Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhary has raised concerns regarding the travel of Pal Ahluwalia, the vice-chancellor of the University of the South Pacific (USP), to Samoa during the ongoing crisis at the institution.
Chaudhary visited union members at the Laucala Campus who are currently on strike. He stated that the Fiji Labour Party is questioning the delay in addressing long-standing staff grievances at USP, which have led to the current stalemate between the university’s management and its unions.
Despite a council order for the vice-chancellor to relocate to Fiji, Chaudhary noted that Ahluwalia has not yet moved into the official residence on the Laucala campus. The dispute at USP has persisted since 2021, and Chaudhary emphasized the need for a swift resolution. He highlighted serious allegations related to mismanagement, abuse of office, irregularities in promotions, and potential corruption.
Chaudhary insisted that the allegations against Ahluwalia are credible, citing an independent report supporting these claims from November. The strike has now entered its third day.