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Friday, July 18, 2008
| 'We'll have $6.5 million dollars RMI officials say they will have the $6.5 million needed to buy fuel for the country by next week. “We’ve identified sources that we can tap into,” said Finance Minister Jack Ading. “I’m confident we’ll get the money.” Chief Secretary Casten Nemra said funds are expected to come from MEC, the Compact’s disaster fund, and reprogrammed Taiwan infrastructure funding. T&C pushes Likiep phone pilot plan The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has funded equipment to bring phone and Internet service to Likiep Atoll for the first time. Ministry of Transportation and Communications Secretary Wilbur Allen says NTA support for the project is important, but NTA General Manager Tony Muller expressed a neutral position, telling the Journal that it’s a T&C project that NTA is “neither for or against.” ADB wants in, but RMI has to act first The Asian Development Bank’s RMI desk officer told the Journal the ADB is “very aware” of the situation in the RMI but the “RMI has not met conditions for ADB to actively engage” in helping the country.Kiyoshi Nakamitsu said he is keen to look for ways that ADB can assist the RMI. But new funding through grants or technical assistance projects cannot gain approval at the Manila-based bank until the RMI resolves internal fiscal issues that exacerbate its present situation. Team keeps watch on gov't power use Ambassador Ben Graham said the RMI Disaster Committee is enforcing accountability to make sure that government offices are reducing their costs. “There is a lot that has to happen to address the short-term crisis,” Graham, who is a member of the Disaster Committee, told the Marshall Islands Chamber of Commerce Friday. |
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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 |
Traffic police officer Hilary Kobaia (left) surveys this car, whose driver decided to take an early morning swim in the lagoon last Thursday. The inebriated driver, who failed to negotiate the curve by the dump at the end of Jable, was not hurt. The car, however, was in bad shape.
By GIFF JOHNSON
A group of 26 Marshallese left for jobs at US mainland hotels Wednesday, with more than 40 more set to leave the islands later this month. And this could portend a paid-for one-way trip to US jobs for hundreds more Marshall Islanders if this first group works out to the satisfacti on of US hotels. Local labor recruiter Russell Langrine said the departure of the 26 is the result of more than six months’ work with US-based recruiter Practical Employer Solutions, which hires workers for Marriott and other hotels. The 26 Marshallese who left Wednesday are going to hotels in Newport, Rhode Island, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Biloxi, Mississippi, according to Langrine. The next 46 Marshallese to leave will be heading to hotels in Orlando, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. The departures this week follow initial recruitment by Langrine that started in January and a visit in May by officials from Practical Employer Solutions, who interviewed prospective employees. “They are being hired to permanent jobs, with a one-year minimum service period,” Langrine said. They can leave after one year if they want, he added. The wages range from entry level $7.50 an hour for housekeeping and banquet set up jobs to $12.35 an hour for maintenance helpers who must have previous experience, he said.
A group of 26 Marshallese left for jobs at US mainland hotels Wednesday, with more than 40 more set to leave the islands later this month. And this could portend a paid-for one-way trip to US jobs for hundreds more Marshall Islanders if this first group works out to the satisfacti on of US hotels. Local labor recruiter Russell Langrine said the departure of the 26 is the result of more than six months’ work with US-based recruiter Practical Employer Solutions, which hires workers for Marriott and other hotels. The 26 Marshallese who left Wednesday are going to hotels in Newport, Rhode Island, Williamsburg, Virginia, and Biloxi, Mississippi, according to Langrine. The next 46 Marshallese to leave will be heading to hotels in Orlando, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana. The departures this week follow initial recruitment by Langrine that started in January and a visit in May by officials from Practical Employer Solutions, who interviewed prospective employees. “They are being hired to permanent jobs, with a one-year minimum service period,” Langrine said. They can leave after one year if they want, he added. The wages range from entry level $7.50 an hour for housekeeping and banquet set up jobs to $12.35 an hour for maintenance helpers who must have previous experience, he said.
Carlos to head tax reform team
By GIFF JOHNSON
The Cabinet named nine members to a tax reform commission earlier this week. The group is to review existing tax reform reports in order to come up with a set of recommendations for the Cabinet to review. “They will work on a proposal to improve our tax system based on the many reports that have been written for the RMI,” Finance Minister Jack Ading told the Journal Tuesday. The Cabinet named Carlos Domnick to chair the nine-member panel. Members are Hermai Makroro, Ben Chutaro, Phil Marshall, Clora Milne, Carl Hacker, Saane Aho, Joseph Batol and Bruce Bilimon. “They’ll review all the reports and make recommendations to the Cabinet,” Ading said. “If approved, then we’ll take legislation to the Nitijela.” Important concerns in the process, Ading said, include:
• Making the tax structure better for low-income residents.
• Strengthening the administration of tax revenue collection.
• Improving the level of compliance by taxpayers.
The Cabinet named nine members to a tax reform commission earlier this week. The group is to review existing tax reform reports in order to come up with a set of recommendations for the Cabinet to review. “They will work on a proposal to improve our tax system based on the many reports that have been written for the RMI,” Finance Minister Jack Ading told the Journal Tuesday. The Cabinet named Carlos Domnick to chair the nine-member panel. Members are Hermai Makroro, Ben Chutaro, Phil Marshall, Clora Milne, Carl Hacker, Saane Aho, Joseph Batol and Bruce Bilimon. “They’ll review all the reports and make recommendations to the Cabinet,” Ading said. “If approved, then we’ll take legislation to the Nitijela.” Important concerns in the process, Ading said, include:
• Making the tax structure better for low-income residents.
• Strengthening the administration of tax revenue collection.
• Improving the level of compliance by taxpayers.
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