Independence promised for Fiji newspaper

The Fiji Times has a new owner.

The new owners of the Fiji Times are promising editorial independence for the newspaper.
The Motibhai Group is also assuring its business competitors that they will not be discriminated against in the paper's advertising.
Motibhai Group chairman Mahendra Patel - who is also the new chairman of the Fiji Times - told FBC News there will be no preferential treatment for anyone, including themselves.
Starting out as a grocery retailer, the Motibhai Group's activities now range from imports, wholesaling and retailing to manufacturing, distribution, real estate and hospitality,

FBC says Australian editor and publisher Dallas Swinstead has been appointed the new publisher of the newspaper.
He was the publisher of the Fiji Times from 1976-1980.
The Motibhai chairman says the publisher will run the newspaper independently with his management team. (From ABC News)