Following the gazetting of the Media Decree, Fiji Television Limited said its board has now met to discuss the impact of the decree on its business.

Chairman Isoa Kaloumaira said the board is pleased that its business is already in compliance on some parts of the decree and he said Fiji TV is also ensuring that compliance of other parts of the Media Decree is already in progress.

Kaloumaira said at this stage their senior executives and managers have met with the South Pacific Stock Exchange to address the shareholding requirement with regards to citizenship and residency of Fiji TV Limited's shareholders and also on other provisions that impact its business.

Fiji TV said they are mindful of the penalties in the decree and they are conducting training with their people to ensure that they conduct their business within the framework of the Media Decree.

Under the decree, directors of media organizations in Fiji must have lived in Fiji for three out of the seven years prior to the company's registration and thereafter residing in Fiji for at least six out of 12 months in a year.

Anyone who does not meet the requirements will have to sell their shares within three months of the decree coming into force.

The Media Decree came into force on the 28th of June.


Story by: Vijay Narayan