SEPTEMBER 24, 2010
Several houses neighboring Majuro Coop School were blasted by a sudden wind, losing their roofs Wednesday morning.
Photo: Suzanne Chutaro.
$130m budget down 5 percent on 2010
Nitijela passed the RMI’s fiscal year 2011 national budget late Friday night after its session was interrupted by an extended power outage that disrupted electricity for much of the downtown area from 4pm until after 8pm. When the power was restored, Nitijela went right back into session to continue debating the new budget, which had just been reported back from the Appropriations Committee the previous day. The final amount was bumped up by $813,477 to $130,649,840 from the original budget plan submitted to Nitijela a month ago. The FY2011 budget level of $130.6 million is about a five percent cut on the FY2010 budget of $137.4 million.
Franco will be 'sorely missed'
Marshall Islands leaders hailed Teariki “Franco” Mateariki (pictured), who died unexpectedly in Majuro last week, as a man who forsook offers to work elsewhere in order to devote much of his life to building sustainable agriculture in the RMI.
Known simply as “Franco,” the Cook Islander was an agriculture expert who supervised the re-greening of Enewetak. More recently, Franco turned his attention to the Ministry of R&D’s agriculture program.
“Franco decided to live and work here despite numerous requests for his service throughout the region,” said R&D Minister Matt Zackhras. “He refused to go anywhere else because he thought the RMI had the greatest need and biggest challenge.”
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People in shock after homes damaged
Agencies and authorities suffer loss of $10.8m in FY09
Ten “non-major” RMI agencies and authorities suffered operating losses totaling more than $10.8 million during fiscal year 2009, the latest Deloitte audit of the RMI government shows.
Meanwhile, of the six major RMI government entities, only the Marshall Islands Development Bank, National Telecommunications Authority and the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority turned a net profit without government funding. The Marshalls Energy Company lost $723,393 for FY2009, but the injection of RMI funding and other grants gave it a net profit for the year. Same with the RMI Ports Authority, which had an operating loss of just under $1.6 million, but after receiving large US grants for airport improvements, ended the year with net income of $9.3 million. But the picture was bleak for the “smaller” government operations, which auditors refer to as “non-major” component units of the RMI government.
Every one of these 10 non-major RMI government entities recorded operating losses in 2009:
• Air Marshall Islands, $1,788,780
• KAJUR, $3,147,345
• Majuro Atoll Waste Company, $647,763
• Marshall Islands Resort, $403,998
• Majuro Water and Sewer Company, $392,378
• Marshall Islands Postal Service Authority, $103,973
• Marshall Islands Shipping Service, $1,358,300
• Marshall Islands Visitors Authority, $261,027
• RMI Environmental Protection Authority, $413,279
• Tobolar Copra Processing Authority, $2,369,613.
After the infusion of government subsidies and overseas grants, two of the agencies showed a net income: Majuro Atoll Waste Company had net income of $716,700 and the Postal Authority netted out at a positive $22,818.
Total RMI government subsidies provided to keep these government operations afloat was $6,696,099, the audit said. Grants and “other” income provided another $1.1 million income.
Net assets of these 10 agencies declined from $9.8 million in 2008 to $6.5 million last year.
A freak wind (“aire”) hit Delap mid-morning Wednesday causing heavy damage to several homes near Majuro Cooperative School.
A sudden, tornado-like wind completely ripped roofing tins and frames off the homes of Leslie Talley, Lionth Domnick and the small store located directly across Coop school, which is owned by Meiqin Wang. A couple of the roofing tins atop Coop’s new middle school science building and the home of Ichiro Jim were also ripped off their frames.
Residents, whose homes were struck by the wind, sat outside their homes in a state of shock — not knowing what to do with their belongings and themselves after the disaster struck. Meanwhile scattered showers throughout the day flooded their homes.
The government’s response to the families and homes impacted by the freak wind was still pending as the Journal went to press Wednesday afternoon. The Chief Secretary’s Office said photos of the damage had been taken and a meeting was planned to assess the damage.
Coop Principal Kathy Stratte said there were lots of destroyed houses but fortunately no one was hurt. Fortuitously it had rained just before the wind hit, so few people were outside when the tins began flying around. One observer reported that cans of corned beef were tossed like candy into the air by the sudden wind.
Handicrafts wow the crowd
Winning model Monalynn Clinton, Christie Ranie, and Walkup Silk II pose in their beautiful traditional outfits. Left, the colorful Lijohn McDonald hammed it up for the appreciative crowd at the MIR’s Melele Room. Photos: Karen Earnshaw
MEC clears $8.5m loan
The Marshalls Energy Company will clear an $8.5 million loan with Bank of Guam next week, saving the utility company more than a million dollars a year on loan payments.
Following signing of loan agreements among the Asian Development Bank, RMI government and MEC for $9.5 million, MEC is able to pay off the higher-interest loan on September 30. “It’s a huge relief,” said MEC General Manager David Paul.
RMI's fleet of 'epoxy' ships
The Marshall Islands may be operating its first-ever “epoxy” ships for outer islands service.
Following budget hearings earlier this month, at which Marshall Islands Shipping Corporation officials emphasized the poor condition of its fleet of vessels, MISC board Chairman Alson Kelen told the Journal that the vessels are in desperate need of dry-dock services. “This is our first epoxy fleet,” Kelen said. “The hulls of the ships have gotten so thin in places that we cannot weld repairs, so we use epoxy to fix the holes.”
Review of social security
In response to the deteriorating financial situation of the Marshall Islands Social Security program, the Cabinet has named a special committee to review the social security system. The Cabinet named Public Works Minister Maynard Alfred to chair the committee. Other members include Senator Donald Capelle, Deputy Chief Secretary Jorelik Tibon, MISSA Administrator Saane Aho, Anil Development CEO Carlos Domnick, Bank of Marshall Islands Chief Compliance Officer Sultan Korean, and consultant Ben Chutaro. MISSA has warned that unless the system now in place is changed quickly, the retirement fund will be bankrupt in 10 years.
Jaki-ed auction on Thursday nite
The fourth annual jaki-ed show and auction is happening Thursday this week. USP Director Dr. Irene Taafaki and Maria Fowler with MaryLou Foley and Carolyn Yacoe who brought two jaki ed made in the mid-1800s on loan from the Bishop museum in Hawaii. Their trip was sponsored by Continental Airlines. Photo: Suzanne Chutaro.

Journal 9/25/1971
P1 Marshall Islands District Administrator Oscar deBrum returned to Majuro this week from a weekend trip to Kili Island. He went on the MV Yap Islander, which carried a load of food and supplies for the people of Kili. According to Magistrate Lore, it was the first food shipment for many years. The food was from the US Department of Agriculture’s commodity distribution program, which is being made available for needy households in order that they may supplement their diets with nourishing food. USDA’s Hattie Baker said the head of each family on Kili should say whether they wish to participate in the program, and how many family members are being taken care of.
P1 Congress of Micronesia Representative Ataji Balos has received a letter from the socialist Gensuikin organization in Japan assuring Balos of their intention to send a survey team to Micronesia, which will include a medical specialist, who has been “engaging in treating atom bomb sufferers for a long time.” Anticipating possible difficulties in obtaining permission to enter the Trust Territory, the Gensuikin representative asked Balos to use his influence as a Congress of Micronesia Representative to assist in obtaining entry permits for the proposed survey team.

Journal 9/24/1993

Journal 9/27/1985
P3The recent adoption
of Resolution 56 by the
Nitijela means the nation
will soon be singing a new
national anthem. The song,
written and composed by
President Amata Kabua, will
be sung at all public
celebrations, activities and
other special occasions, and
by public and private schools
at the beginning of each school
day, resolved the Nitijela.
P4 A grand opening celebration
P1 There will be no Compact of Free Association by the much publicized October 1 deadline. It h as been put on hold by the Reagan Administration, which now strongly objects to the planned House-Senate amendments, which give the Micronesians too much. It is the second time in just two months that the Reagain Administration has switched and lobbied against the Compact that it negotiated. The White House handling of the Compact has alienated Republicans and Democrats alike. Said key Republican Rep. Don Young, of Alaska, who voted for the Compact in July: “I am deeply disappointed by the reaction of whoever is leading down at the White House on this issue. I can only say that if
attended by many island dignitaries, including President Amata Kabua, was held in favor of the new Boral-MEC Gas compound located in Delap Monday evening. The joint venture business was the brainchild of MEC GM Billy Roberts who was looking for a partnering the liquid gas business to compliment the energy company’s electrical generating operation.
they want a compact, they can forget it right now.” The administration, said Status Liaison Officer Mike Senko in Majuro, is opposed to a so-called “superfund” that would provide the Marshalls and Federated States with an extra $130 million trust fund as a trade off for the amendments, which cut out tax and trade benefits.
P1 At midnight Monday “Kwajalein Atoll belongs to the landowners,” said Kwajalein Atoll Corporation leader Senator Imada Kabua. In a telephone interview with the Journal from his home on Ebeye, Kabua declined to elaborate on what actions, if any, the landowners were considering to initiate on October 1, when the current Interim Use Agreement runs out.