Issue No: 551; 5 March 2001

Media reports that last week, the Supertext Fiji Limited, based at Nabua Suva, laid off 150 workers.

Two weeks ago, two Lautoka based factories closed down their factories secretly and at least one of them shipped the machines out of Fiji. About 1000 workers were laid off.

Factors contributing to the mass closures are political instability and the end of the tax-free holidays.

Meanwhile the hotel industry says it is awaiting the outcome of the meeting of the Great Council of Chiefs. Today's Fiji Sun reports the Chief Executive of the Fiji Hotel Association, Olivia Pareti as saying: "The future of the tourism industry looks bleak and tourists could start coming back in large numbers when we gain political stability".

After the Fiji Court of Appeal judgment, another tourism industry personality, Viliame Gavoka told the media that he preferred to have Qarase and his regime continue to run Fiji. It is not clear whether Gavoka had the mandate of the organization he purportedly represented, Fiji Pride, to make the statement. But it is believed that many tourism industry personalities are upset with the statement he made to the radio journalist.