Motion for Thompson to step down expected to be discussed in today’s USP Council meeting

The University of the South Pacific Council is currently meeting at the Laucala Campus, and the Pro Chancellor Winston Thompson is not in attendance after his recusal from the last meeting.

Fijivillage has received information that the council had a discussion on whether Nauru President Lionel Aingimea should continue as interim chair now that he is the Chancellor of USP.

It has been agreed that Aingimea will continue as chair.

The council is also expected to look at the ordinance governing the disciplinary procedures of the Vice-Chancellor.

We have also received information that a motion for the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the USP Council Winston Thompson to step down during the process of the Vice-Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia being independently investigated will be discussed in the meeting.

Fijivillage has received confirmation that the USP Council Working Group will also provide a report on the BDO report.

The Council Secretariat is not saying anything as yet if the USP Council has appointed the team that will look into allegations against the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

There are also no comments on what is the progress on the BDO Report investigation by the Commission appointed by the Council and we are still awaiting the Council's comments on the BDO Report and whether anyone will be taken to task.

The USP students, staff and alumni have also written to the Council saying that they believe the only solution to this impasse is the replacement of Winston Thompson as the Pro-Chancellor by the election of a person who is able to work with the Vice-Chancellor without hostility, in the best interest of USP.

They also want Thompson to recuse himself from the meeting before an independent investigation committee is appointed to look into the allegation against VC Ahluwalia.

They also say that the USP Council, as the university’s governing body, is answerable to taxpayers, development partners and stakeholders in pursuance of the university’s vision and mission and this demands that the BDO findings of any investigation should be made known to the university’s owners.

They say to withhold the report is to deny natural justice and to protect those who failed to comply with policy and process and may be regarded as gross misconduct.

The staff, students and alumni also say that there are those named in the BDO Report who retain management positions at USP.

They say the question being asked is how do the staff and students, development partners and university communities continue to respect and take direction from these individuals who for their own personal benefit agreed and supported actions to circumvent and violate policies they designed and were paid to implement.

The students, staff and alumni are also saying that for USP’s integrity, through a process of natural justice, action should be taken against those who, by virtue of their positions, failed in their fiduciary duty to uphold university policies and procedures.