PINA appoints new executive as conference ends in Solomon Islands yesterday

The two yearly meeting of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) has ended yesterday in the Solomon Islands.

The 2007 convention, hosted in Honiara by the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) concluded with a retreat and annual general meeting at Maravagi resort on Gela, Central Islands province yesterday.

At the annual general meeting, MASI president and one of the founders of PINA, John Lamani acknowledged the growth of the association since it was founded in the 1980's. Mr Lamani said PINA has faced a lot of challenges, but it must move on.

One of the outcomes of yesterday's annual general meeting was the election of a new PINA board.

General Manager of the National Broadcasting Commission of Papua New Guinea, Joseph Eladona is the new president, and Jonas Culwick of Vanuatu the vice president. Matai Akauola of Fiji Broadcasting Corporation will continue with his role in the new board as the radio representative, while Moses Stevens of Vanuatu will represent the print industry.

The other two industry representatives on the PINA board are Journalist Association of Samoa's Cherelle Jackson for national media associations and Antoine Malsungai of Vanuatu to represent the TV industry.

Yesterday's meeting also endorsed Vanuatu's nomination to host the next PINA convention in 2009.

Source: SIBC