Fijian Deputy PM rejects University of the South Pacific collusion claims, says 'no leadership crisis'
Pal Ahluwalia, left, and Biman Prasad at the opening of the 99th USP Council Meeting at Auckland University. 20 May 2025
Photo:
RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
The Fijian Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Finance Biman Prasad says suggestions that he is colluding with the University of the South Pacific (USP) vice-chancellor and president are "nonsense".
Prasad and Education Minister Aseri Radrodro are in Auckland for the 99th USP Council meeting this week.
He has been
accused of colluding
with USP's chief executive Professor Pal Ahluwalia in a "clear case of conflict of interest".
"The USP Council is aware that USP is experiencing a leadership crisis," according to a letter to editor published by the
Samoa Observer
.
"Professor Pal Ahluwalia has unfortunately turned out to be a divisive and demoralising head of the regional institution lacking in vision, statecraft and worst of all the undermining of staff of regional member countries.
"He has a close personal relationship with the DPM Prasad.
"We have confirmed reports that over the past week, [Prasad] and Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor Gurmeet Singh have been meeting with Professor Ahluwalia at the VCP's residence, a clear case of collusion."
However, Prasad has called the allegations "nonsense," telling RNZ Pacific, "I met him many times at his house."
"I meet a lot of people at the university. I was a professor at the university, and many of these people right around the table are my friends [with] whom I have had lunch, dinner, coffee. I have visited their places.
"The Prime Minister of Samoa is a good friend of mine. You know, when she comes, she comes to my home. So I can't understand this nonsense that comes from people. Some people have nothing else to do."
The regional university is
jointly owned by 12 Pacific Island governments
.
The institution has been facing ongoing problems involving leadership and staff dissatisfaction, with Fiji-based unions
picketing last October
after the
sacking
of a staff union leader.
Pal Ahluwalia, Biman Prasad and Aseri Radrodro at the opening of the 99th USP Council Meeting at Auckland University. 20 May 2025
Photo:
RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
According to Prasad, there is no leadership crisis.
"I think that is an exaggeration. Of course, vice-chancellors [and] political leaders always have issues. In any organisation, nobody can be perfect and you cannot satisfy everyone.
"But this [USP] Council is a very professional, good thinking people, who have the university in their hearts and minds.
"This is a very important institution for the region, and our government - compared to what the previous government did to the university - has actually restored that.
"We have restored academic freedom. We have restored grant funding to the university. The university was struggling. There is no leadership crisis and the current vice chancellor's position finishes in August next year.
He said the USP will be looking for a new vice-chancellor "very soon".
Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff in Suva want the Vice-Chancellor out. 18 October 2024
Photo:
Facebook / Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff
Prasad said he has been a union president himself and sat on the USP Council as a union leader for many years.
He said the unions always have a legitimate right to raise issues and questions about leadership.
"I used to have issues with the vice-chancellor. I served under three vice-chancellors, so these are normal things.
"You have that in New Zealand - a very strong tertiary union who put the university administration [and] the government on their sport as part of what you get in a democracy."
"The media must not just quickly jump with some rumors. These are noise [which] means you are in a democracy, whether it is coming from the unions, whether it is coming from the workers, whether it is coming from NGOs.
He said USP has always been a big success story of regionalism, regional cooperation, and regional integration.
He said many of those who are part of the USP Council meeting have studied at the university.
"It is the conscience of the Pacific. It obviously has had challenges over the last 50 years of its existence.
"But it remains one of the most revered, most celebrated institution and the resolve of every leader, every minister in every country is to see USP progress, and that is what it will do."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- RNZ News
Destiny Church protesters set flags on fire in Auckland rally
Protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. Photo: RNZ Fire and Emergency crews have been called to a Destiny Church march in downtown Auckland after flags were set on fire. Hundreds have marched from Aotea Square down Queen Street in what the church billed as a rally "in defence of faith, flag and family". At one point flags - which an RNZ reporter said appeared to include rainbow flags and flags representing mainstream media - were set alight. Rally goers then put the flames out with water and arriving fire crews then left without taking action. During the march, people chanted "no immigration without assimilation". Destiny Church said the march was to take "a bold public stand for Christian values, Kiwi identity and the future of this nation". Church leader Brian Tamaki claimed "uncontrolled immigration" in the United Kingdom had led to spikes in crime and a collapse in British identity. Tamaki said the church was building a "Commonwealth crusade" to "reclaim Christina nations". Protesters and counter-protesters at a Destiny Church rally in Auckland, 21 June 2025. Photo: RNZ The Destiny marchers were met by about 20 counterprotestors waving tino rangatiratanga and Palestine flags. A large number of Police were also in attendance. Ahead of the march, Tamaki said church leaders had sent an open letter to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon calling for a reversal on a position that the country has no official religion. He said a demand included enforcing a "no immigration without assimilation" policy. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Christopher Luxon concludes China trip: 'No evidence' of collaboration with Russia, Iran or North Korea
Photo: Supplied / Dan Brunskill Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his trip to China, dismissing suggestions the superpower is working with Russia, Iran or North Korea to undermine the West - as alleged by NATO's top official. The prime minister says he also stressed to China's leaders that engagement in the Pacific must advance the region's interests, but refused to say whether the recent Cook Islands crisis was raised by either side. Speaking late Friday at New Zealand's embassy in Beijing, Luxon said he was leaving "very, very convinced" the bilateral relationship was in "a really strong place and in good heart". The comments followed a day of top-level meetings at the Great Hall of the People, capping a three-day visit to China, Luxon's first as prime minister. The prime minister and his officials now fly on to Belgium and then to the Netherlands, where he will attend the annual NATO summit. Photo: Supplied / Dan Brunskill Asked about NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte's recent warning that China is working together with Russia, Iran and North Korea, Luxon noted the "Dutch directness" - but indicated a "difference of opinion". "We haven't seen evidence of those four powers coordinating in a way, actively against the West," Luxon said. "We've seen bilateral associations, say, between Russia and North Korea, with respect to the war in Ukraine. We've seen bilateral arrangements between Iran and Russia as well, but we haven't seen evidence of a wholesale force." The rest of the delegation was now returning to New Zealand on the air force 757. Photo: Supplied / Dan Brunskill The talks came a day after revelations New Zealand suspended nearly $20 million in funding to the Cook Islands , after its agreements with China earlier this year. Luxon repeatedly refused to say whether that issue, or any other, was discussed behind closed doors. "We need to respect that they are private diplomatic conversations that need to be respected in the privacy of the sanctum." A media statement issued at the end of the trip said Luxon had raised "the need for engagement in the Pacific to take place in a manner which advances Pacific priorities". Pressed to clarify, Luxon said the concern had been well-canvassed: "Making sure that… all major powers that aren't part of the Pacific family… respect the centrality of the Pacific Island Forum." While none of China's leaders directly mentioned the Cook Islands crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun earlier said China's cooperation with the Pacific nation "should not be disrupted or restrained by any third party". Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday labelled the funding pause "patronising" and pointed out he had not been consulted on any agreements New Zealand entered with China this trip . Luxon denied any double standard, but said he had "nothing more to add" on the subject. "I'm not going to get into it. I've spoken ad nauseam about the Cooks and the challenge." The prime minister's statement also said he raised "rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific" including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. Photo: Supplied / Dan Brunskill Before speaking to reporters, the prime minister took part in an official welcome ceremony at the Great Hall and then a sit-down with his counterpart, Premier Li Qiang. In opening remarks, Li spoke of global turbulence and the need for "mutually beneficial cooperation". He said he had been "deeply impressed" by Luxon's friendship and hospitality during his 2024 visit to Wellington. In response, Luxon said the international challenges made ongoing dialogue more important "even where we differ". The meeting ended with the signing of 11 agreements, promising cooperation in areas including customs, food safety, and tourism. Luxon - and the wider business delegation - then stayed on for a banquet dinner at the Great Hall. Earlier on Friday, Xi said the bilateral relationship had experienced "many ups and downs" but remained respectful and at the forefront of China's Western ties. Luxon meanwhile described the bilateral relationship as "long-standing" and of "great consequence" to New Zealand. "The world looks to China as a major global power to play a constructive role in addressing many of the challenges that are facing us all," he said. Speaking to RNZ before departure, Luxon said he had established "good rapport" with both leaders during their previous meetings. The prime minister last met Xi in November at the APEC summit in Peru . At the time, Luxon characterised their conversation as "warm, positive and constructive" but noted clear differences over the AUKUS defence pact and missile testing in the Pacific. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
NZ's pause on funding is 'patronising'
Pacific politics 18 minutes ago Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says pausing nearly 20 million dollars in development assistance is "patronising" and "inconsistent with modern partnership".
