USP council not consulted over VCP deportation
Government Information Office
MEDIA
RELEASE
For
Immediate Release
Friday, 5
February 2021
USP council not consulted
over VCP deportation
The
University of the South Pacific Council issued a statement
following today's meeting, that it was not consulted over the
deportation of the Vice-Chancellor and President, and that it has
not made the decision to dismiss the VCP.
Council
expressed disappointment that it was not advised, as the VCPs
employer, of the decision to deport him.
The
Council has subsequently established a sub-committee, chaired by
His Excellency President Lionel Aingimea including the council
representatives of Australia, Tonga, Niue, Solomon Islands and
Samoa as well as two senate representatives to look into this
matter.
Council
says the sub-committee will bring recommendations on these matters
to Council.
In the
interim, Dr Giulio Masasso Paunga will be acting Vice-Chancellor
and President.
On the
night of Wednesday 3 February the USPs VCP Professor Pal Ahluwalia
and his spouse were issued deportation orders by Fiji immigration
officials and Fiji Police, declaring them prohibited immigrants
under the Fiji Immigration Act.