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Friday, April 11, 2008
| Oz plane patrols waters of RMI A Royal Australian Air Force P3 Orion Maritime Surveillance aircraft arrived in Majuro Friday in preparation for a surveillance mission over the waters of the RMI exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The eight-hour mission was flown on Saturday and the aircraft met up with RMIS Lomor that was at sea to support the combined operation. Race is on to win Ailinglaplap gold A whopping $73,000 is up for grabs in the Ailinglaplap races being held on May 9 and 10, according to Iroij Anjua Loeak’s son Whitney Loeak who made the announcement at last Thursday’s Marshall Islands Tourism Association (MITA) meeting at the RRE Boknake. Loeak said that about 20 canoes will compete in the feature event, which will see boats race from Woja to Jeh. First prize in this event will be $20,000, second $10,000, and third $5,000. Water lab gets US stamp of approval The RMI EPA’s water quality laboratory has been certified by a US EPA officer. The certification to analyze drinking water under the “Colilert” method and beach water samples under the “Entrolert” method is valid until 2010. In addition to RMI EPA’s lab being certified, Abraham Hicking, the EPA’s water quality chief, and staff analysts Joann Komanta and Kurban Samuel, Jr. were certified. Man hit for knife attack A Woja man has been charged with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly slitting another man’s throat with a knife late last month. Moen Langidrik, 29, pleaded not guilty to the charge and bail was set at $500 last week by District Court Judge Milton Zackios, who handled the preliminary hearing in the absence of High Court Judge Jim Plasman. |
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E-mail: |
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Phone: |
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Fax:
(692) 625-3136 |
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Mail:
PO Box 14 Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands |
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In Person:
On the ocean road behind Formosa in Uliga, Majuro |
There is a growing group of mothers and their young children involved in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) program that is run by WUTMI, with funding support from PREL. The mothers and children got together recently at the ICC, from left: PAT clients from Rita community parent educator Metylene Langidrik, Lida Juda, Meripha Langidrik, and Terry Raneld.
The cost of living in the RMI is about to go up another notch as fuel surcharges, freight rates and world prices on essential staple foods such as rice and flour are skyrocketing. Local importers and wholesalers, who keep a close eye on world prices of food, warn that these external factors compounded with the recent domestic price rise in fuel and power are going to further burden residents. According to Pacific Basin’s Robbie Chutaro, rice prices were relatively stable until February when wholesalers noticed a 35 cent price spike in the cost of a 20 pound bag. Since then the price of rice has steadily increased with every shipment into Majuro. The latest shipment of rice will likely jump to $8.10 a bag at wholesale — a 15 cent increase from the last shipment. Chutaro warns, however, that the sharpest increase in prices is still to come in May. Based on rice prices out of Australia, Chutaro says by May, the Majuro wholesale price for rice will likely be $9.30 a bag — this does not include the local government’s four percent tax or the additional mark up local retailers will add. “Australian rice prices have risen drastically,” confirms Payless Supermarket manager Ray Bandy, adding that the wheat market has also been “volatile” adding pressure to the price of flour. Bandy says his company has seen the price of flour rise by $4.23 per 10kg bag in a six-month period. “I’ve been doing this (grocery business) for 38 years,” said Bandy. “The last two years is the worst I have ever seen.” And it’s not getting better.
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