Thompson, Johansson, Khan Excluded from Executive Committee of USP
More changes in the University of the South Pacific investigation. The Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson, Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chair of Council Aloma Johansson and Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee Mahmood Khan will not be part of the Executive Committee.
This is the committee that is looking into the 33 allegations against the University of the South Pacific’s Vice Chancellor and President Professor Pal Ahuwalia.
The USP Council noted that due process was not followed initially by the Executive Committee, hence a Working Group was formed to look into what this proper due process should be followed.
It is understood that in the meeting on Friday, two member countries had proposed some changes to the ordinance, which was difficult to come to a consensus because three council members had been recused from the meeting.
The Executive Committee (which now excludes Mr Thompson, Ms Johansson and Mr Khan) will now have to consider whether the allegations are valid or not. Now if the committee finds any validity to the allegations, they would convene an Investigation Sub-Committee to investigate the allegations and submit a report to the Executive Committee that would then take up their recommendations to the council scheduled for August 12.
Now if the allegations are found to be unsubstantiated, there would be no need to set-up or form an Investigation Sub-Committee.
The USP Council noted that due process was not followed initially by the Executive Committee, hence a Working Group was formed to look into what this proper due process should be followed.