Pal Back As Vice-Chancellor, Fong Plans Strike Action

The University of the South Pacific (USP) Staff Association will meet to discuss its next move after the 96th Council meeting at the Laucala Campus yesterday failed to solve its grievances.

The next course of action will not rule out the possibility of strike action by university staff, said USP Staff Association president Elizabeth Fong.

Members protested outside the meeting venue over the past two days calling for the removal of Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

The association claimed that the VC has failed the university staff that stood by him in his darkest moments.

After the two-day meeting, Professor Ahluwalia was reappointed to the position.

Ms Fong said the association was utterly disappointed at the lack of action by the university on grievances of the staff.

“If we have to strike, we’ll strike but it has to be when it will have the most impact and by law we have to give 21 days’ notice so it’s not going to happen at Christmas,” Ms Fong said.

“We have to go through the process in accordance with the law so we’ll meet and decide what form it will take and when it will happen.”

She said the staff had agreed to take the issue to the next level.

“We won’t go back to management,” Ms Fong said.

“We gathered again this morning to show our solidarity and to convey to the council that we were disappointed so when we saw Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad come in, we told him we were disappointed because he didn’t support us.

“He said it will work out but it won’t.” USP

In a statement yesterday, the university confirmed that Professor Ahluwalia had been reappointed.

The meeting was chaired by the acting Pro-Chancellor and chair of council and Government of New Zealand representative, Emeritus Professor Pat Walsh, in place of Hilda Heine, who was away from university business. Professor Walsh welcomed the reappointment of the Vice-Chancellor and expressed his and the council’s endorsement.

Professor Ahluwalia thanked the council for its continued support and looks forward to serving the university and the region. Professor Ahluwalia said the university was delivering its priorities successfully against the backdrop of declining enrolment numbers and financial constraints.

The council was updated on the finances of the university and noted the ongoing challenges the university continues to face.

The council adopted the Proposed Annual Plan for 2024 and noted the financial strategies for the coming year.

It also approved the Financial Plan for 2024 and adopted the Audited Financial Statements for the half-year ended 30 June 2023.

The council further noted the impact and risks associated with the financial challenges being faced by the university largely due to the decline in student numbers. Management outlined its strategies for mitigating the challenges ahead.

OPPOSITION TALKS ON ISSUE

Senior Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate said USP had become a hot topic all of a sudden.

“When FijiFirst was in Government, we voiced our concerns on leadership and governance at USP. VC Ahluwahlia was not allowed to operate from Fiji because he breached the conditions of his work permit,” Mr Usamate said.

“The staff of the USP were vehement in objecting to our stance and they called for him to be let back into the country.

“And what do you know, it has now been a 180-degree turnaround by the same USP staff who wanted him back – a complete change of view by USP staff.” Mr Usamate said the same people who were supporting Professor Ahluwalia had turned against him.

“When FijiFirst Government stopped paying grant to USP, it did so for the simple reason to get an independent enquiry done on the basis of audit and risk committee’s recommendation. This was never done.”

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