A FIGHT WITH CHANGING ENEMIES AND INTERESTS
WHO IS THE REAL CAUSE OF THE ONGOING PROBLEMS AT UNITECH
–STUDENTS, STAFF, STAGG/SAULEP TEAM, BOGAN TEAM, SCHRAM, ARORE, GORE,
KAVANAMUR, PUMA OR O'NEILL?
The PNG University of Technology is the only premier university
of its kind in the country which has produced many leaders in all fields and
walks of life. The issues surrounding the removal of Prof Albert Schram dates
back to late 2012 and as it now appears so visibly, the Government did not
address them but aggravated them.
At first, I thought then Minister for Higher Education, Hon
David Arore was the cause of it. But now it is apparent to thinking people that
Arore was playing to a far more entrenched conspiracy to install a kindred to
the position of Vice Chancellor. Let me invite you to read between these lines.
Unitech is no ordinary Uni. It is governed by the University of
Technology Act and has its own Governing Council. More so, it has its expert
consultancy firms which generates considerable internal revenue and receives
development funds from the National Government annually more than other Unis.
Unitech has had its longest serving Vice Chancellor, Dr Misty Baloiloi whose
reign coincided with Philip Stagg as the longest serving Chairman of the
Governing Council. Dr Baloiloi resigned in 2011 to go for the 2011 National
General Elections which he did and subsequently failed.
Prof Schram was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Unitech by
the Stagg/Saulep University Council to fill in the vacuum left by Dr Baloiloi.
At that time, there was growing resentment and suspicion amongst the students
and staff about how funds were being used by the University Council and the
Administration of Dr Baloiloi. The Stagg Council thought that appointing
someone from halfway around the world in the likes of Prof Schram who had no
knowledge of the prevailing circumstances would help protect them.
Upon taking office, Schram refused to be ignorant and oblivion
to the prevailing circumstances and started to inquire about the affairs of the
students, staff, the university administration and its council. He extended his
inquiries to students and invited them to express themselves. He also
questioned why certain professors were using the University facilities to make
money, one of which involved a lecturer of Indian origin of electronics studies
who later become arch rival to Prof Schram and fabricated malicious facts about
Prof Schram.
The more Prof Schram sniffed around for information, the more
worried the Stagg Council became. As a matter of fact, Schram initiated audits
into Unitechs financial expenditures and further referred a number of persons
for criminal prosecution. Some of those cases led to the arrest of certain
people but the police did not do a proper job, result in cases being struck
out. The Stagg Council had to come up with a ploy to either stop or where
possible, remove Schram. They sought the advice of the antagonist Indian
Professor of Electronics who devised a smear campaign starting with the
despising of Prof Schram’s education qualifications. The Stagg team was
threatened with legal action hence were forced to make a public apology which
they did. At that point, the Stagg Council realised that the Indian Professor
would lead them to trouble hence abandoned him in the strategy. They resorted
to a new plan.
The new plan of Stagg Council was to invoke their powers under
the Unitech Act to revoke the appointment of Prof Schram for reasons only known
to them. The plan was flagged with Minister Arore who then became the link to
his deputy party leader Southern of The Party and Minister for Labour &
Industrial Relations, Mark Mapakai, to revoke Prof Schram’s work permit. The
revocation of the work permit dictated the type of visa Prof Schram needed to
be Vice Chancellor of Unitech hence could not enter PNG without it. To his
surprise, in early 2013 Prof Schram was refused entry when he tried to return
to PNG after holidays in Australia.
Whilst that was going on, tensions at Unitech increased.
Students went on strike and petitioned the Government. The 2013 Academic year
was on the brink of being disrupted completely if the Government did not
intervene. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill visited the school at the height of the
tension. As usual, he soothed them with his sweet words. The Prime Minister
quickly instituted a new interim University Council to be headed by Sir Nagora
Bogan and an investigation team headed by retired Judge Mark Sevua. The Bogan
team, in consultation with the PM appointed Prof Joseph Puma to be the acting
VC. Everybody was asked to respect the investigation and provide information to
the team to which most of them did, including Prof Schram in his exile.
Whilst the institution of the investigation saw Prof Schram kept
at bay (in exile), a new team comprised of Papua New Guineans who were privy to
some of the information of the former Council and Administration was now
installed to govern the Unitech. That caused more worry and anxiety for the
Stagg/Saulep team as they got so much at stake. Therefore the Stagg/Saulep team
took legal action against the Government and the new Governing council. There
was an interim stay order granted initially but that order was subsequently
discharged hence there is no Court Order preventing the decision of the current
interim Bogan Council and Puma administration.
The Sevua investigation was concluded and presented to the PM at
the end of October 2013. The PM upon receiving the report said that the
Government will “look into it” and take appropriate actions as recommended.
At the end of December 2013 and January 2014, the University
Council of Sir Bogan advertised in the local newspapers of their decision to
reinstate Prof Schram to the position of VC. The media advertisement clearly
carried contents that stated that the Sevua report found nothing against Prof
Schram hence the University Council had to reinstate him. Prof Schram had a
legally valid contract hence the Council was compelled to reinstate him. The
Sir Bogan Council pleaded with the Government to allow him to return.
As the 2014 academic year commenced, the students and the
university is again being haunted by the same issue. To many who suspected
Arore was the trouble maker, it was a sigh of relief when he was removed as
Minister for Higher Education and replaced with Delilah Gore.
However, Delilah Gore’s first reaction caught many by surprise
when she travelled to Lae to address the students only to have had selective
meetings without addressing the students. It was understandable as she was a
woman and could not have felt comfortable to address a rowdy student crowd.
However, her recent statement has not only taken many aback, but opens the
shell that covers the real motives and personalities behind the troubles of
Unitech. So many inconsistencies, so many buck passing, lame and shallow
excuses.
She mentioned there was an ongoing court proceeding. So what? Is
that court active? Is there a stay order in place? The stay order we know was
discharged. Who do you fool?
She mentioned about two University Councils. Hallo? Does the old
Stagg council still in office even after her own government revoked and
replaced with a new Sir Bogan Council? Is she implying that she doesn’t believe
and respect the decision of her own Government? Totally illogical and lame!
Needles to point here that it was the Stagg Council that appointed
Schram but for their own convenience instead inconvenienced them.
She said it is the responsibility of the University Council to
appoint the VC. Off course it is. The Competent Council appointed and
reinstated Prof Schram. What utter nonsense is that?
The PM just said “we’re still looking into the Sevua report” and
he is still looking into it since October 2013. My goodness have you considered
the plight of our students who’d commence the academic year early this year or
busy striking deals with Oil companies? Whose interest weighs more on your
in-tray scales –more kina for the potbellies or education of our future
generation?
The independent report by Sevua was poised to be the basis of
the decision on the ongoing Unitech Saga. Almost 6 months had lapsed and the
Government is still looking into it? By contrast, it took the PM almost two
weeks to come up with a solution for the Assylum Seekers deal with Australia
and a little ounce of time to cook up a multi-billion dollar deal yet it is
taking 6 months to decide on the institution that affects the education of our
people?
Looks like more excuses than solutions! THE GOVERNMENT IS
FAINTLY COMING UP WITH EXCUSES WHY PROF SCHRAM CANNOT RETURN BUT THE GOVERNMENT
IS NOT TELLING US HOW TO BRING HIM BACK.
It baffles me when Tjoko Jandra was given citizenship within few
days of being a resident of PNG by the same Immigration Department to look
after a few potbellies whereas Prof Schram is continuously refused entry to
attend to thousands for their education, not to mention the future of our
country.
What Gore fails to realise is that her reasons are too shallow
to force the students back to class. What is the point of the tail going to
class when the head is in total disarray attributed to the Government’s
action/inactions?
Whilst the Stagg/Saulep team may still be playing some part in
this saga to protect their own interest, it is now becoming clearer that there
is no other interest that the PM would have in Unitech than to have his fellow
Southern Highlander keeping the position of VC. The ultimate buck stops with
the PM. If he has not caused the problem at Unitech in the first place, then he
is in a position to fix it. His passive connivance is inexcusable and deafening
except to entrench an interest.
Prof Puma may have risen to the post of Acting VC by
circumstance. However, he is now well connected to his own Southern Highlander
at the helm of this country. He has tasted power, perks and privileges
associated with the post. Who would, in his right frame of mind, sigh away from
such an opportunity? Has he not taken over the fight from Stagg Council? Is it
not safe to suggest that this is now PM fighting Puma’s fight? Delilah Gore is
clumsily dancing to O’Neill’s music. Is it rather strange that PM would see his
men in high ranking government positions?
Unitech is not fighting about Prof Schram. Schram is not the
savour. Schram will be here today and gone tomorrow. The students are however
fighting for justice. That justice must not be shelved, tempered, delayed and
done, but must be seen to be done.
REMEMBER WE ARE PLAYING WITH STUDENTS FUTURE!
