UNIVERSITY of the South Pacific pro-chancellor and chairman of the USP Council Winston Thompson will be requesting an investigation into how confidential documents containing unsubstantiated allegations against many individuals and himself were leaked before the necessary investigation was carried out.
The chair of the Executive Committee of the Council also expressed his concerns and disappointment that the document was leaked before any of the others had even seen the allegations and before any of them had a chance to refute them.
Mr Thompson said the document was first submitted to USP’s Executive Committee in March 2019.
He said it was decided that the allegations should be investigated and each of the named individuals should be allowed to respond before the Committee considered (in my absence) the document in detail.
He added this was the normal practice whenever adverse allegations were made against anyone, anywhere.
“I understood that all copies of the document were collected for safe keeping to allow for a thorough, independent and professional investigation, without influence from anyone and a report be submitted to the Executive Committee in April,” Mr Thompson said in a statement issued last night.
“When the committee met in April, it was instead advised that the matter had been handed over to FICAC.
“I was shocked that the process directed by the Executive Committee, which is generally followed when allegations are made against officers and staff members and which follows the requirements of natural justice, had not been followed.”
Last week, a media organisation published an article on its Facebook page with some details of what was in the confidential document.
“I am now informed that a copy of the actual 11-page document is in public circulation.
“Quite clearly, a gross injustice has been done to the named individuals who have worked assiduously and who do not deserve to be treated in this way. I apologise to them in the name of the University.
“I issue this statement to give context to the unfair and harmful disclosure of unverified information, which has resulted in several individuals being judged without having had the opportunity to respond to the allegations.”
