Maca Lutunauga
SUVA: The deadline for expressions of interest in the sale of the Fiji Times has closed, but the newspaper has about one more month to become 90 percent locally owned, says Permanent Secretary for Information Sharon Smith-Johns.
Smith-Johns clarified with FBC News that it was only the expression of interest that has closed not the deadline for the actual sale of the Fiji Times.
"Price Waterhouse Coopers are the ones dealing with the sale. They had a deadline for expression of interest which I believe closed last week or sometimes this week I’m really not sure of the exact dates and time. So there was a cut off for people to express interest in the sale.”
In June, a media decree announced that all media outlets in Fiji must be 90 percent locally owned.
It is expected that News Ltd, the foreign owners of the Fiji Times newspaper, has to sell off its interest in the newspaper by the end of September. - Fiji Broadcasting Corporation/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
