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Friday, December 12, 2008
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(692) 625-8143
(692) 625-8146
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(692) 625-3136
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PO Box 14 Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands
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On the ocean road behind Formosa in Uliga, Majuro
US says no to Litokwa's plan
The US government has flatly rejected President Litokwa Tomeing’s plan to use some Compact grant money to meet nuclear test compensation needs. Nikolao Pula, Director of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs, told the President in a letter last week: “The purpose you suggest falls outside of the uses of sector grant funds and would not be an acceptable proposal to be approved by the Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee (JEMFAC).” Tomeing recommended reallocating $1.2 million of Compact sector grants each year starting in 2009 to provide an interim way to continue to pay off personal injury awards.
EPA plans Styrofoam ban
Stores, customers and other assorted users of Styrofoam will have to get used to doing without and finding alternatives as the RMI Environmental Protection Authority has announced plans to enforce an international ozone protection treaty and local regulations concerning Styrofoam. “Our aim is to have the ban enforced by February 2009,” EPA’s Moriana Phillips told the Journal.
Waves blast Majuro shoreline areas
High waves flooded many parts of Majuro Tuesday afternoon, causing damage and washing tons of garbage, rocks and other debris onto the atoll. Although Tuesday’s 1:30 pm high tide was only slightly over four feet, it coincided with high waves generated by a low-pressure weather system in the Wake Island area, about 500 miles north of Majuro.
Gas price still high
In Majuro, following Mobil’s latest 30-cent price drop the end of November, Majuro stations reduced to between $5.24 to $5.29 last week. Meanwhile, the average gas price in Hawaii was $2.65. In Guam, the price dropped to $2.99 per gallon last week.
APIL position is to 'delivery goods'
APIL and its related agencies have a mandate for reform and restructuring coming out of their two-day meeting in Majuro last week. Association of Pacific Island Legislatures President J. Kalani English, a state senator in Hawaii, told the Journal that APIL is shifting to focus on “how to deliver goods and services to the region.”
$20m vanishing as LUA deadline looms
By GIFF JOHNSON
With just days to a “land use agreement” deadline, there appears to be little movement to prevent nearly $21 million in an escrow account for Kwajalein being returned to the US. Next Wednesday (Thursday Majuro date) is the five-year cut-off by which a new LUA is needed or the rental money being held is slated to return to the US Treasury. Although the Congressional legislation allows the two governments to mutually agree on a different course of action for the money, there has been no indication from the US of any willingness to engage with the RMI on this issue, despite repeated requests from President Litokwa Tomeing and Foreign Minister Tony deBrum. The RMI is in a holding pattern waiting for a response from President George W. Bush to a letter Tomeing sent last month seeking to delay the December 17 deadline to give time to work out a new LUA. “We’re waiting for a response from President Bush,” Minister in
Assistance to the President Christopher Loeak told the Journal Wednesday. “The government has not yet received a response.” US Ambassador Clyde Bishop (pictured) said he, too, is waiting to hear from President Bush. “I am awaiting the US President’s response to President Tomeing’s letter,” Bishop said Wednesday. “The present position of the US Government remains as before: without a signed LUA, I am instructed to return the escrow account monies to the US Treasury.” DeBrum told the Journal Wednesday: “It is my strongest conviction that that there won’t be a new LUA before the 17th.” But he repeated his hope for a deadline delay, saying he wished everyone would stop focusing on the deadline and instead work together to allow the matter to be amicably resolved. He said a return of the funds December 17 sets in motion the requirement of the US President to report to Congress on US plans for Kwajalein post-2016, which makes it clear to deBrum that without a new LUA, US use of Kwajalein expires in 2016. President Tomeing is scheduled to fly to Kwajalein Thursday for discussions with landowners.
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Ri Majol dies in Irag
Marshall Islander Solomon ‘Labai’ Sam, 31, was killed in action in Iraq last Friday (Majuro date), the first Marshallese to die in the five-year war. The 30-ton truck Sam was driving was hit in a suicide bomb attack by what the Army describes as a “Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device.” According to a fellow Army member who saw a video of the attack, Sam was riding in a large vehicle, the second in a convoy of Army vehicles. Suddenly, a Toyota laden with explosives sped into the convoy, targeting Sam’s vehicle. The terrorists who attacked the convoy had waited for the first vehicle to pass and then drove into the second vehicle in line. In addition to Sam, one American in his vehicle was killed, and several were injured by the big blast, including eight Iraqi civilians, according to a report received by the Journal from Iraq. Sam, an Army sergeant, joined the US Armed Forces in 2000, a year after graduating from Marshall Islands High School. He is the son of Rev. Harry and Teaoi Sam. Sgt. Sam’s wife Bwilla and three children are in Hawaii and were informed of the news last weekend. Earlier this year, Army private Carl “Superman” Reiher was seriously injured in Iraq, losing part of one arm when the humvee he was traveling in came under heavy attack. Army Staff Sergeant Paul Lejjena was the first Marshallese to be seriously injured in Iraq in 2005, when an improvised explosive device exploded near his unit while it was patrolling in Baghdad.
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Popular Aussie dies in diving accident
Australia’s Brett McGough, 26, died at Majuro Hospital at about 8am on Saturday after an accident on Friday afternoon at Kalalin Pass. Brett, manager of the Marshall Islands Mariculture Farm (a.k.a. The Clam Farm), was fighting a fish on his spear and was rising to the surface when he was spotted by his friend Clint Jeavons, who works for Good Fortune Bay Fisheries. “Clint saw Brett let go of the spear and continue to the surface, so Clint continued on swimming,” said a close friend of Brett. “Then when Clint reached the surface he realized Brett had not, thinking to himself ‘Where the
Brett McGough, right, enjoys a day out on the water with friend and former colleague Tom Bowling.
hell is he?’” Immediately he and co-diver Provan Crump, who also works for Good Fortune Bay Fisheries, began to search for Brett, with Provan eventually finding him on the bottom in about 90 feet of water. “It took Provan four attempts to get him,” said the friend. It is believed Brett was on the bottom for about 10 minutes.
Journal 12/71
Journal 12/83
P1 A group of more than one hundred fifty women representing Kusaie and Kapingamarangi in Ponape District demonstrated last week to keep in force the district emergency order that presently is prohibiting the sale of liquor by the drink. The group, headed by Cicilia Salomon, marched to the District Administration building and met with District
P1 Brian Riordan is the new Acting Auditor General for RepMar, having taken over the job on November 16. As prescribed by the Constitution, Riordan was nominated for the job by Speaker Atlan Anien and appointed by President Amata Kabua. His appointment must now be approved by Nitijela, expected to happen in January. Before taking his present position, Riordan was an associate of Dau, Walker Associates, a Washington, DC financial and governmental
Administrator J. Boyd Mackenzie, urging him to prohibit Ponpeans from consuming alcohol but to allow only Americans and other foreigners to drink, claiming that they know how to control themselves while drinking. Distad Mackenzie responded that any laws formulated in Ponape must serve equally all of the people, and no matter who they are must be treated equally under the same law. He also noted the opening and closing of the bars in Ponape lies in the hands of the Ponape district legislature and the alcoholic beverage control board.
P8 Trust Territory Director of Transportation and Communications Paul Windsor announced on Saipan the approval of temporary lighting facilities for Majuro airport in the Marshall Islands. Windsor said the lights will be purchased and installed by Air Nauru, which intends to make use of the lights for night operations of its weekly flight between Majuro and Nauru. The lights could also be used by other airlines in addition to Air Nauru, Windsor said, since they have been approved for use by the FAA.
management firm. From 1971-1982, he was responsible for the fiscal operations of the Foundation for the People of the South Pacific.
P1 The season of Christmas is very apparent in Majuro with numerous home and business decorations vying with each other for demonstration of the yearly yuletide spirit. The most spectacular to date (and also probably the most imaginative) is the decoration of the coconut tree at the Lanai Restaurant and Bar. The whole trunk of the tree by the bar’s entrance is surrounded in a spiral of attractive lights that give a unique effect that is both island-oriented and at the same time traditional in the mainland sense. Mudge’s Store in Delap is joined together in a festive line of lights that offsets the tastefully built store outlets. On the inside of Downtown Restaurant the elves of Kejjo Bien have been very busy nights of late stringing a very pleasing arrangement of tinsel and floral designs. Robert Reimers Ent. Has committed itself to a whole new area of its store to the Christmas season with an exciting array of toys.
Journal 12/98
P1 In a landmark decision issued Monday, the High Court ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear a lawsuit against five American and British cigarette manufacturing giants. It dismissed charges, however, against 11 of the 16 companies sued by RMI.
P1 The new diplomatic link with Taiwan is producing a flurry of activity for the Marshall Islands. Last Saturday, Taiwan formally opened its new embassy in Majuro, located at Outrigger. A trade delegation of Taiwan government and business officials is expected to arrive shortly to take a look at investment possibilities. Preparations are being made for President Imata Kabua to make a state visit to the ROC in early 1999.
P2 A Marshall Islands disaster office official disputes FEMA’s assessment that crops damaged by the El Nino drought are now recovering on all outer islands. Public assistance officer Andrew Bilimon said that while on some of the larger islands the agriculture situation has improved, this is not the case on many of the smaller islands with smaller populations. Breadfruit and pandanus on many islands are still not producing, although this is the normal season for these staple crops.