27 Mar 2004

Fiji commercial broadcaster to ignore court stay on Hindi broadcasts

8:11 am on 27 March 2004

Commercial broadcaster, Communications Fiji Limited, will start a new Hindi language radio station next week despite a High Court stay order.

The Fiji government awarded Communications Fiji a contract for Hindi language public service broadcasting worth 450 thousand US dollars last December.

But this has been challenged by the current contract holder, the state-owned Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

The Suva High Court has issued a stay order on the new Hindi service until the case is heard.

But Fiji TV reports that Communications Fiji Limited's new Hindi network will go to air on March 31st.

Its general manager, Ian Jackson, says the planning has been going on for several years and has nothing to do with the tender.

The Fiji Broadcasting Corporation's lawyer, Richrd Naidu, says the new station would be in contempt of court and they will seek legal redress.