The Pacific Islands News Association Secretariat will remain in Fiji despite calls for the secretariat to be relocated by member countries.

This was the ruling by the newly elected PINA board in a closed door meeting last night, however, other details were not given.

It is understood that 2 member countries, Tonga and Papua New Guinea, made the call last year for the Secretariat to be moved as being in Fiji would be counterproductive for them.

Meanwhile, Vanuatu journalist Moses Stevens beat local journalist, Mai TVs Stanley Simpson, by 2 votes for him to be the new president of the association.

The membership of the Information Ministry in the association is expected to be reviewed by the new board.

There are a total of 19 member countries in the association with the next meeting to be held in the Cook Islands in 2011.