Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific (USP), is facing significant backlash as two staff unions continue their strike demanding his removal. The strike has entered its fourth day, and the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff Association (AUSPS) has expressed frustration over the lack of formal communication from the university’s senior management.
While the protests around his leadership escalate, Professor Ahluwalia has been criticized by staff and political commentators for his absence during this tumultuous period. A statement released by USP indicated that he is currently involved in official university assignments throughout the region.
Recent activities include officiating the opening of the new Solomon Islands campus in Honiara and attending a graduation ceremony in Tonga. The statement also noted that Professor Ahluwalia is leading a USP delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, where the university is participating in various events, including the opening ceremony and roundtable discussions.
Despite these clarifications regarding his location, union representatives remain unconvinced. The unions point out that Professor Ahluwalia was also slated to attend a symposium at Fiji National University but declined at the last moment due to his commitments in Samoa.
The AUSPS General Secretary, Rosalia Fatiaki, emphasized the urgency of the situation at Laucala Campus, where tensions remain high. She remarked, “While the houses are burning at Laucala Campus, the Vice-Chancellor is on a plane to Vanuatu last week… Now, he is in Samoa, when USP is not featuring in any side events.” Ms. Fatiaki further stated that the unions are not seeking to politicize the matter but are standing firm in their demands for change in leadership.
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