JDW mourns RKR’s passing away

Jane’s defence weekly joins the family and friends of Robert Keith-Reid together with his many readers and admirers in mourning his recent death.

For more than seven years, RKR (as he was known to us) was the Jane’s correspondent covering the vast South Pacific region while also serving as founding publisher of the respected weekly magazine Islands Business. He passed away in Brisbane, Australia, while recovering from a heart surgery.

In 1999, looking to develop Jane’s coverage of the South Pacific, I asked a journalist I met at a conference whether she could recommend any reporters.

Robert Keith-Reid in Fiji was the most serious journalist in the South Pacific, she advised. RKR’s insight and wit will be sorely missed. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the region and its people was without parallel.

—Robert Karniol
Pacific Editor
Jane’s Defence Weekly Asia
Bangkok
THAILAND

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Transfer of shares not put on hold: FICL

We write with regards to an article on ATH, PAFCO Transfer to Fiji Investment Corporation Limited (FICL), which appeared in your last month’s issue.

The article is misinformed and erroneous and is not an accurate portrayal of the transfer process currently taking place.

The transfer of Government shares in both PAFCO and ATH to FICL is currently underway and has not been put on hold at any point in time during the transfer process.

Discussions with shareholders and other related parties were carried out as part of the process. The transfer of shares in the first three companies—Post Fiji Ltd, PAFCO Ltd and ATH Ltd—is anticipated to be completed by the end of this second quarter.

In future, we would like to be consulted on all articles pertaining to the transfer of selected state-owned entities to FICL and we welcome the opportunity to discuss with you or clarify any issues pertaining to FICL in general.

We hope you will understand and respect our position and we hope to continue our good working relationship in the future.

—Atma Maharaj
Chief Executive Officer
Fiji Investment Corporation Limited
FIJI