The leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhary, has raised concerns about the University of the South Pacific’s vice-chancellor, Pal Ahluwalia, traveling to Samoa amidst the ongoing turmoil at the University.
Chaudhary met with striking USP union members on the Laucala Campus yesterday. He expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress in addressing longstanding staff grievances at USP, which have led to the current standoff between the university’s management and its unions.
He noted that despite a directive from the Council to move to Fiji, the vice-chancellor has yet to occupy the official residence at the Laucala campus. The dispute at USP has persisted since 2021 and requires urgent resolution. Allegations of mismanagement, abuse of office, irregular promotional practices, and potential corruption have been cited.
Chaudhary asserted that the allegations against Ahluwalia are valid, referencing an independent report that corroborated the claims last November. The strike has now reached its third day.