Unmoved: Thompson Remains Firm On Good Governance

University of the South Pacific Pro Chancellor and chairman of the USP Council Winston Thompson is not stepping down.

His stance remains. He said the university’s executive committee acted within its powers to suspend USP Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, pending investigations.

The committee met on Monday.

Professor Pal was suspended on Tuesday for alleged material misconduct.

Mr Thompson said the governance instrument in which they operated in was clear and the executive committee had the power under the statutes and ordinance of the University to take action.

“For anyone to claim that our meeting on Monday was illegal is clearly incorrect,” Mr Thompson said.

“If you read that statute and the ordinance, it gives specific power to the executive committee to do what it did.”

The statute states that in an emergency, the executive committee may act on behalf of the council, but must immediately report the matters to the members of the council, he said.

“All along we have maintained the legality and the validity of what we are doing,” Mr Thompson said.

“Although there have been attempts saying that it has not been done, we are still within the legislation of the governing body governing this university,” he said.

“I make this point to clarify the issue of legality.”

Mr Thompson also clarified that it was important to understand that Professor Pal was being suspended, therefore he still held the position.

“The investigations will be carried out to see that the allegations are true or not, and it will also clear him if he has not caused any gross negligence in his responsibility.

“The suspension does not mean he is guilty, but the allegations need to be investigated.

“There is a long list of allegations and it needs to be thoroughly investigated so that we are clear the outcomes.”

He said those who were trying to discredit the governance process were trying to make out that some of this should have gone back to the full council to decide.

This, he said, was not for the full council to decide.

He also said that attempts to meet the USP staff and Student Association proved futile.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet with our own stakeholders to resolve issues,” he said.

“We hope that the staff and students will allow due process to take place and that business within the university will go on as usual.”

He said an independent commission would be set up by the executive council after consulting the main council to investigate the allegations soon.

Mr Thompson said claims of the Fijian Government hijacking the university legislations were false.

He said these claims were based on misinformation that some continue to spread.

Council meeting soon

More than 10 council members have written to the council chairman calling for an urgent meeting. He said this would take place as soon as procurements are finalised.

Those who called for an urgent meeting include, Meg Taylor, a council member and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat secretary general, Marise Payne, the Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister, and incoming Chancellor and President of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea.

Meanwhile, staff at the USP library ceased all services, which required staff interaction yesterday.

This was confirmed by the Acting Vice-Chancellor Derrick Armstrong.

He said he was unclear of any directive issued to stop library services provided by the staff.

USP library had tweeted during the day that while the library was open, services that required staff interaction were not available.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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