The Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific (USP), Professor Pal Ahluwalia, is facing significant backlash as staff unions strike for his removal amid rising tensions at the Laucala Campus. The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Association (AUSPS) reports that the strike has entered its fourth day, with staff still waiting for a formal response from university management.
Critics, including staff and political commentators, have expressed frustration over Professor Ahluwalia’s absence during the strike. A recent release from USP indicated that he is currently engaged in official university duties throughout the region. According to the statement, he recently opened the new Solomon Islands campus in Honiara and participated in the graduation ceremony at the Tonga campus. Additionally, he is leading the USP delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, which includes multiple events related to the university.
Despite the university’s clarification regarding his whereabouts, the unions remain unconvinced. Professor Ahluwalia was also expected to participate in a symposium at the Fiji National University but withdrew at the last minute in favor of his CHOGM obligations. Rosalia Fatiaki, the AUSPS general secretary, emphasized the discontent within the unions, stating that even as issues escalate at Laucala Campus, the Vice-Chancellor was engaged in official travel. She highlighted the loss of regional representation in leadership and asserted that the unions are not attempting to politicize the matter.