Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific (USP), is currently engaged in official duties, dispelling rumors of a vacation. This clarification came in response to concerns regarding his absence from the Laucala Campus, especially amidst ongoing protests by the Association of USP Staff and the USP Staff Union.
In a recent statement, USP highlighted that Professor Ahluwalia has been active in various events, including the opening of the new Solomon Islands Campus in Honiara and attending a graduation ceremony at the Tonga Campus. He was also present at the Pacific Islands Universities Research Network meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Currently, the Vice-Chancellor is leading the USP delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, where the university is taking part in the opening ceremony and other important discussions, including a scholarship announcement by King Charles III.
The university emphasized that claims of Professor Ahluwalia being on holiday are entirely unfounded and expressed disappointment regarding union members labeling the Laucala Campus as a “marketplace,” especially considering the institution’s high-quality facilities.
Furthermore, USP clarified that suggestions regarding salary increase demands being part of the strike mandate are incorrect and reaffirmed that staff terms and conditions are not involved in the official strike mandate. The university also supported Education Minister Aseri Radrodro’s call for resolving the issue through dialogue and adherence to university processes and Fiji’s Employment Relations Act.