Let us tell Our Stories, Our Way, to Our Own People – PINA President

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 04 October 2024 – The President of the Pacific Island News Association (PINA), Kalafi Moala of Tonga is urging Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa who is the Chair of the upcoming Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) meeting in Samoa, to allow the media to perform their role freely without interference from the host broadcaster.

In a joint letter with the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) dated 3 October 2024, Moala highlighted their concern about the restrictions put in place by the CHOGM Media Sub-Committee.

“The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) alongside the Pacific Freedom Forum (PFF) seeks your understanding and consideration in recognition of the importance of our Pacific media fraternity in telling our own Pacific stories, the way our people understand it,” said Moala.

At the 7^th PINA Summit in Niue last week, journalists from around the region voiced concern over the restrictions and several veteran journalists who believe Samoa has the most free media could put up such restrictions.

Some of them who have covered past CHOGM said they were shocked with the restrictions.

PINA Secretary Makereta Komai who has been to past CHOGM, said there are closed door meetings which the media cannot attend; and that is the common practice, but the restrictions are announced by the CHOGM Media Sub-Committee are new.

“As Presidents of PINA and the PFF, we speak for hundreds of independent journalists and media personnel who work and live in the Pacific while bringing our stories to our people,” said Moala.

He said the true Pacific spirit would not burn as brightly as it does today, without a robust, and independent media to promote it.

“It is in this same spirit that we ask for your consideration in allowing the host broadcaster of the CHOGM Meeting Media programme to perform its role freely, while not interfering with coverage of proceedings by accredited local and international media,” he said.

PINA and PFF continue to strengthen their roles in upholding Media Freedom in the region, and any form of restrictions on local independent media points to geopolitics encroaching on the right of Pacific Media to effectively perform its role.

“A free and independent media will always be the yardstick of a country, and the government’s respect for media as a vital pillar of democracy in the region,” said Moala.