The University of the South Pacific Staff Union is fully in favour of the decisions reached in the Council meeting yesterday.

President, Elizabeth Fong, says apart from the Staff Union, the Students Association has also supported the outcome of yesterday’s meeting.

The USPSA is represented in the Council by President Joseph Sua and Vice President Viliame Naulivou who were present at the meeting.

Fong adds both of them spoke on behalf of the 25, 000 students of the University.

She adds they also support the appointment of Dr. Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Paunga as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the University.

“We will support him in every way we can. The decision to appoint an acting VC is within the USP policy. USP policy requires when the Vice-Chancellor is out of the USP region that an acting Vice-Chancellor is appointed. So whilst Pal remains our Vice-Chancellor and is in Brisbane DVC Paunga will be acting Vice-Chancellor and he will be accorded the full support from both staff and students is my understanding.”

A full-day meeting was held by the USP Council yesterday to resolve the matters of the USP following the deportation of VC Professor Pal Ahluwalia.

The Fijian Government says Professor Ahluwalia and his wife Sandra Price had at numerous times breached the provisions of Section 13 of the Immigration Act.

The Government in a statement says the actions of the Vice-Chancellor and his wife have clearly violated the terms of their work permits, resulting in their subsequent deportation.

Under Section 13 of the Immigration Act 2003, no foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security, or good government of Fiji.