The Vice Chancellor of the University of Fiji Professor Shaista Shameem has responded strongly to a Radio New Zealand (RNZ) report, quoting Professor Biman Prasad of the National Federation Party.

In the RNZ report, Mr Prasad said allegations of corruption and fraudulent practices at the University of Fiji cannot be ignored.

Professor Shameem said that Professor Prasad, as a professor himself, should know better than to repeat wild anonymous and defamatory allegations made through Radio New Zealand.

The University of Fiji has already informed Radio New Zealand (RNZ) that anyone making false and criminally defamatory allegations about any person at the university or the university itself, and anyone repeating these allegations, would be subjected to the strong arm of defamation law.

Professor Shameem said that also included politicians who take pot shots at the University of Fiji without substance or knowledge of the allegations, relying on gossip, innuendo and leaked misinformation from what should be a reputable media organisation.

Professor Shameem said that Professor Prasad should take a good hard look at his own backyard before shooting off without any evidence being presented at all in the wild allegations.

“The allegations sent to Radio New Zealand were made by disgruntled and disgraced former employees who were terminated due to lack of performance or breach of Fiji’s law and others who have not performed but expect to be promoted or given permanent employment.”

“The University of Fiji will not be bullied,” Professor Shameem said.

“As far as I am aware, no staff member has raised any matter to do with corruption or bad governance.”

The University of Fiji has a Whistleblower Policy which keeps identities confidential and ensures that independent investigation of any allegation takes place promptly.

“No one has so far made such allegations through the Whistleblower process. Evidence of bad management practices were certainly present at the University of Fiji in the previous administrations, but a cleanup has since taken place and we are back on the right path,” Professor Shameem said.

“Professor Biman is very out of date, which is not something he should be advertising about himself.”

“Politicians should get themselves up to scratch, otherwise no one will have any faith in them come next elections.”

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