Smith-Johns clarifies Rika and Pareti PIDF accreditation issue

The Permanent Secretary for Information has today given specific reasons about why two people did not get their accreditation for the Pacific Islands Development Forum last week.

Sharon Smith-Johns said in the case of Netani Rika, his application was lodged five days after the official deadline for accreditation.

She said the deadline was June 6th, and Netani Rika’s application was lodged on Wednesday June 11th.

Smith-Johns said because of the visit of the Indonesian President, the deadline was required to be strictly adhered to for security reasons.

In the case of Samisoni Pareti, Smith-Johns said he was not registered as a journalist with the Media Industry Development Authority - as is required by law - at the time of his application.

She said the Ministry of Information informed Samisoni that while his own application to cover the PIDF could not be processed, Islands Business - his new employer - was welcome to send another journalist to cover the event.

The magazine did not take up this offer.

A statement released by University of the South Pacific journalism academics Patrick Craddock and Doctor Matthew Thompson said they are appalled that Samisoni Pareti was denied accreditation to the Pacific Islands Development Forum without explanation.