OCTOBER 1, 2010
Jerry honored for price cuts
Pacific International CEO Jerry Kramer was recognized at Wednesday’s Chamber of Commerce meeting for his company’s role in dramatically reducing gasoline prices in the capital.
Chamber Vice President Mike Slinger presented Kramer with a certificate of recognition.
“If Kenneth (Kramer’s) plans go forward, the price will be coming down more,” Kramer said on receiving the recognition. PII opened its first gas station in April, moving to reduce the price of gas by 85 cents per gallon that was followed by Mobil-supplied gas stations on Majuro.
Action on
RMI census
The Cabinet last week approved a National Census Steering Committee for the 2011 population count at its meeting last week. Meantime, the Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO) has launched preparations for the RMI’s first census in 12 years. “This week kicks off the beginning of a Pilot Census,” said EPPSO’s Hemline Ysawa. “Ten enumerators (out of 70 applicants) have been selected and will be trained this week on the census questionnaire and interviewing techniques. From October 4-8, pilot enumeration will take place.” The actual census is scheduled for early 2011.
Nauru dispute
A dispute has arisen between landowners and Nauru over lease payments for the area where the former Eastern Gateway Hotel is located. Landowners, through Micronesian Legal Services Corporation, filed suit earlier this week in the High Court claiming that the Nauru Local Government has failed to make payments on its lease for the past three years.
Customers
owe $60m to agencies
RMI agencies — ranging from MEC and MIDB to AMI and Ports Authority — are owed nearly $60 million by their customers and in some cases, a small amount of money from US federal agencies, reported the Deloitte audit for fiscal year 2009 that was issued to Nitijela recently.
More than half of this money — $27.5 million — that is owed to these agencies is listed as “uncollectible” by the auditors.
USP pushes the jaki-ed program
Following last week’s jaki-ed auction, the University of the South Pacific Majuro campus will continue its ongoing cultural restoration project with a two-week jaki-ed workshop. Master weavers will gather in weaving circles with young weavers and work to revive old weaving patterns. The workshop will further investigate the act of mat weaving and its important place in cultural transmission. It starts at USP in Majuro next week.
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Alvin to PSC: You're wrong
Drifting economy concerns Chamber
(Continued from above) RMI, Dr. Alex Pinano, for example, delivered a statement on what he claimed is poor exploitation of potential revenue that could be enjoyed from foreign fishing operations active in Majuro’s lagoon. Other suggestions, such as paying attention to a very limited number of problems, as opposed to a wider focus on general problems, was discussed. Consensus emerged toward the end of discussion as the chamber agreed to develop a strategy prioritizing a single item to be focused on. Both privatization of Air Marshall Islands — a means indirectly to foster tourism development and create jobs — and addressing immediately financial problems besetting the Marshall Islands Social Security administration were suggested as candidates for consideration. A representation from the US Embassy led by US Ambassador Martha Campbell also attended the meeting.
(Continued from above) That earlier organizational chart was signed by then-President Tomeing, PSC Chairman Cent Langidrik and PSC Commissioners Lomes McKay and Raynard Gideon, and Nitijela Clerk Joe Riklon. “We understand Acting Attorney General Tubosoye Brown has weighed in agreeing with Jacklick, and to make sure PSC and the executive branch get the message, he handwrote “wrong” on the PSC version of the Nitijela organizational chart, and “right” on Jacklick’s chart. A PSC official indicated that the practice of putting the President as head of the Nitijela dates back many years. The PSC official indicated that this long-standing practice was the basis on which the current PSC approved the organizational chart two years ago with the President at the top. But, said Jacklick, the PSC is “rewriting the Constitution by eliminating the Speaker and Vice Speaker and putting the President as head of both the executive and legislative branches.” Acting AG Brown said the RMI Constitution creates three branches of government. The Chief Justice heads the judiciary and the President is head of the executive branch, he said. “The Speaker is expressly mandated by Article IV, Section 8(1) of the Constitution to preside over the Nitijela, just as the President is mandated to preside over the Cabinet,” Brown wrote in his legal opinion to the Clerk of Nitijela. “Accordingly, and without much ado, it is our learned opinion and advice that the Constitution of the Republic recognizes the Speaker as the head of Nitijela.” But PSC is not satisfied with this legal advice, and has asked the AG for further legal instruction regarding this change of long-standing practice. The PSC official indicated that while it does “make sense for the Speaker to undertake responsibility” for the Nitijela, the PSC has requested further legal direction from the Attorney General’s office, and has requested the issue be further studied.

Journal 10/2/1971
P1 Friends of Micronesia, a nationwide organization of Americans concerned with guaranteeing self-determination for the Micronesian people, has announced the opening of both east and west coast offices to provide a variety of new services. A large-scale information program was inaugurated with a primetime TV show recently in Boston. A number of additional programs are planned at schools, colleges and civic organizations across the US in order to make people more familiar with Micronesia and the problems of the area. The organization believes that “no decisions should be made about political status until Micronesians are enabled to act independently with their wishes taking precedence over the economic and military interests of the United States.”
P6 There is a very good possibility that there will be no Micronitor next week. We are now out of paper. We have contacted 12 paper suppliers in Hawaii but they say that because of the strike (on the US west coast) they have no paper themselves. We have a large shipment coming from Japan on the “Mononyx,” but that will arrive too late. We have resort to a letter style for an issue or two. Subscriptions will be extended automatically.

Journal 10/4/1985

Journal 10/1/1993
P1 As long as the Kwajalein Atoll Corporation and the Kwajalein landowners are involved in the talks for the missile range, they will agree to future use of the range, said Senator Ataji Balos in Washington, DC. In a letter to US Defense Secretary Casper Wienberger, Balos said: “The Kwajalein interim use agreement 1982-1985 expired yesterday. Notwithstandingthe fact that no arrangements are presently in place governing the use by the United of the lands, waters and air space of Kwajalein Atoll, we wish to assure you that we shall continue to make Kwajalein available for continued use by the US agencies and their contractors pending consummation of new arrangements.” In a telex to the Journal, Balos said he is looking forward to “developing arrangements for US use of Kwajalein which will take into account the still severe problems faced by our people who have been displaced from the islands of the atoll and most of whom live on Ebeye.
P1 Saying they are dissatisfied with the United Church of Christ’s Protestant
P3 A showdown on Mili World War II claims payments is scheduled in the High Court for Tuesday, October 12. Fifty-nine people have filed objections to the proposed payment scheme for more than two-thirds of the 408 listed wetos on the atoll. There has been no objection filed to the proposed recipients of the payment on 122 wetos, and three of those objecting have already withdrawn their objections, according to attorney David Strauss, who is representing the iroij of Mili in the matter. Chief Justice Neil Rutledge will hold a hearing on the $1.2 million payment on October 12.
leadership in the Marshall Islands, a group of Marshallese have established the Marshall Islands Congregational Church in Majuro. The split in the Protestant church apparently comes as a result of disagreement over church policies.
P2 Murphy’s Law has once again exercised its well known penchant for mischief, dear readers, as we report that both composers used for setting news for the Journal went garbage at the same time. The machines are off in Guam being repaired and hopefully should be back on island by next edition — in the meantime we are doing what we can with our antiquated manual composer and biding time.
P15 Around Town: So what’s new about a VIP (ventilated improved pit) toilet which the Capital Improvement Program is going to put all over the outer islands? I had a VIP (very important person) toilet on Jaluit but everyone prefers the oceanside. Besides who can afford toilet paper on a copra maker’s payroll?
P15 Around Town: The Marshall slands national school lunch program has been selected as the outstanding program in the western region. Carol Fahey, Director of the USDA child nutrition programs, will be in Majuro October 14 to present a certificate of appreciation to Saeko Shoniber.
P16 Kojela jen Public Safety: JAB MELOKLOK! Ne elong ajiri ilo ial eo am, jibdre brake, jab kaj. Kejbarok ro nejid jen jorran ilo ial ko.