The permanent secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office said comments by Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama at a meeting with media executives yesterday has been grossly exaggerated and taken out of context.

Pramesh Chand is reacting to media reports which said that the interim PM said as a worst case scenario he would not hesitate closing down certain media outlets.

Chand, who was present at the meeting, said both the government side and the media discussed frankly what their respective concerns were and it is unfair now that the media is strategically picking up issues from that meeting and in the process sensationalizing them.

He said it is important that we move on from here in good faith and with mutual trust and with common objective of building improved relationships.

The permanent secretary stressed that the interim government is committed to freedom of the media, provided there is fair and balanced reporting on issues.

Radio NZ has reported on a PACNEWS agency report that Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has revealed that the Fiji Times Publisher Evan Hannah will not be the last expatriate to be deported.

According to the report, Commodore Bainimarama said he was not at liberty to explain why Hannah was deported, but said others are likely to follow.

Commodore Bainimarama said the same action will be taken against any other expatriate if they breach their work permit conditions.

According to PACNEWS, the interim PM said the last thing they would want to do is close down certain media outlets and his government should not be likened to Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.