SINU accused of nepotism for ‘pushing’ Dr Paul from his job, VC Aqorau says the Indian resigned due to ill-health
A DECORATED Academic from India has accused SINU of nepotism, claiming he was “pushed” from his job to make way for a Dr Elliot Mugamu – allegedly a friend of Pro Vice Chancellor (Corporate), Shadrach Fanega.
But SINU has dismissed the claim saying Dr Paul resigned due to ill-health. “… it is important to note that his resignation came as a result of a collaborative process aimed at preserving his dignity and recognizing his contributions to the university under challenging circumstances.”
“It was mutually agreed that the most respectful and dignified course of action would be for Dr. Paul to tender his resignation.”
Dr Thomas Muthucattu Paul returned to India where he has settled with his family in Pune, in west-central Maharashtra state, western India.
“I am with my family and slowly settling down in Pune India. I came to know about (the) latest developments at FBT and SINU. When I was pushed out by mostly initiative from Pro VC Corporate Mr. Shadrach Fanega was almost clear that he is pushing me out though I was reasonably doing good work,” Dr Paul told Solomon Star in an email.
“He [Pro VC Corporate] was doing it with a personal objective of pushing in his close friend Dr Elliot Mugamu to Dean position. At that stage, it was a strong doubt only but now I understand that it is actually done and Dr Elliot is made [substantive] Dean so PVCC Corporate achieved his objectives,” he said.
“But is Solomon Islands a banana Republic where such selfish people can manipulate government funded universities for their personal growth like this? Will it be questioned at least by some people in Solomon Islands?”
Dr Paul was the Professor of Economics and Finance and former Dean of the Faculty of Business and Tourism Studies at SINU at the time of his resignation.
His replacement Dr Mugamu now occupies the Dean’s position in the Faculty of Business and Tourism Studies at SINU, according to Dr Paul.
| Prior to joining SINU, Dr Paul was a former Professor in the Department of Business Studies at the PNG University of Technology in Lae. In his colorful academic career, Dr Paul also held the position of: Professor of Finance, University of South Pacific, Suva, Fiji; Professor and Head Department of Banking and Finance, European University of Lefke, North Cyprus; Professor of Economics, Madras School of Economics, Chennai, India; Professor National Institute of Bank Management, Pune, India; |
- Reserve Bank of India Chair Professor in Monetary Economics and International Finance at the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore, India; and
- Professor National Institute of Bank Management, Pune India.
Meanwhile, SINU’S Vice Chancellor Dr Transform Aqorau has responded to the claims, saying Dr Paul resigned by mutual consent due to ill-health.
It was “the most respectful and dignified course of action”, Dr Aqorau said.
“Upon reflection and thorough evaluation, it became increasingly apparent that Dr. Paul’s contributions, while valuable, were compromised by his deteriorating health. His inability to perform essential duties, such as presenting the full list of graduates from his faculty during the graduation ceremony, raised serious concerns about his capacity to fulfill his role effectively.
“This was not only a matter of operational efficiency but also of the broader implications for the welfare of both the university and the national academic landscape.
“In light of these considerations, a difficult but necessary decision was made. After a series of candid discussions with Dr. Paul and in consultation with the Director of the Human Resources Department, it was mutually agreed that the most respectful and dignified course of action would be for Dr. Paul to tender his resignation. This decision was not reached lightly and involved careful deliberation of the potential impacts on all parties involved,” Dr Aqorau said.
“The assertion that Dr. Paul was unduly forced out of his position does not fully capture the complexity of the situation. While I acknowledge that Dr. Paul may feel aggrieved by the outcome, it is important to note that his resignation came as a result of a collaborative process aimed at preserving his dignity and recognizing his contributions to the university under challenging circumstances.
“It was an executive decision made with the utmost respect for Dr. Paul’s health and well-being, and it was intended to allow him a graceful exit that acknowledged his service to the university. This decision was aligned with the university’s commitment to maintaining a supportive and effective academic environment, even when faced with difficult personnel decisions.”
By Alfred Sasako
