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Friday, April 17, 2009
Enewetak’s Lady E delivered telecommunications equipment to Likiep late last month, that will be used to connect the northern atoll to the rest of the world with its first telephone and Internet service. Photo: Chuck Handy.
This Week's
Inside Stories
Next week is the big showdown at Nitijela
It’s official: Nitijela will meet next week Wednesday, April 22, for the vote of no confidence. Speaker Jurelang Zedkaia issued the announcement on Wednesday afternoon this week. Next Wednesday is day nine since the motion has been pending with the Nitijela.
KBE Council votes to select mayor
The Kili/Bikini/Ejit Local Government council approved Wednesday a resolution to allow the council to elect from its own ranks a permanent mayor to replace popularly elected former Mayor Kataejar Jibas, who died last year. A vote for the new mayor could be held later this week during the ongoing KBE Council meeting.
Lokonmok is the
best team
The Lokonmok boys from Rita town are the champions of Internal Affairs 2009 men’s league after defeating 4-Wheelers 71-70 Tuesday at ECC. Lokonmok blew out 4-Wheelers by 25 points in the first game last Wednesday, but 4-Wheelers rebounded Thursday and looked set to knock off Lokonmok, but lost in the final minute of the game. That set up Tuesday’s showdown in the best of five series. For third place, the Mieco Boys came back to defeat X-Family Monday night by a basket, to take the series 2-1.
Higher tax will hurt economy
Chamber of Commerce officials believe a government proposal to raise taxes will have a disastrous impact on the slumping economy in the RMI. President Hirobo Obeketang and Vice President Mike Slinger talked about the poor state of the local economy, underlining the need to find and bring in new money to the RMI to create jobs and tax revenue for the government — instead of raising taxes. “The government should increase its tax base not the tax rates,” Obeketang said.
EPA: Eateries clean
up their act
Majuro restaurants received higher marks from the RMI EPA Task Force inspections conducted late last month.“Of the 21 food establishments inspected, 17 or 81 percent received Grade A and only four or 19 percent received Grade B,” said EPA water quality chief Abraham Hicking. “All seemed to have improved since the last inspections except water contamination, which still causes points to be taken off from most restaurants.”
1756 ball in RMI's court for action
US Congressional staff members visiting Majuro this week told leaders from nuclear test-affected islands that if they want to see Senate bill 1756 — or similar legislation — from the US Congress, then top RMI leadership needs to request it.
Local officials who attended the meeting Monday afternoon at the capital building said the message was if the Marshall Islands wants to get this bill in front of the Congress again, the RMI government needs to initiate a request.
Bill 1756, which died at the end of 2008 following US national elections, included $4.5 million annually through 2023 for an expanded 177 Health Program, established eligibility of
Marshallese who worked at the Bikini and Enewetak nuclear test sites for a Department of Labor nuclear workers compensation program, and required ongoing monitoring of the Runit nuclear waste dome by the Department of Energy. US Senate and Natural Resources Committee majority counsel Allen Stayman (pictured) told the Journal at the weekend that the reason bill 1756 was introduced in 2007 is because then-President Kessai Note asked committee Chairman Senator Jeff Bingaman and three other senators for the legislation. Joining Stayman was Isaac Edwards, the Republican staff counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Brian Modeste, House Natural Resources Committee counsel. They met with officials from the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as the nuclear test-affected atolls.
Stayman was deputy assistant secretary at Interior for Insular Affairs in the 1990s and a former US Compact negotiator in 1999-2001, and is considered the key staff person for the Marshall Islands and Micronesia in the Senate because of his long experience with island issues.
Likiep gets hooked up
which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
Phase one includes three telephones and four computers that are being located in the community center.
Also included in the hardware package is a satellite dish, a fax machine and a scanner.
Handy and technicians from Transportation and Communications are installing the equipment while the construction of the office and public facilities is being overseen by Mayor James Capelle.
“This is a great thing for our island and after we prove that it will work here the same system will be set up on all the outer islands,” said Capelle. These services will be provided free of charge for the first year of operation.
Ring, ring, ring. “Hello?”
“Happy birthday Jimma! All your Springdale family is calling to give you a big shout out for your birthday today on Likiep.”
“Wow. That’s great. How’s everyone over in the US?”
That’s a pretty ordinary telephone conversation. But imagine it taking place to northern Likiep Atoll? In the not too distant future, Likiep is not only going to be connected to the rest of the world by telephone, it will have Internet access. Later, cell phone service will be added.
The hardware for phase one of the United Nations sponsored International Telecommunications Union (ITU) pilot program arrived in Likiep late last month aboard Enewetak’s Lady E vessel.
The equipment being installed will bring international telephone and Internet access to the atoll,
Micronesia Challenge climate change workshop participants at Tuesday’s opening ceremony at the ICC.
Photo: Douglas Henry.
Mayor James Capelle shows off Likiep's new satellite dish that was brought with other communications equpitment on board Lady E.
Photo: Chuck Handy.

Journal 4/18/1970

Journal 4/22/1974
P1 Two bills, one allocating $4,000 from the General Fund of the Nitijela for the purpose of purchasing an FM remote transmitter receiver to enable WSZO to carry live broadcasts outside the station area, and another establishing an Agriculture Revolving Fund for the purpose of supplying animal feed and agricultural tools for sale to citizens of the Marshalls, were passed yesterday by the Nitijela
P1 The Marshall Islands District Legislature, the Nitijela, has adopted a resolution opposing Marshallese participation in the upcoming Micronesian Constitutional Convention, and opposing further participation by the Marshalls in the Congress of Micronesia. The dramatic actions came shortly before midnight Monday (April 15) at the conclusion of a one-day special session of the Nitijela called by the District Administrator exclusively for the purpose of considering the two resolutions. The vote on the measure expressing opposition to further participation in the Congress of Micronesia was close, with 11 in favor and 10 opposed.
P1 Deputy Distad Oscar deBrum returned from the island of Kili Wednesday, the present home of the Bikini exiles. The trip was made in response to a recent demand by the Kili people for an immediate return to their former home. DeBrum met with local council members to discuss the Trust Territory’s Bikini Resettlement Program. After much discussion Magistrate Lori Kessibuki and spokesman Jibaj reluctantly agreed to abide by the TT government’s plan, deBrum said. “We explained to the people that return now is physically impossible,” deBrum said. “There’s no water, no food plants…a community living there now just isn’t possible.”
P6 The word is out and official — radio station WSZO will be increased to 10,000 watts in the near future. “Broadcasts from WSZO will not only be picked up in the Marshalls,” said TT director of broadcasting Gene Lely, “but will also be carried in the Gilberts, Tonga, Ellice and Fiji Islands. We will even be able to reach Hawaii at times.”
P7 In the middle of May there will be a rummage sale for the benefit of the Marshall Islands Museum. Now is the time to donate all those things you don’t need so that others can buy them. Contact Mary Lanwi, Cecilia deBrum or Enid McKay and they will send a pickup truck to carry off your donation.
P8 High Commissioner Edward E. Johnston says “something big” is in store for Micronesia. “There is a new consciousness that Micronesia exists, that people at least know where it is,” he told a recent conference on Economic Development of Micronesia held in Hawaii. He told the conference his administration has three priorities — involving Micronesians in their government, improving education and health services, and building up economic development. “We are working toward equal pay for equal work for equal qualification,” he said.
The other resolution, indicating that the Nitijela feels the Marshalls should not participate in the con-con, was adopted by about a three-quarters majority of the Nitijela, according to District Public Affairs Officer Tony deBrum.
P7 Ten Micronesian students have been selected for the American Field Service international scholarship program this year. Among the recipients are Jackeo Relang and Juliet Jelke from the Marshalls.
P8 After the closing of the session of Nitijela early Tuesday morning at 5am, it was decided a celebration of sorts would be appropriate. With this intent, the Nitijela asked Mieco if it would be OK to use the roof of the Mieco Building for a party. Mieco’s Manager James Bing gave the Congressmen permission, but told them they would have to use the area outside the covered area used for the Korean band. The outside party ran into rain, so the Nitijela wanted to have the party in Mieco, in the restaurant-cocktail lounge. Bing wasn’t too anxious to comply with this request because the Nitijela brings its own food and there would be no profit for the company. But he did agree in the end and closed the restaurant and bar earlier than usual. Around 9:30pm a large portion of the roof came down in the restaurant. Chunks of falling concrete struck three Americans: Dr. John Swain, Mrs. Swain and Dr. Richard Porter. Fortunately, most people were standing in line getting food when the accident occurred. Mrs. Swain and Dr. Porter were not seriously injured, but Swain fractured his spine and had to be evacuated to Tripler Army Hospital in Honolulu. The next day Mieco opened with the bar and restaurant closed. Public Works Safety Inspector Joe Mook checked out the entire building and made a recommendation to Public Works that the building be closed for the time being. Because of the seriousness of the closing, the district administration is understood to be waiting for a building inspector to come in from Saipan…This could be a terrible blow to Mieco, and may put quite a few people out of jobs.

Journal 4/17/1992
P1 The Marshall Islands government has instituted new visa regulations for visitors traveling to the Marshalls. Immigration Chief Una Watak said his office recently advised travel agents and airlines of the new regulations, which apply to all foreigners except citizens of the United States, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau. Once staff in all the overseas embassies and consulates of the Marshalls are trained and have visa-issuing equipment, visitors will be required to obtain visas prior to departing for the Marshalls.
P1 The ground was broken last Thursday at Delap near the Majuro Comsat station for the National Telecommunications Authority’s new headquarters that is being constructed by PII/McConnell Dowell.
P3 Rairok Elementary School had to go overtime to beat Rita Elementary School for the championship of the Majuro academic quiz held Friday. The school takes home $500, a bar-b-que grill, educational materials and wrist watches for the students.
P5 The second Air Marshall Islands Dornier arrived from Germany and was christened Monday at Majuro airport. President Amata Kabua, who is also the chairman of the AMI board of directors, said the airline had a high degree of confidence in the Dorniers since it was purchasing them for the second time.
P16 Jaluit High School Grade 12 honor students, third quarter: Samson Samson, Benny Hesa, Kinso Nimoto, Alvin Simon, Irujiman Langidrik, Kelen Shem, Benjamin Kibin, Fredrick Heine, Arlinda Lemae, Angela Miano, Leeroy Langidrik, Arthur Jetton, Shellina Benkim, Rojen Helisha and Wilson Jimna.