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The Pacific Islands Forum is sending a six-member election observer group to the Marshall Islands for this month’s national election. While the Forum Secretariat, based in Suva, has been active in election monitoring in the South Pacific, this is the first time for the organization to observe a vote in one of its three north Pacific member nations.
Debates set for next week
While youth are not well represented among the more than 90 candidates vying for Nitijela’s 33 seats, they are still involved in the lead up to the November 19 vote. The members of Antoone 2020, a non-political and issues-based grouping of young working professionals in the RMI, is organizing the first-ever series of national debates spread over three days next week:
• Debate one, independent Nitijela candidates’ forum: Wednesday 6 pm.
• Debate two, Majuro mayors candidates’ forum, Thursday 6 pm.
• Debate three, UDP-AKA debate, Friday 2 pm.
MOH medevac costs jump
The Ministry of Health has been hard hit by a month with no air service, according to the director of outer island dispensaries. Costs for medical evacuations from the outer islands have more than doubled while AMI has been grounded since October 10, and one girl died on a charter boat late last month.
Money gals!
When Majuro Coop School’s seventh grade organized a competitive fundraising drive, this group of seven rolled up their sleeves and outdid the rest of the class combined, collecting $136 of $200 raised that will be used to buy books for the school library. From top: Brittni Johnson, Carlyann Note, Rachel Bigler, Asia Chong Gum, Ariana Tibon, Tatiana Shoniber and Kary Ann Lejjena.
With only a week left before the November 19 general elections and Air Marshall Islands’ planes still grounded, the national Electoral Administration is confronted with a logistical problem that may raise the cost of this year’s election by well over $50,000.The costs have risen dramatically partly because the ballot boxes did not go out this past Sunday on two vessels chartered by the Ministry of Internal Affairs — and now Electoral will have to spend thousands of dollars extra to get the boxes to the outer islands before November 19. Electoral chief Carl Alik told the Journal that his office “is going to have to depend on the smaller private boats” to deliver this year’s general election ballot boxes. “This wasn’t budgeted for because we had planned on using Air Marshall Islands,” he said. Despite this logistical hiccup, however, Alik said he is confidant that the ballot boxes will make it to their final destinations.
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A Marshall Islands High School 10th grader narrowly escaped being raped on campus last Thursday in broad daylight. Two masked assailants grabbed her near the bathroom facilities of the new Compact-funded school buildings. School principal Gary Ueno confirmed the assault on Friday saying that the student was fortunate as she was able to escape her assailants by “screaming, crying and putting up a fight. “We are taking this attack very seriously,” said Ueno. “This behavior is unacceptable.” The incident occurred early Thursday morning at the C-Block building, which is located near the school’s gate — the school’s entrance near Bing’s ABC Store.Police detectives were called to the scene and they questioned students, teachers and residents of Utrikan for potential witnesses.