Netani Rika, the editor of Fiji Times who refused to give in to censorship by the country’s military regime, has resigned following the recent takeover of the 141-year-old news icon by Motibhai.
Rika, who began his career with the Fiji Times in the 80s, had been a constant thorn in the side of self appointed Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who forced the sale of the Australian owned Fiji Times.
It is believed Rika’s removal was a condition of the sale approved by the Bainimarama government.
Recently appointed published Dallas Swinstead has announced that Sunday Times editor Fred Wesley had been appointed acting editor-in-chief of the group following the resignation of Rika.
He will assume editorial responsibilities for The Fiji Times, The Sunday Times, Nai Lalakai and Shanti Dut. Wesley has been the editor of The Sunday Times for three years.
Rika's resignation was described by himself as "something of a sacrifice" for the good of the company, recently purchased by the Motibhai Group, following News Ltd’s forced sale.
He acknowledged that while he was seen to be anti-Government by some sections of the community, he had always tried to be an editor who put Fiji's future above everything else.
Swinstead noted: "Netani's journalistic life has taken him from a copy boy to the editorship of Fiji's national newspaper during some of the nation's most turbulent times in history."
“Few journalists can claim that honour, especially under the tenure of perhaps the world's biggest newspaper company, News Ltd.
"I know from my own experiences that one is bound to make friends and enemies along the way but that's the life of an editor. And the best editors know when it's time to move on."