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Inside Stories
Friday, January 22, 2010
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Rosalie fights MISSA on KALGov taxes
Kwajalein Atoll Local Government attorney Rosalie Konou has fired back a shot across the bows of MISSA’s collection drive. She is asking the High Court to dismiss MISSA’s latest collection action, require the RMI government be made party to the case, order that an administrative hearing must be held with the MISSA board so KALGov can present its grievances, and prevent any legal fees to be paid by either side.
2009 a dry
year for Majuro
Despite heavy rainfall in December, 2009 was a dry year for Majuro.
The Majuro Weather Station reports that 109.57 inches of rain fell last year. This is 17 percent below the 30-year average annual rainfall of 132.23 inches.
Clean water: A luxury for some
A new video about a certain aspect of life in Majuro now in production may open a few eyes about the realities of urban living in 2010. The interview work has been a wake-up call for government and non-government organization people involved. “You can’t live without water” is a phrase often heard. But, according to those involved in this project, a good number of Majuro residents are having to do just that — go without fresh water because they don’t have any and cannot afford to buy any. "I did not for a moment think that there are so many people here, today, at this very moment struggling and having no access to ‘clean’ water — not even having the luxury of enough water for basic everyday needs such as bathing and cooking,” said one of the filmmakers.
MISSA gets another A+ from its auditors
The Marshall Islands Social Security Administration is the only government entity to produce eight consecutive years of “findings” (problems)-free audit reports. The definition of A+ in auditors’ language is no findings. This was reported in the January 2010 Auditor General’s report.
Senator requests Ebeye TB testing
Kwajalein Senator Mike Kabua wants every Ebeye resident screened for TB. In comments at the Nitijela last week, he expressed concern about the crowded living conditions on Ebeye and the contagious nature of TB. He asked the Ministry of Health to explore opportunities for testing the whole community for TB. He also expressed concern about leprosy, saying this should also be checked more aggressively. “I want to help and am ready to support the efforts of the Ministry of Health,” Kabua said.
PII fills fish market site
New land is being created every hour around the clock at the Uliga Dock area in preparation for launching construction of the Japan government-funded $8 million fish market facility. PII is providing dump truck loads of fill material by the dozen to the site, which has moved into high gear since the start of the New Year.
Inset: The lagoon view of the landfill work at Uliga Dock.
Photos: Douglas Henry
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Kwajalein pollution forces fish ban
By GIFF JOHNSON
The Marshall Islands EPA is seeking to expand a study at the US Army Kwajalein Atoll of lagoon contamination — some of which is from a dry-dock at the missile range. Last week, US Environmental Protection Agency and US Army officials briefed officials in Majuro on various environmental issues relating to the Kwajalein missile range, including contamination of lagoon sediments adjacent to the Kwajalein dry-dock facility. Fishing has been banned in the Kwajalein harbor area because of both heavy metals in the sediment and PCB chemicals and pesticides from storm water discharges into the lagoon. PCBs are chemicals that used to be used in electrical transformers and are considered highly toxic. Heavy metals and pesticides are also hazardous to human health. RMI EPA General Manager Deborah Barker-Manase (pictured) said her agency is requesting the US EPA to take lagoon and fish samples from an extended area of Kwajalein’s lagoon, including Ebeye, to determine the extent of the contamination. “We’re asking for follow up (on an initial study) on fish consumption,” Barker-Manase said. US EPA conducted a fish consumption
survey of about 50 Marshallese who work at Kwajalein and live on Ebeye, she said. But the RMI EPA Director said it seems the estimate of fish intake is far too low.
Barker-Manase said the survey indicated Marshallese were eating just two ounces of fish a day.
“We want to expand the survey to more Marshallese,” she said. The Army has already taken some mitigation actions to prevent the runoff of chemicals and pesticide residue into the lagoon, she said.
Study of the lagoon and fish in the Kwajalein harbor area in the vicinity of the dry-dock showed higher levels of chemicals and PCBs than heavy metals in the fish checked.
The source of heavy metal contamination is from shore-side ship facilities, she said. “The area is used for a dry-dock and sand-blasting (of ship hulls) and paint accumulates in the lagoon,” she said.
In reference to plans for the impending arrival of a Taiwan dry-dock in Majuro, RMI EPA’s interest in a broader study of Kwajalein lagoon is to “provide good information on the impact of a dry-dock,” Barker-Manase said. “The Army is looking at how to address the impact of the dry-dock. We need to be prepared, too.”
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MALGov received tools from the Ministry of Resources and Development funded by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization this week that will be put to use in Aenkan. MALGov’s Anekan Councilwoman Betty Imaikta (middle), Mayor Titus Langrine (second from left) and R&D’s Tommy Kijiner Jr. joined MALGov’s councilmen and staff. Photo: Douglas Henry
Book for Sale
This book explodes the "myth of the four atolls" maintained by the US government since the Bravo hydrogen bomb test in 1954; relies heavily on previously secret US studies to show how US officials consistently underestimated or underreported fallout exposures; and points out, among other findings, that more than 40 years after the US nuclear testing program ended, the US government has still not released complete fallout data on 50 of the 67 tests conducted at Bikini and Enewetak.
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Shortage hurts accountability office's work
PNG men home at long last
Asia/Pacific Assistant Secretary Keyoka P. Kabua from Foreign Affairs, sitting at left, PNG Foreign Service Officer Kapi Maro, standing left, and local resident Desmond Asuo, next to Maro, joined with the departing PNG group at the airport last week: Nick Sales, Gerard Bugngim, Metatus Tikell, Alfred Sniel, and Gerard Nakot.
Arno Senator Gerald Zackios’ (pictured) appeal to the Nitijela last week to get a new Auditor General hired and in the saddle at the RMI Auditor General’s office only touches the tip of the problem. In her report to Nitijela submitted last week, Acting Auditor General Atmita Jonathan said her office charged with ensuring the accountability of government has had its staff numbers slashed. In addition, the RMI government recently eliminated two positions from her office that already had been filled by workers, she said. There are only six auditors and one support staff in the office compared to 12 just three years ago, she reported. “The numbers of staff have been reduced from 12 over the past three years,” she said. She said the audit office has had difficulty recruiting new staff, forcing the Auditor General to rely increasingly heavily on outside auditing firm Deloitte and Touche to perform its constitutionally-mandated audit work. “Our fiscal year 2010 budget was cut and vacant positions were eliminated, including two already filled positions,” she said. The Auditor General post has remained vacant for more than two years, with Jonathan filling in as acting during this time.

Journal 1/25/1971

Journal 1/25/1985
P1 A news agency for Micronesia has been proposed by Daniel C. Smith of the Institute for Communication Research at Stanford University, California. Citing the Congress of Micronesia Senate resolution calling for legislation to create an independent broadcasting corporation as well as dissatisfaction by the Administration of the Trust Territory with the performance of the Micronesian News Service, Smith states that whatever Micronesia’s future political status, the operation of a respected, fair news agency and broadcast service will be essential.
P6 The Eastern Gateway Hotel opens today with eight units available for occupancy, according to Gateway’s General Manager Mike Noland. Each of the units has a private bath and a balcony, the floors are carpeted and the beds are full-size. “The is the first first-class hotel in the
P1 President Amata Kabua led a contingent of five top RepMar officials that left the capital last Friday to attend President Reagan’s inauguration in Washington, DC. With him are Presidential Advisor Carl Ingram, Minister Kessai Note, Iroij Michael Kabua, Minister Charles Domnick and Chief Secretary Oscar deBrum.
P1 Ultra-sensitive negotiations between the New Zealand and Marshall Islands governments for a political and economic relationship are well advanced, reports the New Zealand Times. The issue is so delicate
that NZ officials have refused to provide details, says the Times, although “reams of briefing papers and a flurry of activity surround the delicate negotiations.”
P3 On Saturday, the court-ordered and much-awaited referendum went ahead with barely 21 percent of the registered voters voting. But of those that did, some 70 percent voted to have the DUD and Laura municipal councils join together. For a number of years, the DUD Council has been opposing amalgamation with Laura and had called a referendum two years ago to show public support for its position. But the move backfired, with the vote going against its position and the referendum bills piling up.
P11 International Bridge Company has quietly been doing a lot of work for the local government on Kili Island, and it is time we gave you a report on the goings on. A beautiful new council house has been completed, 10 solar powered street lamps have been installed to light up the downtown area, 29 Yanmar generators have been installed to provide electricity to every home on the islands, roads throughout the island have been graded, filled, compacted and topped with pea gravel, and a new church is nearly completed. At the intersection of two roads is a “stop” sign, and the speed limit of 5 miles per hour in the residential area and 20 MPH in the country is posted.
P13 In a nation where the goal for many has been and appears to be still to move into a secure job with the government, Grant Labaun is a man moving against the grain. For five years RepMar’s Chief of Revenue and Taxation, Labaun resigned last month to concentrate his efforts on his rapidly expanding Midtown Store.
Marshalls,” said Noland, “and will be a benefit to the community because of the inadequate accommodations for tourists now.”
P7 Kwajalein Importing and Trading Company (KITCO) was vandalized three times this week in a spurt of actions that have left the police wondering where and how vandals will strike next. The first incident occurred Tuesday at Kitco’s bar when a small boy grabbed money from in front of a patron and ran off. On Wednesday, boys broke into Kitco’s poolroom and from there into the copra warehouse where Kitco keeps its beer. One case was stolen and a window broken. On Thursday night, the boys were at it again, only this time it was Kitco’s new warehouse. The boys made off with nine cartons of cigarettes. The police have apprehended some of the boys involved. Three weeks ago, Kitco was robbed of three cases of beer when boys cut the wire gate to the Kitco garage. Police said that they will be watching Kitco now.

Journal 1/22/1993
P1 President Amata Kabua returned to Majuro earlier this week after attending the official opening of the new RMI Consulate General office in Newport, Orange County, California last week. He commented on the need “to extend government services to the growing Marshallese community in the United States.” The ceremony was also attended by Kwajalein Senators Imata Kabua and Ataji Balos.
P6 Assumption High School second quarter first honors: Freshmen: Atina Myazoe, Paul Alfred, Juliana Rilang; Sophomore: Talei Bing, Christine Capelle, Edwin Concepcion, Berry Muller, Angela Kiner; Junior: Junior Patrick, Jessica Reimers, Nebwij Ritok, Sultan Korean, Kakom Jetnil, Theresa Kijiner; Senior: Claudia Muller, Ioanna Bing.
P11 Two American women were attacked by a pack of wild dogs while out for a walk in the Rita area, and both women were bitten and suffered lacerations that were treated at Majuro Hospital.
P20 Local friends and staff of the Ministry of Interior and Outer Islands Affairs joined together this Thursday evening at the Japanese Stone House to bid farewell to Dirk Spennemann, Chief Archeologist for the RMI Historic Preservation Office and his wife, novelist Jane Downing. The couple, who have been part of the Majuro community for the past three and a half years, were subjected to a very warm and entertaining array of goodbye sentiments and song.