Friday, December 26, 2008
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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 |
| Perseus goes to Fiji school Local student Perseus Shoniber has just received an Australian Regional Development Scholarship (ARDS) to attend Fiji Institute of Technology to study for his dilploma in Nautical Science. Perseus Shoniber graduated from the Waan Aelon in Majel (WAM) six months canoe training program two years ago. “He’s the most committed guy,” said WAM program manager Alson Kelen. “It’s great he won the (Australian) scholarship.” $1.2m still owed to ADB, no payments The Marshall Islands owes the Asian Development Bank $1.2 million and has not made a payment since July, according to bank officials. How or whether the lack of payments will impact several big ADB-supported technical assistance programs — ranging for support to the EPPSO office in preparation for the 2010 national census to assistance in developing energy options — remains an open question. Note to amend court petition A decision on former Kili/Bikini/Ejit Mayor Eldon Note’s petition to the High Court will not be forthcoming until the end of January at the earliest.High Court Judge James Plasman issued a scheduling order last week that gives Note until January 9 to submit an amended petition to the court, after which the Attorney General has until January 26 to respond. No hearing date has yet been set. Marijuana case trial set down for March Chief Justice Carl Ingram last week rejected a motion to toss out drug evidence obtained by police in a court-approved search earlier this year. The criminal charges against Helson Davis and Atkim Welch are now proceeding to a jury trial set for March 31, 2009. Davis and Welch, through their attorney Chief Public Defender Russell Kun, sought to suppress the evidence of marijuana police collected when they searched the couple’s Delap house on June 19. Only 10% pass US military entrance test.A total of 865 people took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test in the RMI during 2008, US officials reported. Only 89 of these — just over 10 percent — passed with scores high enough to enter the military. Of those who passed, 11 actually applied and qualified (including passing medical tests) and nine ultimately were processed into the military in 2008, Bishop said. |
Fourteen prisoners went out to clean up Majuro last week Tuesday and didn’t return to the Majuro jail at night, disappearing into the community as darkness fell on the capital. This violation by prisoners caused the police to shut down its work release program and to launch a manhunt for the 14. Nearly all — 12 — of the 14 were found and returned to the jail by the end of last week, but two who escaped to the Laura area were still at large this week. The group was allowed out of jail to assist with the clean up after high waves hit Majuro Monday afternoon. Then another six — members of the 14 who had earlier run away but been caught — escaped from the jail over the weekend by breaking a hole through the ceiling. Police discovered the six additional missing prisoners when they counted on Monday. Among the eight prisoners who are loose in the community are three murderers, one who was convicted of rape, and burglars. “We’re out looking for them,” said national police officer Alex Maine. “We’re going to hunt them down and bring them back to jail.” The 14 were not part of the approved, work-release group of 10 prisoners who are allowed out of jail each day to work for local businesses. This group was allowed to return to its work schedule this week.
Japan Charge Dr. Kazuyuki Ohdaira joined with President Litokwa Tomeing (center) and the Cabinet to announce the new grant. Photo: Earl Carter
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The Japan government will be providing its first-ever multi-million dollar grant to the RMI government in early next year.
All large Japan grants have, since the 1980s, been provided in the form of projects, such as docks, roads and the hospital.
On Monday, Japan Charge Kazuyuki Ohdaira met with President Litokwa Tomeing to inform him that the Japan Cabinet has recently approved the approximately $2.2 million grant for the energy sector. The agreement requires the RMI to chip in an additional $1.1 million to the fund. “This is the first time for the RMI to receive this type of grant aid from the government of Japan,” said Ohdaira. “This grant has been decided thanks to the long-standing close relationship between the two nations as well as to both countries’ efforts to further strengthen the relationship (through) efforts like the successful visit of His Excellency President Litokwa Tomeing to Japan last April.” An agreement for the grant is to be signed early next month, and the grant to be provided by March.
All large Japan grants have, since the 1980s, been provided in the form of projects, such as docks, roads and the hospital.
On Monday, Japan Charge Kazuyuki Ohdaira met with President Litokwa Tomeing to inform him that the Japan Cabinet has recently approved the approximately $2.2 million grant for the energy sector. The agreement requires the RMI to chip in an additional $1.1 million to the fund. “This is the first time for the RMI to receive this type of grant aid from the government of Japan,” said Ohdaira. “This grant has been decided thanks to the long-standing close relationship between the two nations as well as to both countries’ efforts to further strengthen the relationship (through) efforts like the successful visit of His Excellency President Litokwa Tomeing to Japan last April.” An agreement for the grant is to be signed early next month, and the grant to be provided by March.
P1 Kwajalein Atoll Private School is continuing its successful beginning with a student body of 52 students enrolled and attending. The school, which has three teachers (Jim Duffy, Donna Hawkins and Marc LaPlant), is located in the former Ebeye Coop building and for many of the parents of Ebeye it is considered a blessing.
P4 Airline of the Marshall Islands wants to be the first to provide service to Kosrae International Airport, President Amata Kabua said during dedication ceremonies of the new airport here (Kosrae).
P9 On December 18 the two Iroij of Ujelang Atoll came to the office of this newspaper and said they had something to say and wished it could appear n the newspaper. The day before they had a meeting with deputy High Commissioner Peter T. Coleman and they were disheartened with what Coleman had to say.
“First,” said Iroij Johannis in Marshallese, “Coleman said that he talked with people in Washington and found out that we cannot return to Eniwetok because the Department of Defense is still doing much work on Eniwetok. Then I said that if they are working on Eniwetok why couldn’t our people return and live on a small island like the people live on Ebeye? Then Coleman said we couldn’t do this because the Defense Department isn’t really working at Eniwetok, that they are only watching the equipment left there. He must think I’m a fool to talk to me like this.”
P1 If you’re not registered to vote and you want to vote in 1999, don’t use ‘Marshallese time’ to register. The last day to register is next week Thursday, December 31.
P2 If Aloha Airlines gains Defense Department approval for refueling stops at Johnston Island, it would provide a weekly service (to the RMI) primarily for passengers.