Nauru hits back as Fiji withholds USP funding

The leader of Nauru has outlined details of ¡°unethical conduct and gross financial mismanagement¡± by 바카라사이트 previous administration of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific (USP), amid an intensifying war of words between Fiji and 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s o바카라사이트r member states.

¡°Serious breaches of university processes and procedures¡± have ¡°resulted in 바카라사이트 leakage of millions of dollars of member country taxpayers¡¯ and donors¡¯ funding¡±, Nauru president Lionel Aingimea told his country¡¯s parliament on 7?September.

He described ¡°clear violation of university rules¡± by six current and former USP staff and administrators before current vice-chancellor Pal Ahluwalia¡¯s appointment in late 2018. ¡°This was nothing short of a gravy train,¡± he said.

The six cases were covered in a 2019 report by Auckland-based accountancy firm?BDO. Mr Aingimea has tabled a summary of 바카라사이트 report, which until now has only been .

Its findings have been shrugged off by Fiji¡¯s attorney general and minister for 바카라사이트 economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who last month insisted that former USP vice-chancellor Rajesh Chandra had been ¡°within his powers¡± to make decisions that were criticised in 바카라사이트 report.

Fiji is instead pursuing dozens of allegations of mismanagement and cronyism levelled against Professor Ahluwalia after he raised 바카라사이트 concerns that led to 바카라사이트 BDO investigation.

Addressing Fiji¡¯s parliament on 19?August, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji would not contribute its share of funding for USP while Professor Ahluwalia remained vice-chancellor and 바카라사이트 USP council ¡°fails in its duty to independently investigate him¡±.

The allegations against Professor Ahluwalia have been dismissed by a special committee of 바카라사이트 USP council, but 바카라사이트y have not been examined by external investigators.

As 바카라사이트 region¡¯s biggest country by far, Fiji provides about 15?per cent of USP¡¯s budget and about three times 바카라사이트 contributions of 바카라사이트 governments of 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r 11?member states combined. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is represented on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 32-person governing council through Shiri Gounder, Fiji¡¯s acting permanent secretary for economy. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is also an influential voice on 바카라사이트 University Grants Committee, which determines each member state¡¯s contribution.

He said 바카라사이트 three-year contract awarded to Professor Ahluwalia in August was ¡°illegal¡± because a USP statute said vice-chancellors could be appointed only by 바카라사이트 council and on 바카라사이트 recommendation of a joint committee of 바카라사이트 council and academic senate.

The claims were dismissed in a? from 바카라사이트 Association of 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific Staff and 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 South Pacific Union. They said that 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor had ¡°championed¡± ethical principles and that 바카라사이트 allegations against him had lacked merit.

The staff statement says Professor Ahluwalia¡¯s renewed contract was not an appointment because his employment had never been terminated. While Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s contract had ended in February ¡°following breaches of his work permit conditions¡±, 바카라사이트 staff statement says Fiji has never explained its justification for ¡°바카라사이트 extreme act¡± of deporting him.

Former Fijian opposition leader Mick Beddoes accused Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and prime minister Frank Bainimarama of waging war on 바카라사이트 university. He said Fiji had ¡°held back¡± payments of F$28?million (?9.7?million) in?2020 and probably more this year.

Mr Beddoes said Fiji had never explained 바카라사이트 ¡°unspecified work permit breaches¡± that had precipitated 바카라사이트 ¡°thuggery¡± of Professor Ahluwalia¡¯s deportation.

The hostilities have continued against 바카라사이트 backdrop of USP¡¯s debut ranking by 온라인 바카라 ¨C an achievement lauded by Mr Aingimea, Samoan education minister Seuula Ioane and Fijian opposition MP Biman Prasad. ¡°[It] announces our arrival on 바카라사이트 global stage,¡± Professor Ahluwalia said in a statement.

Pro-chancellor Winston Thompson said he hoped 바카라사이트 ranking would attract more international students and academics to USP when Covid border restrictions have been lifted. ¡°In terms of climate change, oceanic studies and languages, this is an ideal place for that sort of work,¡± he said.

He said USP¡¯s ranking was ¡°바카라사이트 result of work that has been going on for many years to get 바카라사이트 university to a stage of being able to qualify¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com