Fiji may step in to host 2011 PINA media meeting

Fiji may step in to host 2011 PINA media meeting

Report - By Stanley Simpson in Suva

The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) will ask Fiji media to host the 2011 Pacific Media Summit if Cook Islands withdraws from organising the event.

The resolution was passed at a PINA board meeting held by teleconference on July 8.

At the meeting, the PINA board accepted the resignation of former vice-president John Woods, editor of the Cook Island News.

Woods, as the vice-president, was the main contact in the Cook Islands for the organising of the 2011 summit. However, he is now involved in setting up a
rival organisation to PINA after expressing concern at PINA's stand over Fiji politics.

The board will write to Woods to seek clarification on whether the Cook Islands will still host next year's meeting.

While the decision to hold the meeting in Fiji is still not resolved, some members have queried how a meeting could be held in Fiji under the current
regulations.

In the meantime, the PINA board has reiterated its decision in December 2009 not to move the PINA secretariat out of Fiji.

The new PINA vice-president will also be announced soon after nominations for the position were received from Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

On other issues, it was noted that the final independent audit of the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS) has been completed and will be
forwarded to the board and to AusAID.

The PINA board has thanked AusAID for the A$170,000 allocation for year one of PACMAS and say they are looking forward to continuing their working
relationship with AusAID in the future.

ENDS