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FRIDAY, September 11, 2009
The boat Marah, with Captain Wally Milne at the helm, flew through Majuro’s Bridge on day one of the All Mike fishing tournament. The competition, which was organized by the Marshalls Billfish Club, was won by Team Saipan with 981 points. Pictured is the ‘Saipan’ crew on the Royal Australian Navy boat True Blue: Minister Jack Ading, Jon Deloso, and team captain Gary Sword.
vAfter five years of managing the government’s Marshall Islands Resort, Pacific International Inc. (PII) has “retired.” PII chief executive officer Jerry Kramer told the Journal that effective the first of September, PII terminated
Gov't reviews MIR bid
anticipated for the time being,” he said. The national government’s bid committee, which Nemra heads, is in talks with an offshore firm — the only group besides PII to bid on the hotel — about selling the hotel, which the
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Helping hands arrive today
The US Navy vessel Richard E. Byrd left Kwajalein Wednesday heading to Majuro where it will stay until next week Wednesday, providing a range of humanitarian aid as part of Pacific Partnership. The four-month Navy assistance program in the Pacific is wrapping up with the 12-day visit in the RMI.
Weight and see if we make Games
It has finally happened — Powerlifting has merged with Marshall Islands Weightlifting Association and is up and running in the Marshalls. Russell Kun, the RMI’s national coordinator, who opened a camp for local men and women who are interested in powerlifting at Lojkar Gym, Long Island, said: “The camp’s purpose is to prepare and push lifters to exceed their lifting goals.”
Health not US responsibility
A “press release authorized by the US Department of State for immediate release” was issued by the US Embassy last Thursday stating clearly that medical services for Marshall Islanders living in the United States are not the responsibility of the US government. The State Department says availability of medical care for nonimmigrant residents in the United States depends on federal and state laws and regulations in each location. “Recent news coverage of the State of Hawaii’s decision to restrict certain advanced health care services to citizens of the FAS has included misstatements about Compact obligations to provide such care,” the State Department said.
High risk for
outer islands
Outer islanders have a higher risk to contracting HIV/AIDS than their urban counterparts. This eye opening revelation was given to the Journal on Tuesday by UNAIDS project officer Rachel James on the basis that outer islanders don’t have access to preventative services and information on HIV/AIDS.
its involvement with the RMI government for managing the Resort. Chief Secretary Casten Nemra confirmed the change, saying the government has accepted PII’s pullout. MIR will continue to be managed by General Manager of long standing Bill Weza. “The RMI Government, through the Office of the Chief Secretary, shall work closely with the MIR management for the interim period,” Nemra said. The Chief Secretary said he doesn’t believe the change will affect daily operations of the hotel. “From an operational standpoint, there is no significant change government has owned since it was built in 1996. “The government issued a letter to one of the bidders for clarification on certain bidding provisions and has recently received responses,” Nemra said. “It is anticipated that these review matters shall be concluded shortly, paving the way for the next step.” From its opening in 1996 until early 2004, the hotel was managed by Outrigger Hotels of Hawaii. Shortly after Outrigger pulled out, citing serious concern about the need for funding to accomplish major renovations and maintenance, PII began managing the hotel for the government.
Beautify the islands... Keep trash off the streets & beaches.
Asians for RMI citizenship
By GIFF JOHNSON
The number of citizenship cases in the High Court is increasing rapidly.Court records show that the number of applications to obtain citizenship jumped about 70 percent in the first eight months of this year compared to all of 2008. For the more than two-and-a-half-years from January 2007 through August this year, 91 people have applied for RMI citizenship through the High Court. Virtually no one has been rejected, though one-third of the cases remain “pending.”To date, 50 people have become naturalized receiving their RMI passports, while only two have been rejected.The number of Asians applying for citizenship is also increasing, court records show. In 2007, there were only two Asian applicants. Last year the number increased to six and this year to date, there are already 10. Only one of the Asians who has applied has been denied by the courts. The majority of those applying are from Kiribati or other islands in the Pacific. From January 2007 to August 2009, applications received by the High Court included:
• 54 Kiribati/Pacific islanders
• 18 Asians
• 18 Filipinos
• 1 American.
Jessie Roland is assisted by Anson Harris as he attempts a ‘squat,’ one of the three types of powerlifting. Watching from the sidelines are Peter Abner (left) and Poncho Agadio. The group is pictured at the Lojkar Gym in Long Island. Photo: Douglas Henry