outback to jungle

Musings on experiences of volunteering in Papua New Guinea with some gratuitous domestic social and public comment

Thursday, June 15, 2006

I wonder if Patience was right?

Post Courier, 15 June 06. "Uni row gets serious
HIGHER Education Minister Don Polye yesterday instructed police to arrest Dr Kukari and prevent him from taking office as VC of the University of Goroka. He described the actions of Dr Kukari and other purported council members that had supported him as illegal. Mr Polye maintains that Dr Rawlence was still the VC of the University of Goroka. Dr Kukari maintains that he is the VC appointed by what he maintains is the legal University of Goroka Council. Dr Rawlence said he was firmly in control and said Dr Kukari was no longer an employee of the university and should not be acting VC. The non-academic staff walked off their jobs yesterday demanding authorities sort out the problems or appoint Dr Kukari as acting VC. It could not be confirmed if the 1500 students were in class. The Minister had instructed chancellor Sir Ebia Olewale to convene an urgent council meeting tomorrow. Last Friday, Justice Elenas Batari granted leave to Dr Kukari and others to seek a judicial review of Mr Polye’s action in terminating them and substituting them with an interim body. Justice Batari ruled: “There is no evidence to show that membership of any of the applicants was terminated at the time of sacking from the council. It sounds absurd to me that disciplinary actions were the reason to exclude council members whose terms were current at the time of the minister’s action.”

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