that while the
Council had returned Professor Ahluwalia to his role, it had The May 2019 issue of Islands Business first revealed tensions at USP
left or so it appears, controversial Pro Chancellor Winston
Thompson of Fiji alone, as well as the 25 senior managers,
and academics and support staff who were named in the
BDO audit report.
Equally worrying for supporters of transparency and good of Tonga, be recused from the meeting. The motion was
governance at the university was the sudden change in the carried 22 votes to 7, with two (the Marshall Island Ambas-
position of the Fijian Government at the June 19 special sador in Fiji and the USP Staff Union rep) abstentions.
Council meeting. Going into the meeting as the biggest Fiji’s change of tactics triggered speculation that Fiji
supporter – and sponsor some would even argue – of moves had brokered a deal by agreeing to support the return of
to oust Professor Ahluwalia, Fiji’s education minister Rosie Ahluwalia and asking for Thompson to remain. Others be-
Akbar startled the meeting when she asked that the motion lieve, including those behind the online petition, that the
to reinstate the vice chancellor – who had been suspended trade-off was for senior staff implicated in the BDO Report
by her and other members of the Council’s executive com- to be exempt from any further investigation. A member
mittee just one week earlier – be carried without the need of the Council believed otherwise, suggesting Akbar saved
for a vote. herself and her supporters from further embarrassment
The sudden change of heart shocked most members of knowing that they did not have the numbers to block the
the Council given that only an hour or so earlier, she and VC’s return.
four other Fijian Government representatives in the Council Another Council member proposes the notion that Fiji
voted against Nauru’s motion that Pro Chancellor Thompson has not given up the fight to reaffirm its authority at the
and Chair of the Council’s audit and risk committee Mah- regional university, and expulsion of non-Fijian citizens at
mood Khan plus Deputy Pro Chancellor Aloma Johansson USP is still an option the host nation could pursue.

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