The Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific (USP), Professor Pal Ahluwalia, is facing significant unrest as staff unions at the Laucala Campus demand his removal. The strike, now in its fourth day, has seen staff members, led by AUSPS General Secretary Rosalia Fatiaki, express frustration over the absence of formal communication from the university’s senior management.
While the strikes escalate, Professor Ahluwalia has encountered mounting criticism from both staff and political commentators for his lack of visibility during this crisis. A recent announcement from USP noted that he is currently engaged in university-related duties throughout the region. His recent activities included officiating the opening of the new Solomon Islands campus in Honiara and attending the graduation ceremony at the Tonga campus.
Additionally, the release mentioned his involvement in the Pacific Islands Universities Research Network (PIURN) meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu, and his leadership of the USP delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, where USP is participating in various events, including the announcement of ACU Scholarships by King Charles III.
Despite the university’s clarification regarding Professor Ahluwalia’s activities, the staff unions remain unconvinced. It has been reported that he declined to attend the RISE symposium at Fiji National University due to his commitments at CHOGM. Fatiaki expressed frustration, noting, “While the campuses are facing turmoil, the Vice-Chancellor is traveling to Vanuatu and now to Samoa, where USP is not prominently featured.”
Fatiaki emphasized that the unions are firmly standing by their position without politicizing the issue, while highlighting concerns that USP has lost its regional identity due to a lack of leadership from a Pacific islander.