JUNE 18, 2010
Government to pay off MIR's debts to Social Security
A settlement judgment against the Marshall Islands Resort for unpaid Social Security taxes was approved earlier this month by High Court Judge James Plasman. The judgment awards the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration $464,000.57. The court judgment occurred because of an agreement among David Strauss, Frederick Canavor, Minister of Justice Brenson Wase and Finance Secretary Jefferson Barton that the RMI government will pay the Resort’s MISSA debt at a rate of $14,500 per month starting from October 15 this year with the requirement it be paid off in 25 months. If the hotel is sold by the RMI, the government is required to ensure that the debt is a “first charge” and is paid from the sale revenue.
ADB-Japan okays $3.3m in grants
The Asian Development Bank, with Japan funding, has confirmed two new grants for the Marshall Islands worth a combined $3.3 million The two grants are:
• $1.8 million for the energy sector, which will provide funding largely for the Marshalls Energy Company: $300,000 is for prepaid meters in Majuro, $400,000 is for extending power supply to low-income households and $1,060,000 is for refurbishing one of the power plant engines to use a mix of coconut oil and diesel fuel.
• $1.5 million for a variety of work aimed at poverty reduction. This includes funding for a national census, coconut replanting on the outer islands, and job training programs. Both grants are funded by Japan through the ADB.
Cell phone banking services of BOMI
On the heels of the April launch of the high-speed submarine fiber optic cable linking the Marshall Islands to Guam and the world, Bank of Marshall Islands is rolling out the first cell phone banking services for the country next week Wednesday. The new service is expected to positively impact distant outer islands, where transfer of money can be problematic. “This will be good for the outer islands that have never had access to banking services,” Bank of Marshall Islands President Patrick Chen said last week.
Compact
review sobering
The US Interior Department’s Office of Insular Affairs has produced a draft report to the Congress on the first five years of the Compact with the Marshall Islands. The 57-page report presents a sobering assessment of the difficult economic, health and education conditions facing the Marshall Islands, and says there is a great challenge facing the RMI because many problems remain to be fixed but donor funding is on the decline.
Iroijedrik Jitiam wearing his “King”
medallion.
The Sunday Times of London reported that an undercover
investigation by its reporters exposed Japan for bribing small
nations — including the RMI — with aid, cash and prostitutes
to get their support for the slaughter of whales. But the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Journal on Wednesday its
vote at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) “is not
for sale.” The Marshall Islands accused the Sunday Times of
“falsifying” and “distorting” information in the news report that
has gained wide circulation internationally through the Internet.
“The unprincipled tactics and methods employed by the
‘undercover reporters’ towards obtaining information with respect
to IWC issues is beneath any standard of ethical journalism,” the Ministry said in a statement. The Times said its reporters posed as representatives of a fictional Swiss billionaire who was offering funding to get six countries to change their votes. The countries included in the sting-type operation were St. Kitts and Nevis, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Grenada, Republic of Guinea and Ivory Coast, the paper said. “The RMI is a sovereign nation and, as such, determines its own government policies,” the Ministry said in response to the Times story. “The RMI’s policy on whaling is not based on the aid from Japan or any other country. If that were the case, it must be noted that the RMI also receives the same, if not more, assistance from some of its other development partners, countries which oppose Japan in the IWC.” A transcript of an exchange between a Times reporter and Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority official Doreen deBrum reports that she confirmed the RMI vote in support of Japan is related to Japan’s aid program. The reporter asked, “you support whaling because of the aid that Japan gives you?” DeBrum is reported to have responded: “We support Japan because of what they give us.” The paper said MIMRA later denied this when told that the interviewers
were actually reporters. The paper said representatives of other countries
MATT HOLLY
In February 1944, the US Military Forces landed in the Marshall Islands and captured Majuro and Kwajalein atoll, and a few weeks later, Enewetak atoll.
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talked about cash being given to government leaders by Japan and “call girls” being offered. The revelations come, the paper said, as Japan seeks to end the 24-year ban on commercial whaling. An IWC meeting that will decide the fate of thousands of whales, including endangered species, begins next week in Morocco. “The RMI has a long-standing diplomatic relationship with Japan, and has received tremendous bilateral assistance from Japan through grants, trainings, economic development projects and numerous other opportunities given to Small Islands Developing States,” said the Foreign Minister in Majuro. “Japan is a very close friend and ally of the RMI.” But the fact that RMI gets more aid from some countries opposed to whaling “clearly demonstrates that RMI’s vote, whether in the IWC or any other regional and international forums, is not for sale.”
The missing medallions
talked about cash being given to government leaders by Japan and “call girls” being offered. The revelations come, the paper said, as Japan seeks to end the 24-year ban on commercial whaling. An IWC meeting that will decide the fate of thousands of whales, including endangered species, begins next week in Morocco. “The RMI has a long-standing diplomatic relationship with Japan, and has received tremendous bilateral assistance from Japan through grants, trainings, economic development projects and numerous other opportunities given to Small Islands Developing States,” said the Foreign Minister in Majuro. “Japan is a very close friend and ally of the RMI.” But the fact that RMI gets more aid from some countries opposed to whaling “clearly demonstrates that RMI’s vote, whether in the IWC or any other regional and international forums, is not for sale.” To secure the support of Marshallese leaders, the US Navy produced a number of brass medallions as gifts for many of these leaders, the first of which were given to the traditional leaders upon Majuro Atoll. The medallions were brass discs, approximately four inches in diameter, about one-quarter inches thick, with a pre-fabricated brass USA logo eagle placed in the upper center. A cutout was made at the upper edge, with a pink ribbon inserted to allow the medallion to be worn around their neck for display. Four separate medallions were made for each atoll and their leaders, being one for the “King,” one for the “Queen,” one for the “Magistrate,” and one for the “Headman.” An extra or double set was apparently made for the leaders of Majuro, as Majuro was divided under two leaders. The “King” medallions on Majuro were given to Iroijlaplap Langlan and Iroijedrik representative Jitiam. Jitiam’s wife, LiJamur, (who was also married to prior Iroijlaplap Jebrik Kotwerak and Iroijedrik Bonju), was known to receive a “Queen” medallion. Iroijlaplap Langlan’s wife or Leroij Tarjikit may have received the other “Queen” medallion. Iroij David Aisea was known to receive the Majuro “Magistrate” medallion, and Lazarus Simon, the long-time scribe of Jebrik Kotwerak received the “Headman” medallion. I do not know if any other Majuro medallions were produced or if they were given to anyone else. I did find a US Navy photo of Iroijedrik Jitiam wearing his “King” medallion, along with a USN shirt, pants and tropical helmet, taken at Majuro in August of 1944. The medallions were also known to be given to the leaders of Arno and Aur atolls, which were captured by the US Marines shortly after Majuro Atoll. I do not know which of these leaders were given these medallions, or if any leaders of any other atolls received any medallions. The only close-up photo (taken by the US Navy) I found at the US National Archives of one of these medallions was for the “King Aur, USA.” I am curious if anyone in the community has one of these medallions, has seen one, or knows of a story about any of them. If you have any information please give me a call or contact Newton Lajuan at the Alele Museum or Josepha Maddison at the Historic Preservation Office. Don’t let your history die!
Uliga's fish market ahead of schedule
The new $8 million Japan-funded fish market at Uliga Dock is ahead of schedule and is expected to open in January 2011. “We’re already planning for the transition to the new facility,” said Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority Director Glen Joseph. Japan provided $8 million for the new fish market. Pictured above: The architect’s model of the fish market. Left: A recent photo of the construction opposite Uliga dock.

Journal 6/21/1985

Journal 6/20/1971
P3 The Guam Chamber of Commerce has estimated that the Guam labor market can use 20,000 workers, most of these in the labor class. The estimate said there are several vacancies for professionals. The Chamber says the reason for the labor shortage is the high cost of transportation to the island.
P10 At a two-hour meeting of Education Department employees at Marshall Islands High School, a carpenter complained that he was often required to substitute for		 P1 President Amata Kabua has notified the government of the United States that the amendments to the Compact of Free Association now being considered by the US Congress are not acceptable to the government of the Marshall Islands. In a letter to the Office of Micronesian Status Negotiations Friday night, Kabua said the amendments are not acceptable and are offensive to the sovereignty of the Marshallese people. Meanwhile, the opposition party has taken the stand that amendments contemplated in the US House of Representatives to modify the present form of the Compact render the document acceptable to them.
P3 The Marshall Islands Private Industry Council has approved 280 positions for funding under the summer Youth Employment Program, which will run from June 24 to August
30. On Tuesday, 78 representatives from 45 businesses and departments attended an employer orientation at Marshalls Community Action Agency to go over program management and arrange for interviews. On Monday, hundreds of youth lined up outside of the MCAA office to get referrals for interviews.
sick teachers — at carpenter’s wages — in spite of a recent pay raise the teachers received. Although he was unqualified to teach, he said this was unfair because of the salary and responsibilities involved. More communication between the Director of Education and outer island teachers was needed, they said, especially concerning policies and new rules. Supply shortages, particularly with critical items like blackboards and chalk, had not improved, according to some outer island teachers. One teacher, understanding no blackboards were available, said he requested some plywood so he could build his own boards but it never arrived. “I don’t make enough money to buy my own supplies,” he explained.
P12 Tony deBrum, director of Marshalls Community Action Agency, will be attending an in-service seminar in the States from July 12-18. Debrum said CAAs in Micronesia “have been more or less isolated. Until now, Micronesia’s CAAs have been something like a top someone set spinning into Micronesia and then forgot about. I’m happy about Micronesia being accepted for this seminar, because any training made available to Micronesian CAA personnel will be of great benefit.”

Journal 7/18/1993
P1 Jeton Anjain, who died of cancer last Wednesday in Majuro, was frequently in a minority of one. The leader of the Rongelap community was a soft-spoken man who didn’t seek publicity but whose passionate belief in justice for Rongelap’s displaced citizens frequently found him pitted against US officials bent on maintaining the status quo. Senator Anjain never shied away from unpopular positions. Indeed, he placed his convictions above personal gain: in the early years of Constitutional government he resigned from the Cabinet — he was minister of health — because he perceived conflicts between representing the interests of Rongelap and remaining in Cabinet. Only one other minister has resigned of his own accord, consequently losing the personal perks, prestige and remuneration unique to the
highest level of government.
P2 A program sponsored by the Job Training Partnership Act has placed 250 youth in the government and private sector for job training and work experience in Majuro and Ebeye this summer. Among the occupations the JTPA sought to fill with young people are data inputer/computer operator, nurse aide, hotel manager, teacher, cashier, clerk/secretary/receptionist, waitress, cook, accountant, VCR/TV repair and maintenance, radio electrician and cake decorate. More than 400 young people, aged 14 to 21, signed up for the program, but only 250 slots were available due to the budget, said JTPA Director Aliksa Andrike.
P16 Announcement: To any investor, developer interested in leasing the former Stacy’s Restaurant and the Letao Disco Facilities, Delap Majuro — Leasing the properties, pursuant to the ruling by the courts, shall be subject to the landowners consent. This means if your lawyer has a good lease arrangement, run it by JB Kabua, for his review and recommendation. A good lease gets you in. Lawyers are advised to work in the spirit of cooperation. Mouthful of legal threats are not welcome. It does not profit any man. It only appoints a “winner” and a “loser.” Signed: JB Kabua (for landowners).