SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
LUA talks in NY, DC
Kwajalein leaders are heading to the United States this weekend for talks that could lead to a long-awaited deal approving long-term American use of the Kwajalein missile range. Kwajalein’s Nitijela delegation of Senators Mike Kabua (pictured below), Jeban Riklon and Tony deBrum, Ailinglaplap Senator Christopher Loeak, and other Kwajalein leaders are flying to the US to join with President Jurelang Zedkaia, Foreign Minister John Silk and other RMI officials for the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, where Zedkaia will join other heads of state in speaking. A Kwajalein official indicated discussions are expected in New York and Washington to move forward on a “land use agreement.”
Program for deaf babies
A group of ministries and non-government groups are stepping up services to babies and young children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf and blind. Known as “EduBaby Marshall Islands,” the program aims to identify infants and young children with special neaeds and provide interventions to improve their lives. The program is bringing together technical support and training from the University of Hawaii with the Ministries of Health and Education, Marshall Islands Special Parents Association, and Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI), according to Nancy Rushmer, an Early Intervention Specialist for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
AG works
with US
The US Embassy is working with the Marshall Islands government to clarify who is eligible to enter the US using the visa-free immigration provisions of the Compact of Free Association. The lack of a clear system in place forces Continental Micronesia to frequently ask US Department of Homeland Security officials in Hawaii when there is a question about a naturalized citizen intending travel to the US. “Continental shouldn’t have to make an international call every time there is a question,” said Eric Watnik, the Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy. This is why he is working with the RMI government to get a list of those naturalized citizens who meet residency and other Compact requirements for visa-free entry.
Shootout starts on Friday
TThe Bank of Marshall Islands 11th Ralik Ratak Shootout Invitational Basketball Tournament kicks off this Friday with an opening ceremony at 5pm at the ECC gym. The competition gets right down to business, with two men’s games immediately following the opening: Kaben Meto takes on Wotje followed by Mili playing Lae. The tournament will continue every day except Sunday through October 1.
Bikinians are again feeling victimized with the delivery of 13,750 bags of Pearl rice — bought and delivered by the RMI government under the USDA supplemental food program — and full of bugs. “We were assured by the RMI government that they would only provide us with the best quality food,” said Bikini Mayor Alson Kelen. “We’re disappointed. We called EPA to come check the rice and are waiting on their advice.” The rice was piled high at the Bikini Town Hall and the bugs were spilling out in the local government office when a Journal photographer stopped by Wednesday.
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GIFF JOHNSON
An eight-year legal battle over Kwajalein land titles was resolved by the RMI Supreme Court Tuesday, freeing more than $1.5 million in US rental money to be released to landowners. The Supreme Court upheld an earlier Traditional Rights Court and High Court ruling that Stephen Dribo is the alab (clan head) on all but one of the islands and wetos (land parcels) in dispute on Kwajalein and Lae atolls, with Irumne Bondrik alab on just one of the disputed wetos in Kwajalein. Billiet Edmond and Ezra Riklon had intervened in the case, also claiming alab rights. After the TRC and High Court rulings were issued in 2007, all four parties — including Dribo — appealed aspects of the decisions. The Supreme Court ruling affects US payments for use of the Kwajalein missile range that have been put into a High Court-supervised escrow account since 2002. The amount of money in the escrow account on Wednesday this week was $1,561,698.35, according to the High Court. Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel N. Cadra and Justices J. Michael Seabright and Barry M. Kurren agreed that the TRC’s decision was not “clearly erroneous” and upheld its determination that Dribo is alab on Monnen weto on Ebeye, Mwinbitrik and Mwinluial wetos in Kwajalein, Loran weto on Ebadon, Moja and Kejelab wetos on Lae Atoll, and for the islands of Komle, Meik, Kidenen, Enewetak and Nene in Kwajalein, and Enerein Island in Lae Atoll. The TRC determined that
MISSA soon to be bankrupt
The RMI’s retirement program will be bankrupt in a few short years if the government does not take immediate steps to address the financial problems, the Nitijela Appropriations Committee was told by MISSA officials last week.
Marshall Islands Social Security Administrator Saane Aho (pictured) and board Vice President David Paul briefed the committee, painting a bleak long-term outlook for current or future retirees hoping to get a benefit check after 2020. This year is the first year MISSA		 investment fund each year until it is depleted. About half of the businesses registered in Marshall Islands are actually filing and paying taxes, and the number of workers has dropped to its lowest number in six years, with just 9,903 workers paying taxes — all of which adds up to a declining tax base, while benefit payments are growing by a million dollars annually. Cabinet has indicated it will establish a committee to review the situation and recommend solutions. MISSA officials recommended to the Appropriations Committee that if it provides subsidies to government agencies that owe MISSA back taxes, then a portion of the funding could be directed to pay off the MISSA debt.
is being forced to cash in part of its investment at Bank of Marshall Islands to cover a more than $1 million shortfall in 2010. It expects the difference between tax revenue and benefit payouts to rise dramatically to more than $5 million in just three years and more than $8 million in five years forcing MISSA to pull an increasing amount of money out of its $50 million
Bondrik is alab on Monbon Rear weto in Kwajalein. Edmond and Riklon entered the case in 2005, three years after its filing, and during 2006 and 2007, TRC and High Court joint hearings were held on Majuro and Ebeye. The TRC issued its decision on December 13, 2007. “That opinion determined that Stephen Dribo was the proper person to hold the alab title on each of the disputed lands but that Irumne Bondrik ‘can have a share’ from Monbon Rear weto,” the Supreme Court said Tuesday. Following a High Court hearing on May 30, 2008, Judge James Plasman ruled there was no need to refer the matter back to the TRC, except to clarify its determination on Monbon Rear weto. Further legal briefings were undertaken and the High Court issued its final judgment on November 3, 2008 that a further trial — as sought by Bondrik — before the High Court was not required under TRC “rule of procedure nine” because the customary issues in the case had already been litigated before the TRC and there were no non-customary issues remaining to be decided.
The High Court found that the TRC ruling was not “clearly erroneous or contrary to law” — the standard by which the High Court is required to judge rulings issued by the TRC. But none of the four Marshallese in the case was satisfied with the ruling, and all appealed to the Supreme Court. Dribo said he should be alab for Monbon Rear weto, too, saying it was contradictory for the court to find him alab for the other lands but not this one. Bondrik, on the other hand, challenged the ruling saying the High Court had erred in not calling for a trial, and said his constitutional rights were violated.
He also said it was inconsistent for the TRC to apply the principle “iroij im jela” as to Dribo’s rights but not to recognize the iroij’s determination as to Bondrik’s rights.
Edmond and Riklon both contended in their separate appeals that the evidence, for different reasons, clearly showed they are the alab on the properties in question. While Bondrik was essentially arguing for a new trial, the parties to the case already had a trial. “It is inconsistent with common sense to proceed to a ‘trial’...before the High Court after the parties have already been afforded the opportunity to present all their evidence and arguments supporting the respective positions on the customary issues before both the TRC and the High Court…” the Supreme Court said.
Toolbox Time
The fourth Accelerated Boot Camp (ABC) Toolbox group is now completing its first month of training at the College of the Marshall Islands facility in Arrak. CMI received more than 90 applications, but while enrolment is up from the previous sessions, the dormitory doesn’t have space to handle the number of people applying, said Director Robert Revercomb. This session, 58 students are attending — 16 females and 42 males. There is a big contingent of students — 17 from Ebeye, seven from Jaluit, three from Ebon, two from Wotje and one from Rongrong. The remaining 28 are from Majuro.
$8 million US grant for Amata Kabua International Airport
Government officials from left: Attorney General Fredrick Canavor, Jr., Minister of Finance Jack Ading, Minister of Transportation and Communications Ken Kedi and Acting Director of RMI Ports Authority Joe Tiobech were on hand last week to sign the RMI’s acceptance of an $8 million grant from the US Federal Aviation Administration. The grant is part of FAA’s effort to support improvements at Amata Kabua International Airport and will go toward a road realignment project at the Laura end of the airport to extend the airport runway safety area. Photo: Suzanne Chutaro.

Journal 9/20/1985
P6 The Majuro-based Nankatsu Corporation has petitioned the Marshall Islands government to waive its ban on right hand drive vehicles so that the fish processing factory on Long Island can start doing business. Nankatsu representatives Yoshiaki Osanai and Albattar Jamore said they were not aware at the time of shipping the four vehicles in question that there was a new law against their entry. They asked for a waiver to bring these four trucks in so they can start up operations, and promised not to bring any more. They said 19 workers, including 11 Marshallese, are on staff at the factory, “but since there’s no transportation, services are being delayed day by day.” They also received more than 300 applications for the 60 jobs that they are offering.

Journal 9/19/1975

Journal 9/17/1993
P1 Iroij Litokwa Tomeing expressed concern this
past week over a cable sent to Tosiwo Nakayama,
President of the Micronesian Constitutional
Convention by a number of paramount and regular
chiefs of the Marshalls, which complained strongly
about the appointment of himself and Iroij Jeltan
Lanki as delegates to the Convention. In an interview,
Litokwa said that as far as he understood the action
taken by these several Iroij was not done after
consultation with all Irioij in the Marshalls and that in at
least one case, a signature was affixed to the cable
without the consent of the Iroij involved. “In talking
P1 Jiba Kabua, the self-styled ‘Lone Fighter,’ took aim at Western-style institutions in the Marshall Islands, saying it is time for Marshallese to wake up and evaluate the role of schools, businesses, government agencies, the legal system and churches. “I’m fighting against illusion,” said Kabua, who is Foreign Secretary and Chairman of the EPA. “We have to throw away the illusion in the mind of the average
Marshallese that all institutions based on Western models are correct. That’s an illusion.”
P8 “Jake the Snake,” a guy who has three months in the radio business but behaves more like it’s three years, is now the program manager at V7SW, Majuro’s rockin’ FM station. Confidence oozes from Jake, whose real life identity is as mild mannered Arden Sorimle. But when he hits the airwaves from three to seven each afternoon, Jake is giving his listeners non-stop action. “We’re the first station to do something new,” he said. “We’ve got people of all ages listening to us because there’s something for everyone here. Everyone’s got their piece of cake.”
 with some of the other Iroij who signed the cable complaining about our attending
the Con-Con I was told they objected because there has not been a meeting of all
the Iroij to decide who should go. It is my understanding that there has been more
than enough time to call such a meeting and I believe that the reluctance to do so is
probably because those who are against the Con-Con will discover that some of us
Iroij are in favor of attending…Who is behind all this opposition isn’t clear, and I
don’t regret that some of us should be opposed — this is natural. What upsets me is
that the opposition to the Con-Con is working behind the scenes and making it
difficult for other Iroij to state their position.”
P1 Marshalls Constitutional Convention Delegate Wilfred Kendall has urged a delay
in the seating of two traditional leader delegates from the Marshall Islands in a cable
sent to Marshalls Con-Con delegation chairman Carl Heine. The seating of traditional
leaders from the Marshalls has been a keystone of contention between opposing political factions in the Marshalls. “I don’t see how Carl took it upon himself as chairman to do
this,” Marshalls Con-Con delegate Isaac Lanwi told the Journal. “The Marshalls delegation was not consulted and besides this is illegal. The final date for acceptance of delegates from the Marshalls according to law was July 11. Litokwa and Jeltan may go as observers and as advisors but I cannot see how they go as delegates.”