Usamate calls on Singh and Radrodro to act regarding USP issue

Independent MP, Jone Usamate is today calling on the Fiji Government and in particular, Minister for Employment, Agni Deo Singh to urgently investigate the sacking of Doctor Tamara Osborne Naikatini, Lecturer in Biology and President of the Association of USP staff (AUSPS).

Usamate says Agni Deo Singh preaches the rights and responsibilities of Trade Unions and Associations.

He says Singh should immediately institute an inquiry.

Usamate also say Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, also as Fiji’s member of the USP Council should look at how USP is treating Fijian academics and regional academics.

He has made the call as he says Pal Ahluwalia, Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific is again at the centre of controversy and in the news.

Usamate says Doctor Naikatini is a well-educated Fijian academic whom USP should be promoting rather than someone coming from outside the region and terminating her just because she has been vocal against the Vice Chancellor, as a USP Union representative.

He says Ahluwalia’s actions tantamount to bullying and suppression of free speech by an academic as well as stifling the activities of the USP Union that represents the staff of USP.

We have sent questions to Agni Deo Singh and Aseri Radrodro.

Meanwhile the University of the South Pacific will not comment on the termination of Dr Osborne-Naikatini, stating that all staff contracts, including terminations, are confidential.

In a statement, the Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff (AUSPS) and the USP Staff Union (USPSU) showed their concern about the termination, which they said was seen as bullying and vindictive.

USP says they are not at liberty to discuss staff information with third parties.

The Association of the University of the South Pacific Staff and the USP Staff Union say they will be pursuing relevant processes to address the termination of Dr Osborne-Naikatini.

The Association says on the 9th of this month, the Vice-Chancellor of USP Professor, Pal Ahluwalia, launched a vicious attack on the staff unions and freedom of speech at USP through the issuance of the termination letter for Dr Osborne-Naikatini effective from the 12th of this month for speaking to the media.

They say Dr Osborne-Naikatini stood for the staff of USP and fought for good governance, which ultimately led to her termination.

They add that Dr Osborne-Naikatini was the staff representative on the Senate to the Review Committee.

They say senior staff can only be terminated by the VCP, and HR is the implementer of the decision.

They further say staff have no recourse for appeal as the Vice-Chancellor has failed to fill the `Visitor’ position.

They add that this is not only an attack on the unions at USP but on the freedom of unions in Fiji.

They are urging their sister unions, NGOs, and relevant organizations to stand in solidarity with them to condemn this action in the strongest terms.

The Association says a joint letter was sent from the unions to the Vice-Chancellor last Thursday calling for the reconsideration of his decision, and the letter reminded Professor Ahluwalia of the 2019 saga where the unions stood steadfast with him when he was victimized as the whistleblower.

They say he seems to have a short-lived memory.