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Friday, May 23, 2008
| Manoni takes over as RMI's AG Filimon Manoni is the new Attorney General for the Marshall Islands. After several months of rumors about his impending appointment, the Public Service Commission issued the appointment effective May 14.He is replacing Posesi Bloomfield, who resigned at the end of April after about two-and-a-half years as AG. EPA approves GFB fish farm project The proposed fish-farming business for Majuro’s lagoon has received partial approval from the RMI Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board, which issued a long-awaited decision Wednesday. The EPA board has given the okay to Good Fortune Bay (GFB) RMI’s commercial fish-farming plan for every species listed in GFB’s environmental impact assessment except for “cobia” — which was given conditional, small-scale approval for cobia during a 12-month review period. Majuro Mayor election debate Majuro Atoll Local Government is asking advice from the RMI Attorney General about whether a special election needs to be held to fill the mayor vacancy created by the recent death of Riley Albertter. MALGov attorney Whitlam Togamae told the Journal that the MALGov constitution states that in the event the mayor is unable to continue his duties, the MALGov executive shall be the default mayor. MEC to raise power prices again Expect another rate increase for electricity starting in June. There is no question that there will be an increase — the question is only how much. Marshalls Energy Company’s Billy Roberts said it could be around an additional five cents per kilowatt hour. But that cannot be determined until SK Networks loads fuel into its tanker this Friday in S. Korea for shipment to Majuro. Hundreds apply for US hotel jobs Hundreds of hopeful job seekers are vying for job openings at three hotels in the US. Earlier this month recruiters representing Practical Employee Solutions and Imperial Palace Casino Resort flew into Majuro to interview potential employees. |
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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 |
By GIFF JOHNSON
Fifty one Marshall Islanders graduated from GED Tuesday, nearly 250 are enrolled in the program and about 350 are on a waiting list to get into high school equivalency courses — but the future of this adult education program is in jeopardy because of funding problems. The Ministry of Education has cut back its support for the College of the Marshall Islands-run program compared to earlier years, and college officials say the number of students and teachers involved in the program must be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether next school year (August). Since school year 2005-06, CMI has increased the numbers from 175 to this year’s 245, while spending about $225,000 annually. CMI has increased GED enrolment in response to the heavy demand from the community. The Ministry of Education provided $197,000 in 2005 and $236,000 in 2006, according to CMI statistics. But Education cut the funding support to $100,000 each of the past two years. Despite only $100,000 a year from the Ministry, CMI is spending over $200,000 annually to educate GED students — a cost the college cannot continue to absorb, said CMI President Wilson Hess.
Fifty one Marshall Islanders graduated from GED Tuesday, nearly 250 are enrolled in the program and about 350 are on a waiting list to get into high school equivalency courses — but the future of this adult education program is in jeopardy because of funding problems. The Ministry of Education has cut back its support for the College of the Marshall Islands-run program compared to earlier years, and college officials say the number of students and teachers involved in the program must be dramatically reduced or eliminated altogether next school year (August). Since school year 2005-06, CMI has increased the numbers from 175 to this year’s 245, while spending about $225,000 annually. CMI has increased GED enrolment in response to the heavy demand from the community. The Ministry of Education provided $197,000 in 2005 and $236,000 in 2006, according to CMI statistics. But Education cut the funding support to $100,000 each of the past two years. Despite only $100,000 a year from the Ministry, CMI is spending over $200,000 annually to educate GED students — a cost the college cannot continue to absorb, said CMI President Wilson Hess.
Marshall Islands officials are targeting illegal sales of cigarettes and “dip” to minors under-18 years of age by local stores. The results of a new survey “are disturbing because the vast majority of businesses are selling tobacco to teens in violation of the law,” said one official. A study just conducted in Majuro and Ebeye shows how big a problem they are up against. On Ebeye, 100 percent of the 29 stores targeted sold to teenagers, while in Majuro 91 percent of the 100 stores checked illegally sold tobacco products to youngsters. Not one of the 129 stores on Ebeye or Majuro asked for identification to see if the teenagers asking to buy the tobacco products were 18 or over. A working group involving the Ministries of Health and Education, the government planning office, the Single State Agency that operates a US-funded substance abuse, prevention and treatment program, national police on Majuro, national and local police on Ebeye, and 15-16 year old teens on both islands conducted the inspections of a majority of the stores that sell cigarettes and “dip” (Copenhagen) by the piece, not the pack. This meant that the project focused on the smaller “mom and pop” takeouts and medium-size stores.
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Band for hire
A newly formed band consisting of BOMI’s Patrick Chen, EZ Price’s Neil Skinner and Marshall Islands Music and Arts Society’s Scott Stege and Ingrid Ahlgren got together for a jam session to celebrate a newly acquired computer, courtesy of BOMI and EZ Price. The computer will be used to house the growing digital music library consisting of over 3,000 old and new Marshallese songs and chants.