19 Nov 2010

Ganilau regrets departure of US executive of Fiji Water

10:14 am on 19 November 2010

Fiji's former interim immigration minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, says it is a pity that the US executive of Fiji Water, David Roth, has left the country.

Mr Roth took a plane for Los Angeles last night - two days after Ratu Epeli quit the regime, reportedly after declining to endorse a deportation order.

Ratu Epeli resigned as the acting interim prime minister and the interim defence minister.

The Permanent Secretary of Information in Fiji, Sharon Smith Johns, says she cannot say whether the American businessman left of his own accord or was ordered to leave by authorities.

"David Roth I believe left last night for Los Angeles, on the Los Angeles flight last night. My office has not been informed or notified in any way that he has been deported. I do know however that he has left the country."

Sharon Smith Johns says Commodore Frank Bainamarama will say more on the sudden resignation of Ratu Epeli and the China trip when he returns to Fiji next week.