A Look At the Continuing USP Saga

When the special executive committee of the University of the South Pacific met to decide whether there was any grounds for action on 33 allegations on governance issues raised by the chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, a lot of interesting positions were noted.

The Special executive committee categorised the 33 allegations into three groups.

Group C warranted an investigation by an independent expert committee. The names were proposed. The Special Council under chairmanship of President of Nauru pushed for termination of investigation on basis that a lot of time has been taken.

This casual approach seems unusual by Special Council as it has set a wrong precedent at the full compromise of objectivity.

This can be labelled as ‘miscarriage’ of governance processes. Interesting, it has come to the attention of the Fiji Sun that Chair of Special Executive Committee, Professor Caroline Mcmillen who is the Australian Government representative, voted against the decision of Special Council to terminate the matter. She is admired for intellect and fairness as a former ViceChancellor. Voting or showing of hands in attempts to conceal wrong doing is great display of governance mockery and unintelligence.

Given the decision of Special Council, taxpayers need to question member governments and make them accountable. While the Pacific is talking about Blue Pacific through cooperation and integration, here stands USP Council divided in pursuit. The current and incoming Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum should make USP Governance as part of the leaders’ agenda.

With great disconnect between management and Governance, the future of USP presumably looks bleak. Once a highly admired institution, USP has undergone massive reputational damage. It is saddening to see hard work of many for 50 years to shine USP turned into street football since 2019.

The Fijian Government funded USP as the largest contributor in all senses, but were never unhappy until 2019 and the saga afterwards.

The silence on the new allegations is also highly questionable.

Why has there not been any response to the new set of allegations? Before the Fiji Sun revealed how the special council deliberated, there was not enough information provided on how the decision on original 33 allegations were made.

Silence in this instance is not golden.