Kumar responds to Opposition regarding USP issue

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Education Minister Premila Kumar speaking in parliament on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. Picture: FIJIAN PARLIAMENT

The Fijian government does not recognise any of the investigations made into the allegations against the University of the South Pacific (USP) vice-chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia, says Education Minister Premila Kumar.

She made the comment in Parliament on Monday in response to questions from National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad during a debate on the Review of the Fiji Higher Education Commission August 2016 – July 2017 Annual Report.

He said independent inquiries by Auckland-based firm BDO had been made into the allegations of financial mismanagement by Prof Ahluwalia but nothing untoward was found.

Prof Prasad said a three-member commission appointed by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the current Samoan Prime Minister and former Cook Islands PM, to work on the BDO report did not report any adverse findings relating to Prof Ahluwalia’s mismanagement.

He also said the USP council appointed a subcommittee chaired by Australian Prof Caroline McMillan who investigated the 33 allegations, inclusive of the 26 and cleared Prof Ahluwalia of any mismanagement.”

Prof Prasad said USP’s Audit Risk Committee, still not satisfied with the USP Council’s decisions, instituted another investigation by KPMG who confirmed that no financial mismanagement had occurred under Prof Ahluwalia’s management.

In response, Ms Kumar said if Prof Ahluwalia had done nothing wrong, then he should not be worried about an independent investigation.

“We have maintained a position that USP needs to be investigated independently and this was communicated through a letter dated September 22, 2020,” she said.

“Any investigation internally cannot be termed as independent, it is ironical.

“The ball is in USP’s court and students and staff, as well as alumni, should know this.

“We don’t recognise any other investigation that has been mentioned by Prof Prasad.” She said grants to USP would resume once an “independent” investigation was undertaken.

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