Subscribe today for just $1 an issue on an annual basis of $52.
Friday, April 18, 2008
| Iroij Jibas assaulted Iroij and Mili Councilman Driktak Jibas was assaulted by islanders on Mili, police told the Journal Wednesday. Jibas reportedly sustained serious injury to his neck from a knife or machete attack last Saturday. The incident reportedly involved a dispute over Jibas clearing land on Mili. Dash-8 back next week? This story is definitely news: AMI’s office is open for business as of Thursday this week, with plans to resume Dash-8 services early next week. Air Marshall Islands general manager Dan Fitzpatrick said that a test flight will be held Thursday afternoon or Friday morning, with follow up inspections of seven outer island runways to confirm they can be used for scheduled flights. Litokwa in Japan, Tony in Turkey Marshall Islands leaders have been out promoting diplomatic ties. Last week, President Litokwa Tomeing and First Lady Arlynn Tomeing made a state visit to Japan, meeting the Emperor, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and other leaders. He was accompanied on the visit by Ambassador Phillip Kabua, Fred Pedro and other staff. Foreign Minister Tony deBrum and his wife Rosalie attended the meeting of Pacific foreign ministers sponsored by the government of Turkey in Istanbul last weekend. Government okays key role The Nitijela approved a resolution Friday calling for establishment of an ombudsman office. The resolution, introduced by Majuro Senator Wilfred Kendall, is aimed to support implementing the Pacific Plan, which aims to improve how government works. Majuro down to 8.5m gallons Water levels at Majuro’s reservoir continue to drop to near-drought levels. As of Tuesday this week, Majuro is down to 8.5 million gallons, MWSC reports. That’s fewer than eight days of water. |
|
E-mail: |
|
Phone: |
|
Fax:
(692) 625-3136 |
|
Mail:
PO Box 14 Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands |
|
In Person:
On the ocean road behind Formosa in Uliga, Majuro |
AG office staff Bill Clement (left) brought a handful of passports for AG Posesi Bloomfield to sign after a court hearing Friday afternoon around 5 pm — cutting it a bit close for people departing on the same night’s flight to Honolulu who, as is the custom, were late in applying. Photo Giff Johnson.
Kwajalein landowners will lose more than $20 million if a new land use agreement is not signed by December 18 this year. A special escrow account has been building up since the end of 2003 with rent money for Kwajalein that as of Monday this week totaled $18,401,811.99, according to the Ministry of Finance. “If there is no signed land use agreement (LUA) by December 18, 2008, the money in escrow plus interest will be returned to the US Treasury,” US Ambassador Clyde Bishop told the Journal. “Once the money is returned to the US Treasury, there will be no way to retrieve such funds in connection with any eventual agreement on an amended or new LUA.” The escrow account grows by $1,037,109 each quarter and additional interest, so by December 18 will total more than $20.5 million. Kwajalein Senator and Iroij Mike Kabua told the Journal that landowners “just want a fair deal.” But he made it clear that the landowners aren’t going to jump for the $20 million if it means signing an LUA for the current deal on the table, “which takes us back to square one” of the bad old days under a 99-year lease signed in 1964. “We want a deal that is good for the US, good for the RMI and good for the landowners,” Kabua said. “That’s what we’re looking for.” But with no serious discussions on a new LUA since the Compact was signed by the Note government in 2003, the landowners still waiting for the new RMI government to put forth a proposal, and the US not offering anything new, reaching a new agreement over the next eight months won’t be easy.
Moreover, in the absence of a new LUA by December 18, the US government must tell the US Congress what it plans to do at Kwajalein, including plans to relocate.
|
To read the full stories, subscribe to the Journal Online. Just $1 an issue on an annual basis of $52.
|
The RMI’s Attorney General is calling for the establishment of regulations for the electoral office to do away with the need for common sense on the part of the employees. Testifying at the Commission of Inquiry into the 2007 general election on Wednesday last week, Attorney General Posesi Bloomfield told the panel of commissioners that although the procedures Chief Electoral Officer Carl Alik applied during the general election weren’t illegal, he questions the CEO’s use of common sense. “I would have said: what does common sense tell me?” said Bloomfield. “I recommend the Commission establish regulations to address (administrative procedures in the electoral office) — common sense stuff can be covered by regulations.” Bloomfield explains that his role as attorney general is only to “give legal advice when it is asked for” and because of the need for the CEO to be independent from any form of influence, he said he didn’t want to cross the line and advise Alik on any administrative details as a way of safe-guarding the independence of the CEO. Bloomfield said he gave legal advice when it was asked for and that he made it a point early on to make Alik read the election act, adding that he even brought Alik to his office to read a court decision by Chief Justice Carl Ingram on a postal ballots case from the 2003 election.
Women involved in the group Kora in Jiban Lolorjake Ejmour (KIJLE) got together last week to launch their second weight loss competition, increasing the number of participants from 25 to 82. The competition is running through June 2. Prizes will be based on two categories: those who lose the most weight and those who reduce the most fat. To show their spirit, this group kicks off a walkathon this Saturday at 5:30 am from Alwal (end of) Rita to Weather Station in Delap. There will also be aerobics and cooking demonstrations that will take place at the Ministry of Health and the Wellness Center. “We are not only trying to lose weight — the main thing is to be healthy,” said Lydia Tibon.