Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of the South Pacific (USP), is currently engaged in official duties, contrary to rumors suggesting he is on vacation. This clarification comes in response to concerns regarding his absence from the Laucala Campus during a period when the USP Staff Association and the USP Staff Union are taking part in protests.
In its statement, USP highlighted that Professor Ahluwalia has recently officiated at the opening of the new Solomon Islands Campus in Honiara, attended the graduation ceremony at the Tonga Campus, and participated in the Pacific Islands Universities Research Network (PIURN) meeting in Port Vila, Vanuatu. This week, he is leading the USP delegation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, where the university is heavily involved in various events including the opening ceremony, exhibitions, roundtable discussions, and co-hosting the ACU Scholarships announcement by King Charles III.
The university categorically denied claims that the Vice-Chancellor is on vacation, asserting them to be “entirely false.” Additionally, USP expressed disappointment over union members referring to the Laucala Campus as a “marketplace,” emphasizing the campus’s status as one of the best educational facilities in the country, which offers a state-of-the-art learning environment. They also pointed out ongoing improvements at their campuses as a testament to their commitment to providing quality education.
Furthermore, the university clarified misconceptions surrounding the ongoing strike, stating that claims regarding demands for pay raises are incorrect and that staff terms and conditions were not included in the official strike mandate. In light of these events, USP has echoed the Education Minister Aseri Radrodro’s call for resolution through dialogue and adherence to the established procedures of the university and Fiji’s Employment Relations Act.