Usamate Urges USP to Consider Pal 'Step Down'

The University of the South Pacific (USP) needs to consider the offer of its vice-chancellor and president (VCP), Professor Pal Ahluwalia's offer to step down from his position, says Group of l6 (Gl6) Member of Parliament Jone Usamate.

He made the comment in Parliament on Friday after reports surfaced that Mr Ahluwalia had offered to step down during the 98th USP Council meeting at Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Reliable sources told this masthead that the council has called for the appointment of an interim VCP, the negotiation of terms, and the holding of a special USP Council meeting to finalise transitional arrangements by the end of January.

USP, in a response on Tuesday, denied the claim.

"For a long time, we have talked about the things that have been going on at the University of the South Pacific," Mr Usamate said

"There is a need for transparency to be shown in the way that it had been led. The audits need to be undertaken." Mr Usamate urges the USP Council to address staff woes.

He said the university saga was the result of poor leadership.

"Recently, we saw how the staff members reacted to the leadership and for me, as a former student, as a person who wants to see USP maintain it reputation, its image, as a place of great learning- do the right thing," Mr Usamate said.

"I encourage USP to accept the vice-chancellor's offer to resign and let's carry out the investigation to make sure that USP does its work well."

Feedback: jone.salusalu@fijisun.com.fj