Prime Minister Mark Brown arrived in Nadi, Fiji, on Sunday for a series of bilateral and regional engagements focused on the Cook Islands and the Pacific economic resilience and partnerships for prosperity priorities, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration said in a statement.
RNZ
USP campus in Fiji Photo: USP
The ongoing stand-off between the University of the South Pacific’s host country Fiji and its governing body, the USP Council, has put the regional institution’s future under scrutiny.
The latest crisis came to a head three weeks ago when the whistleblowing vice-chancellor and president, Pal Ahluwalia, and his wife were sent packing by Fijian authorities over accusations the couple breached provisions in their work permits.
The government claimed the Ahluwalias’ conduct was ‘prejudicial to peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of the Fiji islands’ as stated under the Immigration Act.
Standoff brings USP operations under scrutiny rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Feb 17, 2021 10:43:57 AM The University of the South Pacific Staff Union has demanded that the sub-committee get a second legal opinion on vice-chancellor professor Pal Ahluwalia’s contract. This, following the government s, statement that Ahluwalia’s contract was terminated after he was deported by authorities on 4 February. According to the Union, the University of the South Pacific Council did not consider the status of Ahluwalia who was deported from Fiji almost two weeks ago. The sub-committee which was formed to consider whether Ahluwalia could operate from another member was unable to present its recommendations to the council. This means Giulio Masasso Tu ikolongahau Paunga will stay on as acting vice-chancellor and president until further notice.