marshallislandsjournal.com
Subscribe today for just $1 an issue on an annual basis of $52.
Home  • Subscriptions  •  Photo Library • Services  •  Advertise  •  About Us
Contact Us
Friday, March 28, 2008
James heads
Ports board
The Cabinet appointed a new board for the Marshall Islands Ports Authority last week, naming Rongelap Mayor James Matayoshi as chairman. Previous chairman James Bing was reappointed to the board as a member.Other members on the seven-person board are: Majuro Mayor Riley Albertter or his designee, Thomas Maddison, Kurban Samuel, Paul Patrick and Suzanne Chutaro.
RALGov aims
for World fame
Rongelap Mayor James Matayoshi said his local government is ready to commit to a more practical approach in setting up Ailingin Ae (Ailingnae) Atoll as a marine sanctuary. This initiative is part of a wider range of activities linked through the support of a private donor who is keen to help make it happen.
Bio-fuel boat
back on track
Earthrace, the world’s fastest, coolest and greenest powerboat, is appealing for people from the Marshall Islands to join the crew on a leg of their round-the-world record attempt. Earthrace is a 78-foot wave-piercing trimaran that runs exclusively on biodiesel, and has a net zero carbon footprint, making it one of the world’s most environmentally-friendly powerboats, according to the group promoting the round-the-world-voyage.
Fresh idea
for Ebeye
Triple J Ebeye held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting last week for its new fresh water division. Mayor Johnny Lemari praised Triple J President Bob Jones for constantly bringing new services to Ebeye to help improve the health and lifestyle of the people in Ebeye.
Kwaj wages
crash by 6.5pc
Salaries for Marshallese working at Kwajalein declined by 6.5 percent in fiscal year 2007, according to the RMI government. An employment statistics report issued by the Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO) shows that total wages earned by Marshallese at Kwajalein declined to $18.7 million FY2007 from a record high of $20.1 million in FY2006.

Phone:
(692) 625-8143
(692) 625-8146
Fax:
(692) 625-3136
Mail:
PO Box 14 Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands
In Person:
On the ocean road behind Formosa in Uliga, Majuro
Accident “victim” Herjet Lomae is carried into Majuro Hospital’s ER Thursday as part of an “all-hazards” drill to prepare hospital staff, police and fire officials in dealing with emergencies involving hazardous materials. Lomae is a lab tech at the hospital. Photo by Suzanne Chutaro.
PS: Carl Alik not hired by Rien Morris
By GIFF JOHNSON
Commission of Inquiry members appeared stunned to learn from the Public Service Commission Chairman Thursday that Chief Electoral Officer Carl Alik was hired in 2005 without meeting basic experience requirements listed for the job. PSC head Cent Langidrik told the Commission that he and the two other PSC commissioners approved the recommendation of a “selection committee” in hiring Alik — as PSC commissioners routinely do in approving hiring
Carl Alik
workers for government service. Langidrik was one of several people who have testified before the Commission, which is meeting again Thursday and Friday from 2 pm this week in public session at the Nitijela conference room to hear testimony of various Electoral Administration staff members. Langidrik testified that the job announcement for the position of Chief Electoral Officer required at least five years work experience with the Electoral Administration and 10 years of Public Service experience, as well as listing the usual “or any combination of experience” that satisfied the PSC. Asked if the selection committee recommendation showed that Alik had any Electoral Office or government experience, Langidrik said the records of the hiring process showed “none.”
Power goes up by 7.5 cents
The Marshalls Energy Company announced its biggest power rate increase in its 22-year history that takes effect next week Tuesday, April 1. Rates for lifeline and residential will jump a whopping 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour, while government and business rates increase five cents a KW hour. Lifeline rates — under 500 KW hours consumption per month — will increase from 23.5 cents to 31 cents, a 32 percent increase. Residential rates are increasing 29 percent — from 25.5 cents per KW hour to 33 cents. Business rates are being bumped from 34 to 39 cents, a 15 percent rise, while government is going from 35 to 40 cents per KW hour, a 14 percent increase. MEC blamed the increase on world market fuel prices, which it said rose to $132 per barrel during March. “This is a significant increase compared to the world price of $106 per barrel in January when the last fuel was purchased.”
To read the full stories, subscribe to the Journal Online. Just $1 an issue on an annual basis of $52.
MALGov ladies welcome the visiting sailors of the ROC Navy last week.
The stories shown here are just a sample from this week's paper.