I did not tell people to resign if they were uncomfortable working with me at USP – Acting VC Armstrong

University of the South Pacific’s Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Derrick Armstrong has clarified that he did not tell people to resign if they were uncomfortable working with him at USP.

Professor Armstrong has stated that in this difficult period if people felt that they did not want to continue to be part of the senior management team, that was okay and he would understand.

He says at the press conference he explicitly said that he has not asked anybody to step down.

Professor Armstrong said that he never mentioned the word ‘resign’.

He hopes the media would be fair and just on this matter and correct this anomaly and in future seek clarification on intent in the interest of the public.

Professor Armstrong says he is referring to recent articles in the media suggesting that he had asked the staff at USP to resign. He further says that he regrets to say that the journalists who have written these stories have failed to understand the fine distinction among words and statements.

He says, unfortunately, this inaccurate interpretation of his words was picked up negatively, and repeatedly used on social media.