REGION: Media group relocates offices

The Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association (PIBA) has announced plans to immediately relocate the Pacific News Service (PACNEWS) and begin a process to close down its operations

Pacific Media Watch
Sunday, May 23, 2004

SUVA (Fiji Times Online/Pacific Media Watch): The Pacific Islands Broadcasting Association (PIBA) has announced plans to immediately relocate the Pacific News Service (PACNEWS) and begin a process to close down its operations, said board chairman Francis Herman, the Fiji Times reports.

The move is [part of] the PIBA board's plan to hasten the pace of the merger between PIBA and its sister organisation PINA (Pacific Islands News Association).

"Under the PIBA plans, PACNEWS will operate out of the PINA secretariat in Suva's Gordon Street from Monday May 24, 2004. Seasoned regional journalist Makereta Komai will oversee the operations of PACNEWS for the interim period," Herman said.

"Financial transactions of PACNEWS will remain separate from PINA until the merger is completed when PACNEWS will be transferred to the new unified PINA.

"A reputable Suva-based chartered accountant is preparing the 2003 final accounts of PIBA while the audit of the organisation's accounts for the periods 1999 to 2003 will commence shortly after the verification of several legal documents.

"PIBA envisages that once several other internal administrative matters are sorted out (including its accounts), PIBA will cease to exist."

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Date Posted: 5/23/2004