marshall islands journal 2-28-2014 (1)

The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, February 28, 2014 1

Talk to us at [email protected] • Subscribe to the Journal Online at www.marshallislandsjournal.com

Marshall IslandsThe $1 on Majuro

Friday, February 28, 2014 • Volume 45, Number 9

ISSN

: 089

2 20

96

GIFF JOHNSONA group of students from Fuku-

shima, Japan is in the Marshall Islands this week sharing their concerns about nuclear contamination from the Daiichi nuclear power plant as the Marshall Islands marks the 60th anniversary of radioactive fallout contamination from the Bravo hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll on March 1, 1954.

As Marshall Islanders launched a week-long commemoration Tuesday of the 15-megaton nuclear test that caused widespread nuclear exposure, severe health problems for islanders, and evacuations of populations from contaminated islands, the student group from Japan said Japanese are facing similar problems of radiation exposure, forced evacuation from areas

nearby the beleaguered Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima, and uncertainties about the future.

“The government says ‘don’t worry’ (about radiation exposure) but recently we’ve seen many cases of thyroid problems confirmed in the Fukushima area,” said Kai Sato, a Fukushima University student.

“The government says it is safe (to live in the Fukushima area), but I don’t believe it,” Sato said. There is uncer-tainty among Fukushima City residents and “people don’t what is the correct information to believe.”

Keiko Takahashi lived in Okuma Town, just 3.5 miles from the Daiichi nuclear plant. She was fortunate to live on a hill, so her home was not damaged by the devastating tsunami

that followed the earthquake. But the entire town, including Takahashi and her family, was ordered to leave the area the day after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami damaged the Daiichi power plant, causing a melt-down and ongoing radiation exposure.

Three years later, Okuma “is a ghost town,” Takahashi said. It remains off-limits to residents, with fences blocking roads into the former town of 11,000. “No one can live in this town because of the radiation,” Takahashi said. She is worried about the safety of the area and despite her family roots in Okuma extending four generations back, she says “We shouldn’t go back, even if 100 years passes.”

The concerns of the Japanese stu-

Bravo link brings Japanese to RMI

Continued page 2

CMI bus gets a jump start

Nitijela’s showdown on

el-Sayed

The College of the Marshall Islands blessed its new bus last week, and as you can plainly see, the students are ecstatic. Photo: Hilary Hosia.

See page 2

Fukushima residents Kaede Nagashima (left) and Keiko Takahashi in Majuro.

Photo: Hilary Hosia.

Subscriptions to the Journal Online are $57 a year using PayPal. Click on the Subscribe button to purchase a subscription using your credit card.

http://www.marshallislandsjournal.com

mailto:journal%40ntamar.net?subject=RE%3A%20M.I.%20Journal%202-28-2014

http://www.marshallislandsjournal.com

2 Friday, February 28, 2014 — The Marshall Islands Journal

dents about radiation safety issues mirror those of Rongelap Islanders in the Mar-shall Islands who have been told one of their islands is safe for return. Most of the elders who were on Rongelap when it was engulfed in a snowstorm of radioac-tive fallout from the Bravo test in 1954 have openly expressed fear of returning to their former home atoll, which they evacuated in 1985.

Despite being forced to evacuate the town where four generations of her fam-ily have lived, Takahashi said, “I’ve lost my life but not my soul.” Her long fam-ily ties to the town have prompted her to begin researching the town’s cultural history so she can preserve it for future generations even if Okuma is never habitable again.

Sato said he was concerned that some people in Japan believe that the nuclear accident at Fukushima is a thing of the past and has been resolved. “The nuclear plant accident hasn’t stopped,” he said. In addition to ongoing radiation leakage at the Daiichi plant, he says the government’s official health checks that recently confirmed 75 cases of thyroid tumors and cancers among people living in the vicinity of the plant shows that health problems are continuing to be felt by the population as a result of radiation exposure.

“It is a human rights issue for people in the Marshall Islands and people in Fukushima,” he said of the radiation exposures in both countries.

Kaede Nagashima was born in Fuku-shima City. She said the area is famous for its agriculture products. “But today, I don’t want to eat fruits from Fuku-shima,” she said.

“I think they are dangerous (due to radiation contamination).” She has been involved in a project of sharing high school student-written poetry and stories expressing concerns about the nuclear plant accident to audiences in Japan and will share these in the Marshall Islands this week.

“We need to tell the truth about the radiation situation in Fukushima,” Na-gashima said.

“I tell people that the Fukushima nuclear issue is related to them and is still an issue. Three years after the ac-cident, some people say it is past. But it’s not over.”

“The nuclear testing (in the Marshall Islands) resulted in both immediate and continuing effects on the human rights of the Marshallese,” said a United Nations Special Rapporteur following a visit to the Marshall Islands in 2012.

March 1 is not only the 60th anniversary of the Bravo hydrogen bomb test, it is also the day of a Marshalls Billfish Club mini Total Points tournament.

Registration for the tourney starts at 6:30pm at RRE shoreline on Thursday. The tournament will start and end at RRE shoreline.

Anyone wanting to see the weigh in of fish caught, lines must be out of the water by 5pm, so after that is a good time to appear at RRE shoreline.

Former Marshall Islands President Litokwa Tomeing called for the resignation of the Loeak Administration Wednesday for nominating Jamil el-Sayed to become an RMI representative to UNESCO. But in an extended debate at Nitijela, President Christopher Loeak and Foreign Minister Phillip Muller both dismissed the issue as no big deal.

Tomeing said the failure to follow proper procedures in the nomination by the Foreign Minister of el-Sayed was a clear violation of the Marshall Islands Constitution.

Argument about Muller’s nomination of el-Sayed, who is reported to have ties to the terrorist organization Hezbollah, dominated Nitijela’s three-hour session Wednesday.

“The world is shocked by our govern-ment’s action,” said Tomeing. “Our con-stitution has been violated and if we don’t do anything about this now then we may never (recover). Step down now those of you who are not doing what’s right for our country. I am asking you to step down for your mistakes and stop wasting our time. Let others who really want to work for the people of the Marshall Islands step up to do the job.”

Loeak interrupted Tomeing, saying there are more important issues the government

needs to address like climate change and the Compact. He said the issue about el-Sayed had already been corrected. Foreign Min-ister Muller responded to all questions and complaints related to el-Sayed’s nomina-tion as “just a start of our vetting process.” Muller said he never met El-Sayed and that he came recommended by friends as some-one who understands UNESCO processes.

“We sent a request to UNESCO first because we in the RMI do not have means to do background checks and our staff do not have the capability,” said Muller. “The

Ministry of Foreign Affairs was consult-ing and vetting the nomination first with UNESCO and once we got the okay from them we were going to bring this to Cabinet and the President. This was just the start of the vetting process.”

Muller said he’s thankful UNESCO checked and notified the government through its UN Embassy and that he was able to quickly correct the mistake.

But senators in Nitijela challenged Muller’s “it-was-just-the-start-of-the-vetting-process response.”

Senator after senator highlighted normal government procedures for nominating an ambassador — procedures, which they said are clearly spelled out in the Marshall Islands Constitution. Ebon Senator John Silk said the Constitution requires that all ambassadorial nominees be Marshallese citizens, be of good character and be ap-proved by a Nitijela resolution.

“Knowing all this how could you sign an appointment letter?” asked Silk. “The Constitution has been violated so now what are we going to do about it?”

President Loeak attempted to downplay the severity of the issue saying that the mistake has been corrected and as far as the rest of the world is concerned they are “satisfied.” He then classified the nomina-tion of el-Sayed as that of an honorary counsel post. Majuro Senator Brenson Wase objected to the President’s characteriza-tion, saying in fact the post was that of an ambassador.

“The Minister sent to UNESCO an am-bassadorial appointment letter,” said Wase. He added: “It was a French newspaper that alerted the RMI government of the appoint-ment, not UNESCO.”

Namdrik Senator Matt Zackhras said that he personally contacted the RMI’s UN Embassy on the issue and they told him they knew nothing about the UNESCO nomination. “Had el-Sayed’s appointment gone through he would have had 10 years of diplomatic immunity,” said Zackhras.

Earlier in the month, Minister of Educa-tion Dr. Hilda Heine, who is chairman of the UNESCO National Commission for the RMI, said she was unaware of the el-Sayed nomination.

Fishing tournament

From page 1

Fukushima students visit with local nuke survivors

El-Sayed issue takes over Nitijela session

Foreign Minister Phillip Muller.


Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, will deliver this year’s US government message during the Nuclear Remem-brance Day ceremony in Majuro Saturday.

She will visit the RMI from March 1-3 for various events and meetings. On March 1, she will participate in a series of Nuclear Remembrance Day activities in Majuro. She will also tour the Department of Energy Body Counter Facility and speak with students at the College of Marshall Islands Nuclear Institute.

On March 3, the Acting Under Secretary will join RMI President Christopher Loeak on a visit to Kili Island for Bikini Day ceremonies. She will participate in a ceremony honoring those residents who origi-nally lived on Bikini prior to the start of nuclear tests in 1946.

ISAAC MARTYThe RMI national archive

and museum Alele has a new director at the helm. Amenta Matthew Tibon, former Utrik Senator, is happy to give her service in Alele. She started on January 16.

At the moment she has four staff members. She is taking over from Bonny Taggart who was the interim director. Tibon said her plans are to continue Alele’s goals such as seeking the improvement of the build-ing and also its services. “I’m grateful for Bonny, Secretary Daisy Alik-Momotaro, Minis-

Majuro Atoll Local Government executives joined sport officials in recognizing Majuro Day winning teams Monday night at the crowded Delap Park.

Majuro Day Battle of the Band winners ‘Bunin No’n Likiej provided a lively atmosphere with their upbeat per-formance. Athletes were seen rushing to the sandy dance floor while others ‘bust a move’ from where they stood.

The fireworks, $1,000 to $100 winning envelopes, the live music and the chaotic fun contributed to a night to remember.

Majuro Day fun

MALGov’s Jasper Lanki, left, and Mayor Mudge Samuel, second from right, with athletes.

Arms boss here for BravoUS official flies in this Saturday

Amenta heads up Aleleter Wilbur Heine, Alele board and others that have given great support to preserving Alele which holds our culture and history. I’m proud to serve and also to show people our culture,” said Tibon. “Educa-tion Week had a lot of students visiting the museum and it gives me an idea to do a chil-dren’s exhibit that would make it easier for kids to learn when they visit.”

Currently the museum is located at the ground floor after its original location in the second floor experienced roof problems with leakage. Tibon said the roof problem has been fixed but the room needs reno-vating and she’s looking for funding to fix it. The museum was put onto the ground floor by Alele board of trustees. His makes it easily accessible to

everyone, especially to people who are unable to go up the stairs.

Alele’s library is open for the public and it also has a basic computer training program that is open for interested indi-viduals to sign up. Participants are separated into morning and afternoon groups that will have a one-hour session learn-ing computer. Alele is also partnering with the Retirees’ Center (next to Alele) in doing the same computer program for senior citizens and is being funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Tibon said Alele is aiming to promote culture and tradition in local events and especially gearing up for its upcoming an-nual Lutok Kobban Alele (Cul-tural Day) event in September.

New Director of the Alele Museum and Library Amenta Matthew.

Japanese aboard the PeaceBoat’s 81st global voyage sent this photo to show solidarity with Marshallese marking the 60th anniversary of the Bravo test.


GIFF JOHNSONEight weeks of rehearsals will

see the ICC stage explode in song and dance from Tuesday through Saturday next week.

The musical Fiddler on the Roof has been in preparation with several dozen students practicing daily to be ready to perform the show that is being directed by Prof. Andrew Garrod of Dartmouth.

It is the 10th play Garrod has directed in Majuro since 2004 — eight have been Shakespeare plays and last year’s and this year’s musicals — and possibly the last as the Dartmouth program is wrap-ping up a 15-year relationship with the Ministry of Education this year.

The shift to musicals has been a big hit with local audiences. Last year, 900 people packed the ICC for the final night of West Side Story — more than double the largest crowd that ever appeared for the earlier Shakespeare shows.

Garrod recalled the first year he and the Dartmouth students worked to stage a play. “The stu-dents had never seen or been in a play,” he said. They didn’t have a clue what it took to make it happen and this meant Garrod was chal-lenged to keep their attention at the daily practices. “I had to station a

The Dartmouth teaching pro-gram in the Marshall Islands will officially end with the close of the school year in June this year.

Professor Andrew Garrod said the program brought the first undergraduate students to the RMI i n 2000, and the following year launched the beginning of the graduate program that has placed teachers in schools for an entire year.

The undergraduate program provides a 10-week teaching ex-perience for a group of students

who get experience working with veteran teachers here in lo-cal high schools and elementary schools.

Garrod said Dartmouth has decided to end the program largely over concerns about possible liability issues with Dartmouth students in the Mar-shall Islands. Garrod said that he would consider continuing to do the plays in the January-to March period if the Ministry of Education is interested to keep it going.

Dartmouth football player at the door to prevent the students from leaving the rehearsals.”

How times have changed. The last few years, often more than double the number of students than can be used audition for the plays. “This year, 70 turned out for the auditions,” he said. It was way more than could participate, but Garrod found ways to include a number of those who did not get selected for parts in the play to as-

sist the play in other ways.This year’s play includes some

veteran performers with first tim-ers. CMI student John Riklon is playing a lead role for the fourth year and USP’s Jennifer Alik is also an experienced actress play-ing the lead female role. “They are role models for the rest of the cast,” said Garrod. “They are focused, learn their lines quickly, and help others. John frequently models parts for others.”

It takes a good deal of work to turn normally shy Marshallese young people into expressive stage actors. “The ICC is a big room,” he said. The students are learning that they have to be expressive enough so their emotions transmit from the stage all the way to the back of the room. They held their first rehearsal at the ICC last week and are continuing this week.

Involving students in a process of working as a group, building

their self-confidence, and raising their aspirations about what is possible is what motivates Garrod.

“It’s about personal develop-ment,” he said. “I encourage (the students) to take themselves seri-ously.”

Garrod believes the work the students put into preparing for the play has an impact on their learning in school. Teachers have mentioned to him seeing positive changes in classroom engagement of students involved in these plays.

Garrod also likes the mix of students involved — this year, students from Marshall Islands High School, Assumption, Majuro Coop, CMI and USP are partici-pating.

Garrod said this year’s play could not be put on without many helping hands from the com-munity.

Tickets can be purchased in advance this Saturday at Pay-less (9:30am-12noon), EZ Price (1:30-4pm), and K&K Island Pride (9:30am-12noon and 1:30-4pm), and also at the door each evening at ICC Tuesday through Saturday nights. The play starts at 8pm, and based on last year’s large crowds, best advice is to arrive well before 8pm to get a good seat.

Fiddler opens next weekDartmouth out

A dance sequence

in Fiddler

on the Roof.


ISAAC MARTYWater leakage in three of Majuro’s airport reservoirs is

now being addressed. According to Majuro Water and Sew-age Company (MWSC) General Manager Joseph Batol, the problem occurred because the tarps holding the water were old and it was found last year that reservoirs numbers three, four, and five were not able to store up to their maximum capacity of five millions gallons each. This resulted in a drop from total maximum capacity of 36.4 million gallons to an average 24 million gallons.

The improvement project is funded by the Pacific Adapta-tion to Climate Change. It hired Australia based company Fabtech to do the job.

Fabtech supervisor Dean Warner and colleagues Enrique Baltan (deputy) and Antonio Pel (installer), along with a team of MWSC staff, are busy installing new fabric liner or tarp sheets at the reservoirs. Warner has 11 years experi-ence doing this type of work while Baltan and Pel are four years into it. The strategy is to install the new layer upon the old layer of sheets.

Warner said the old layer would be a protection layer underneath to prevent future leaks. He said the work started January 21 and completion is expected next month. The reservoir work is happening from 6pm to 6am due to the heat of the day. When the sun reflects from the new sheets it gets hot on the reservoir.

Warner said Fabtech was the company that installed tarp sheets for reservoirs one and two about 14 years ago with the leadership of his current boss.

How old are the reservoirs? MWSC Supervisor Fred Billy, who is a long time employee, said of reservoir number three that it’s about 22 years old.

Batol emphasized that water security is of critical im-portance to the RMI as a whole and Majuro where the majority of potable water is produced from treated rainwater harvested from the large Majuro airport runway catchment area. Installation of a new floating cover on reservoir num-ber three is yet to be done. The cover is aimed at eliminating evaporation to prevent losses and it’s another strategy to ensure water security despite changes in climate.

The covering, compared to reservoir number one and two, is a newly designed and stronger material. “Reservoir number three will support reservoir number two as a storage for treated water that is ready to supply the public,” said Batol. “Our main goal is to provide better water service to the public. When we have more water we’ll be able to extend water hours.”

Workers install new lining in a reservoir.

Team fixes leaks at reservoirs


The RMI Riddle No. 493: Sponsored by CopyMasters

Need a pen to do the puzzle? Buy your stationery needs at:

Answers to Riddle No. 492

Note: (abb.) = abbreviation(3,4) = indicates the number of letters in words.

ACROSS1. Energy, bomb, or fallout.5. Nervous.10. Skipper.11. Reef resident.12. Kwaj spot. 14. Museum.15. Away.17. Joint.19. Command.21. Cry.22. Fuel.23. K&K village.24. British historian A.J. Toynbee said: “America is a -----, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair.”25. Plaything.26. Mistake.28. Uncooked toast.30. Bubu.31. Western atoll.33. Dad says yes to fruit!34. Diver’s ‘dress’.DOWN2. School. (abb.)3. Rent.4. Our neighbor. (4,5)6. Big church.7. School. (abb.)8. Pain.

9. Ebon’s drifter.13. Diplomatic mission.15. Watch.16. Chair’s mate.17. Less than nine.18. Day four.20. Going away.27. Street.28. Bud and XXXX.29. Hounds.30. Opening.32. Our airline. (abb.)

The Australian govern-ment is providing a new grant to the College of the Marshall Islands for computers for student use.

The Australian grant is for US$21,988.57, said CMI President Carl Hack-er in congratulating CMI staff for their work in pro-ducing the grant request.

Photo: Hilary Hosia

USP Marshall Islands Campus ran a two-day financial seminar for non-finance managers recently that brought together a total of 51 people from local NGOs, private and government organizations. The seminar was implemented by Mesake Nawari who is a Senior Fellow at USP’s Graduate School of Business at the Laucala Campus in Fiji.

The workshop was centered on: under-standing financial statements and their inter-relationships; working capital management; and planning and budgeting. Attendance was good — 96 percent — throughout the two days. It showed a great interest from

the general public about financial manage-ment issues.

At the end of the two-day seminar, an evaluation of the seminar was conducted and it showed that all of the 42 participants who took part in the survey are interested in further short courses offered by USP not just in finances but also in other areas.

Another workshop on “investment analysis of utility company projects” was conducted last month with 12 employees of Marshalls Energy Company and Majuro Water and Sewage Company who are in the managerial level.

USP-led financial seminar a success

Komol to Australia


AROUND TOWN

THOMAS ATWELLDesperate to do some kite board-

ing, Mark and I set off from the beach at the Long Island Hotel and kited downwind to Anjeltake about six miles or so away. We were going to Glenn Martini’s house to meet up with him and then kite at some shipwreck/break about six miles from there. Our instructions were to look for the orange buoy hanging off the black hammock in the coconut tree. We may have been silly for going as the weather was rainy and squalls were coming through, but we felt it wasn’t too severe so off we went.

When we were just past the air-port (about three or four miles) a rain squall came through. The wind was quite strong and then suddenly it died. Mark’s kite was already down and I was doing all I could to keep my kite in the air. No such luck.

My kite fell through my lines and when the wind picked back up I tried to relaunch. Each time I relaunched my kite looped. Eventually it just started looping by itself and I was being dragged through the water. I decided I needed to flag the kite out and re-rig my lines or self rescue. I unhooked and when I did my kite leash broke and the kite went bye-bye. I quickly realized I couldn’t catch it so I paddled in to shore. I wasn’t worried since the wind would eventually bring it in; maybe a few miles away but “Hey, we’re in a lagoon,right?” Perhaps a big lagoon but it’s still a lagoon.

Mark had relaunched his kite and even got to my kite but couldn’t do anything as it was taking everything to keep his kite in the air. But no worries; everything and everyone is drifting west where eventually it will all wash up around the village of Laura.

So after swimming/paddling in the pouring rain for about 45 minutes I made it to a beach and started walking. Mark had put his kite in the water again and eventually got going. I was keeping an eye on my kite and it seemed to be about a mile off shore drifting east. All good.

I walked the beach with a bunch of local kids and asked about a boat. They didn’t understand Eng-lish and I have a very limited ability of Marshallese (yokwe) so I drew them a picture of a boat. “Oh, boat! Boat! No, no boat.” I ventured back to the road in spots and eventu-ally made it to Glenn’s house. By that time I couldn’t see my kite any more as the wind had shifted and it had disappeared in the veil of rain. Mark had relaunched and was past

Kite boarders’ windy adventure

me but seemed okay and headed toward Laura.

No-one was home at Glenn’s. Hmm. After leaving my board and harness in a conspicuous spot i scrounged around for something to leave a note with. The best I could come up with was a bunch of clothespins, so i spelled out “LOST KITE” on their porch.

I grabbed a windsurfing board and some swim fins and paddled about a mile out in the lagoon. Still no kite. I’m shocked I can’t see it, but it’s raining quite hard reducing visibility. I’m sitting on the board and a boat comes by. I flag him down and they picked me up to go look for the kite. There were four men in the boat and they were involved in a fishing tournament. We looked for the kite for 45 minutes or so, but no kite. The captain’s name was Alan. I told him my name and my hotel and that if someone finds the kit to give me a call. I think that at this point

someone else must have picked up the kite. I handed him 100 bucks and he dropped me back off stating he will find my kite.

After paddling back in I speak briefly with the guy across the street who turns out to be a Senator from Rongelap. I decline an offer for a ride, thinking I may unintention-ally pass Glenn and decide to walk down to Laura, 15 miles away. After 45 minutes a fellow named Doug stops and says Glenn is looking for me and that Mark is okay. He gives me a ride back to Glenn’s where I am to wait.

I wait. Eventually Glenn and Sofie van Gunsteren get there and tells me Mark is on Rongrong island about 16 miles away. I asked them how they knew this and they said Mark had borrowed some a cell phone and had called them to say he was trying to find a boat to get off the island.

As we are waiting for Mark’s sta-tus Glenn’s boss, Joseph Batol, calls and says Alan, his nephew picked some kitesurfer up and was out looking for his kite. Everyone knows everyone and everything that’s happening on Majuro. Jo-seph calls back and Alan has found my kite and it’s in Delap, 15 miles distant. Mark has made his way to

Continued page 13

Kite boarders Tom Atwell (above) and Mark at the Hangar Bar at Majuro airport. Photos: Karen Earnshaw

The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, February 28, 2014 13 AROUND TOWN

Laura by this time, meets Glenn’s friend, Tyler, has a shower and some food and is working out a ride back to the hotel.

After a bit Glenn and Sofie take me to Uliga across from Momotaro where we meet Alan and I retrieve my kite. By this time, I’m pretty stoked by the whole adventure.

Mark makes it back to the hotel where we meet up again. As a bonus when I pull out my kite a banana and hat falls out.

Caller eo: OMG Batman rej trouble ilo City Hall!

Batman: Itok im bok na — emaat ao gas.

Caller: OMG Bat-man there’s trouble at City Hall!

Batman: Come and get me — I’m out of gas.

— Thanks to Ben Wakefield on Face-book, Marshallese Be Like.

I had spent quite a bit of time shopping for the right hat and couldn’t find one. Problem solved..

So I kited six miles, walked five and paddled/swam for two. Kind of a triathlon.

Mark sailed for 24 miles, begged a ride to Laura of 8 miles and taxied it back to the Long Island Hotel for 20 miles.

We have to thank everyone involved in this whole adventure. To be honest it made the whole trip! The Marshallese and Ri-belle are simply the best.

From page 12

Alan retrieves kite

Tom Atwell couldn’t find a pen to tell Glenn Martini that his kite was lost, so he used some clothes pins he found on his porch and wrote ‘LOST KITE’ (except he ran out of pins so he couldn’t finish the last ‘E’. Photo: Sofie van Gunsteren.

Here’s an item of interest. Marshall Islands has been averaging about 1,000 people per year leaving to the United States for the past many years.

That works out at an average of 20 per week.

That “average” was kaboomed Mon-day when a reported 100 people bear-ing one-way tickets showed up for the United flight to Honolulu. Most made it out the door.

We had a small heads up that this was about to happen when Tourist Trap, which handles passport photo needs here, reported over 100 people coming in to get photos over a two-day period last week.

Why late February? Word is that Mar-shallese living in the US collect their IRS tax refunds around this time, so have moolah to front tickets for their relatives back home.

Mass exodus on United flight

“Why teachers got their pay raise recently and don’t come to work? I’m fed up with covering for all these BS RMI teachers in government.”

—Comment received by newspaper reader in Majuro.ElañeBatmanar riMajol


OpiNiON pAgE Send letters to pO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960 or email [email protected]

Editor .........................................................Giff JohnsonProduction/Advertising ........................Brett SchellhaseAdvertising Manager ......................... Suzanne ChutaroAdvertising Assistant ............................... Darren LankiReporter/Photographer ................................Isaac MartyReporter/Photographer .............................. Hilary Hosia Surfer Chick ........................................ Karen Earnshaw

Basic Advertising Rates are for display ads, camera ready copy: $5.85 per column inch. All material must be received by 12:00 noon Monday for that Friday’s paper. (5:00 pm Friday the week prior to publication for full page ads). ALL ADS

ReCeIveD AFTeR DeADLINe ARe SuBJeCT TO LATe CHARGeS. Letters to the editor may be edited or cut. Please mail your letters to the above address, fax them to (692) 625-3136, or email them to [email protected] Marshall Islands Journal is a dual language, once a week publication of the Micronitor News & Printing Company. It has been the newspaper of record for the Marshall Islands since 1970. Subscription Rates are $87.00 per year for the print edition sent U.S. first class mail to U.S. domestic mail zones ($50.00/6 months) and $227.00 per year for international airmail. The digital (pdf) version sent by email is $52.00 per year. Please make checks payable to: MARSHALL ISLANDS JOuRNAL, P.O. Box 14, Majuro, Marshall Islands MH 96960.

The Marshall Islands JournalPhone: (692) 625-8143/6 • Fax: (692) 625-3136 • email: [email protected] • www.marshallislandsjournal.com

March 1 is a national holiday in the Marshall Islands marking the day the Bravo hydrogen bomb was exploded at Bikini Atoll, spewing radioactive fallout on islands around the Marshall Islands. This year’s 60th anniversary is being marked in Majuro — and other locations around the world. For most Marshall Islanders, it will be a time to reflect on the fact that the US nuclear weapons test legacy has left numerous unresolved issues for their nation. One of the most important outstanding issues is the US Congress’ lack of official response to a petition for more compensation submitted over 13 years ago to Washington by the Marshall Islands government. The point of the petition, which was submitted pursuant to provisions of the Compact of Free Association, is to get the US government to pay the awards adjudi-cated by the Nuclear Claims Tribunal, which was es-tablished by the Compact. The Tribunal’s awards for personal injuries and only four of the most seriously

affected atolls is over $2 billion. These have not been paid because US funding provided under the 1983 agreement proved to be far short of the awards made by the Tribunal during its period of operations from the early 1990s to the late 2000s.

A United Nations Special Rapporteur, in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in late 2012, urged the US government to pay the awards issued by the Tribunal, as well as making numerous other recom-mendations to address ongoing problems caused by the nuclear test legacy. His Special Rapporteur

found that: “The nuclear testing resulted in both im-mediate and continuing effects on the human rights of the Marshallese…The effects of radiation have been exacerbated by near-irreversible environmental contamination, leading to the loss of livelihoods and lands. Moreover, many people continue to experience indefinite displacement.”

The US government maintains that the Compact’s $150 million compensation fund was “full and final” and that no further compensation is needed — de-spite the fact that the US government withheld from Marshall Islands Compact negotiators secret reports that showed the widespread extent of fallout con-tamination that was not limited to the four atolls as claimed (to this day) by US officials. The US contin-ues to fund limited health care and medical programs for people affected by the testing, as well as conduct-ing ongoing scientific research and monitoring.

A series of events and workshops in Majuro for Nuclear Survivors Day will feature exchanges among people with nuclear experiences from Japan, Aus-tralia, the Marshall Islands and elsewhere, as well as talking about shortcomings in the compensation and cleanup programs.

Whether these events push action on outstand-ing nuclear clean up, compensation and health care needs, they will connect people to issues that 60 years after American’s largest hydrogen bomb detonation are still a concern of significance in the Marshall Islands. Truly what is needed to advance Marshall Islands interests is on this important issue is for the government to establish by law a nuclear agency with the mandate to pursue independent radiation-related environmental and health studies, gather information and resources, and pursue nuclear compensation, clean up and health funding and programs.

MICHAeL vReDeNBeRG, Maritime Training Center, CMI It is generally accepted in admiralty that pilots aboard vessels are acting as servants of the vessel and are under the authority of the master, even if the master is compelled by local laws to take aboard a pilot. Most jurisdictions severely limit the liability of pilots so legal actions against them are exceedingly rare. Generally the ship owner is responsible for the negligence of a pilot.

In almost all port areas pilots are completely independent in order to avoid conflicts of interest with commercial port authorities and marine safety agencies. For example, Hous-ton, Galveston, New Orleans, and the Columbia River bar pilots are formed as mutual associations with limited liabil-ity much as law firms, accountants and doctors partnerships are organized. Most, if not all, pilots’ associations forbid their members from holding any other maritime-related employment specifically to avoid conflicts. Marine safety organizations likewise forbid their officers and employees

Certification of port pilots essential

Continued page 18

Bravo legacy lingers in RMI‘A united Nations Special Rapporteur urged the uS

government to pay the awards issued by the Tribunal.’


Although fisherman Jose Salvador Alvarenga’s more than one-year voy-age from Mexico to Ebon sparked skepticism worldwide when he first arrived here last month, a new piece of evidence is adding weight to the drifter’s story.

His westward drift across the Pa-cific to the Marshall Islands agrees with simulations of a computer model developed at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s International Pacific Research Center.

UH Manoa scientist Nikolai Maxi-menko and scientific programmer Jan Hafner placed 16 tracers into their ocean model 200 nautical miles southwest of the coastal fish-ing village Chiapas, Mexico around the time that Alvarenga says he was blown off shore.

While some of the tracers used in the simulation move faster and over-shoot the Marshall Islands over the period, others have not yet reached the islands.

“Overall, however, the 16 trac-ers show a remarkably narrow path over this long period of time, given

the satellite daily wind and current variability that drove the model,” said the UH researchers. “The paths of the tracers passing by, or nearing, Ebon Atoll span not more than two degrees latitude or about 120 miles.

“Alvarenga’s claim that he had been adrift for 13 months and that he came from Mexico, therefore, falls well within the model’s limits and is consistent with the prevailing pattern of wind and ocean currents during his ordeal.”

The mathematical computer model was originally developed by Maxi-menko and Hafner from paths of actual drifters with 15 meter deep drogues. The initial purpose had been to chart the varying ocean surface circulation.

“When the devastating tsunami happened in 2011 in Japan, our model was adapted to track different types of tsunami driftage by adding different strengths of direct wind-force to the model,” Maximenko recalls. “Details of our model are on our IPRC Marine and Tsunami Debris website.”

Ilo nuuj eo an wiik eo lok ilo Journal eo, kimar ripoote bwe Ministry of Education ear jab kejerbale jonan in $442,000 iloan fiscal year 2013. Menin ej tarrin in $609,093 laplok, ilo an kobatok jonan in $167,093.50, jonan jaan rekar jab kejerbale nan Education Supplement Education Grant eo (SEG) nan FY2012.

Kotobar ko ijoke, rej won-manlok nan kejerbal jonan jaan eo ear jab jerbal nan FY2012 SEG money eo, eo im elane enaaj tobrak, emaron jiban bwe en jab jako jonan in $167,093.50, ekkar nan US Embassy eo.

Ijelokin Compact grant ko, SEG money eo ej itok im bedbed ion menin “kejerbale ak luuji”, ilo kejekjek in.

Jonan eo Ministry of Health ear jab kejerbale ear barein-wot kelon lok wot ilo wiik in, ilo an driwoj tok melele ko ikijien Ebeye Special Needs Health account eo. Ministry of Health ear jab kejerbale tarrin in $89,891.80 nan aikuij ko an Ebeye ikijien ejmour, ilo FY2013 eo.

Jonan jaan kein raar jab jer-bal jen Ebeye Special Needs, eboktok tarlep in nan Ministry of Health Compact funding ear jab kejerbale ilo 2013, nan $355,441.

Jonan tarlep eo nan aolepen ministry kein ruo enanin tobar $964,000, raar jab kejerbali nan FY2013. Jonan in ekebaak jilu katten laplok, in jonan eo raar jab kejerbali ilo FY2012, nan Health im Education ilo drettan in $339,000.

Scientists validate Jose drift across the Pacific

MOE im MOH rejjab kejerbale jaan ko jen Compact eo

Drifter Jose Salvador Alvarenga was loaded up with gifts on his

departure from Majuro. He is pic-tured with President Christopher Loeak in the airport vIP lounge.


SuZANNe CHuTARO“We are a community that has

lost so much as a result of the US nuclear testing on our islands,” said Bikini Councilwoman Lani Kramer.

She views the nuclear legacy and the compensation money the people receive as a curse.

“It’s not just land we’ve lost,” said Kramer. “As a result of being displaced, we’ve lost our culture heritage — our traditional customs and skills, which for thousands of years were passed down from generation to generation. My com-munity’s heritage is an endangered species. ”

A majority of the people of Bi-kini are now scattered, living on Kili Island, Ejit Island on Majuro and in the United States.

“Growing up I did not really understand the issues,” admits Kramer. It was not until her teens that her interest began and she began to learn about the issues for herself.

“It’s really horrible what they did to us and till this day no one has stood up for us,” said Kramer. “Our grandparents were taken advantage

THE BRAv filES ‘It’s really horrible what they did to us’

of. This thought always makes me feel sad and angry knowing now that my grandmother and the community left not knowing or understanding the full extent of what they were agreeing to and that they would never return.”

In the early 1970s, after US gov-ernment scientists declared Bikini safe for rehabitation, a group of Bikinians were returned to Bikini only to be removed again in 1978 because of the extent of the radio-active contamination on the island.

“After they were exposed like that I can never trust what the US tells us (about our island),” said Kramer.

Kramer is a third generation displaced Bikinian, born on Kili Island and raised on Majuro and in the US.

Returning to the Marshall Is-lands in 1995 after spending her teen years studying in the US, Kramer recalls returning “to see my community struggling” eco-nomically.

Today, Bikinians struggle with diabetes and many other non-communicable diseases as a result of losing their way of life. As part of their compensation package for decades Bikinians have received rations of diabetes-inducing pro-cessed foods — USDA canned chicken, candied yams, green beans, corned beef and the likes. More recently, instead of sending USDA canned foods, the US has agreed to give the Bikini Atoll Lo-cal Government the money to buy the food rations for the community and manage the distribution.

“Every quarter we are given bags of rice and cases of chicken,” explains Kramer.

The rations will depend on the number of persons in the family. They also receive about $40 per person per month — this too is doled out quarterly. “Is this what you call just compensation?” asks Kramer as she contrasted this to how the “Downwinders” living near the Nevada Test Site were treated by the US government after being exposed to nuclear fallout.

“People living on Kili are fed up with the harsh environment on the

island. Many of us live in the US because there are no opportunities on Kili or Majuro.”

But even those who have moved to the US are financially struggling, she explains. Disadvantaged by a poor educational foundation received in the islands and the limited nuclear compensation funds now available, most people of Bikini are burdened by the mundane daily struggle of making ends meet. She adds that infighting within the local government over depleting nuclear compensation trust funds and declining operating budget has preoccupied the people of Bikini for far too long.

“I want justice now for the people (of my grandmother’s gen-eration) who went through being displaced, left ignored for months starving on other atolls while the tests were taking place, and then were returned to a contaminated atoll to live,” said Kramer. “We need to go to the US Congress. But no one, not my local govern-ment or the national government, is engaged with the US Congress on this issue right now. This should be everyone’s fight.”

Lani calls for justice now‘No one, not my local government or the national government, is engaged with the uS Congress on this issue right now.’— Lani Kramer

The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, February 28, 2014 17 THE BRAv filES ‘We were constantly starving on the island.’

SuZANNe CHuTAROThirty-three-year-old Evelyn

Ralpho-Jeadrik was born on Arno Atoll and raised on Ebeye. During the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior evacuation of Rongelap in 1985, Ralpho-Jeadrik was on Rongelap. She was five-years-old.

She doesn’t remember much from that time but what she does remember about growing up is being ridiculed and teased like many of her fellow children from Rongelap.

“We’d be called names like ‘ri-bomb’ (people of the bomb) or ‘ri-paijin’ (poisoned people) or they would just say ‘bokalak’ (ex-plosion),” said Ralpho-Jeadrik. “If we had pets with deformities, they say it’s because we’re ‘ri-bomb’.”

This stigma remains today and now the community of Rongelap is being told by the US that a portion of their atoll is safe and progress has been made to rebuild their community — homes have been built, development projects cre-ated and the US Department of In-terior is insisting the people return.

“I won’t move there,” Ralpho-

Jeadrik told the Journal in an inter-view. “I don’t know if it is safe and I don’t want to put my children at risk. I do not believe it’s safe.

“Well, ask yourself: would you go live in a place that is contami-nated?”

Ralpho-Jeadrik says she has seen many people get sick as a result of living on Rongelap so her answer is a definite “no!”

“I don’t trust what the US gov-ernment says,” she said. “I will be forever fearful. The US told

my mother it was safe and they returned only to be contaminated.”

Ralpho-Jeadrik is the daughter of Lijohn Eknilang who was one of the 82 people on Rongelap and Ailinginae when the 1954 Bravo test at Bikini dumped high-level fallout on them. Eknilang, who died recently, was an outspoken member of the Rongelap com-munity who told the story of the Bravo test to people around the world.

Ralpho-Jeadrik grew up watch-

ing her mother and other elders in the community surviving on a medley of pills they had to take daily to support their thyroid function.

“Taking these pills was her nor-mal daily routine,” said Ralpho-Jeadrik. “Now we learn about Project 4.1. They provided medi-cal treatment to collect data on the bomb effects, not to care for them. Now they want us to return to Rongelap again to live. Are they returning us so that they can do more tests on us and collect data?”

According to Ralpho-Jeadrik, as a child she remembers being col-lected with all the other children of Rongelap to overnight on US medical ships that were operated by Brookhaven National Labora-tory.

“They would put us in white shirts and had us sit in some sort of machine while someone was at a computer monitor,” recalls Ralpho-Jeadrik.

On those trips she says she recalls being given treats of ice cream and chocolate and they would watch movies.

“It was fun and we all felt spe-cial,” she said. “But now, knowing what I know, I feel like a fool — I had no idea what was going on.”

The greatest regret Ralpho-Jeadrik has over the nuclear legacy of her community is the inability to fulfill her mother’s wishes. “My mother always wanted to return to Rongelap,” she said. “But she told us she didn’t want us to go there because she didn’t want to put us at risk. But because she had already been exposed and was older she wasn’t scared to return. She wanted to die on her island and be laid to rest there.”

Lijohn died in 2012 and was buried on Majuro.

“Our wish now is, at the very least, to fulfill the wishes our all our parents’ generation who have passed and that is to take them home to Rongelap and lay them to rest.

“I don’t want anything but jus-tice,” she said. “My mother is gone now. All her life she struggled. To me, the way I see it, because she was one of the originals exposed

‘I will be forever fearful. The uS told my mother it was safe and they returned only to be contaminated.’

— eveyln Ralpho Jeadrik

Fight for next generation

Continued page 18


Youth representatives from communi-ties affected by cold war atomic testing will gather in Majuro later this week to commemorate Nuclear Survivors Day.

March 1 is the 60th anniversary of the “Bravo” thermonuclear explosion, which contaminated islands downwind of the test. The local populations, many of whom suffered prolonged illness from their ex-posure to fallout, were evacuated to other atolls and some have been unable to return home for decades.

Third generation ‘hibakusha’ (nuclear survivor) youth from Hiroshima and Kazakhstan, representing families who directly experienced the effects of atmo-spheric nuclear explosions, will join their Marshallese peers in Majuro.

They will assemble in the Marshall Is-lands to share their histories and explore different types of cultural representation

using digital media and how their commu-nities survived displacement, irradiation, illness and discrimination.

“We hope this is to be the first of several, ongoing digital storytelling workshops developed from our Global Hibakusha project,” said co-convener Associate Professor Mick Broderick of Murdoch University, Australia.

“We plan to expand these in scope and size over successive years.

“While the Japanese hibakusha in Hi-roshima and Nagasaki remain the only people in the world directly attacked with nuclear weapons, the Marshall Islands history, along with the people near the for-mer Soviet test site in Kazakhstan, share similar experiences of cold war nuclear colonialism.

The workshop runs from 28 February to March 2 at RRE.

THE BRAvO filES Human Radiation Experiments report, Japanese host N-workshop

SuZANNe CHuTAROI rene Abon was born on

Rongelap and at the age of seven she was forced to leave her home because of radiation contamination deposited by all six nuclear tests in the 1954 Castle series.

Despite her love for Rongelap, Abon, 35, says she does not have hope of ever being able to safely return.

“My parents moved off the island for our safety, the safety of future generations,” explains Abon. “To return now would be to give up on their fight against the injustice done to our parents’ generation. What if we moved back and children and future generations end up with genetic defects — then what?”

Abon recalls the move from Rongelap in 1985.

“I was on trip number three of the Rainbow Warrior,” said Abon. “I didn’t understand what was going on. They moved us to Mejatto and the memories I have from that time are some of my worst. We were constantly starv-ing on the island — there were no

to radiation fallout and nuclear contami-nation she should have been treated as a queen and be a priority to the US govern-ment.

“I want to fight for justice for what

‘My local government is too busy dealing with business plans and they are losing sight of the bigger issue.’

— Irene Abon

Irene: ‘I’m not giving up’

food crops and the canned foods they provided ran out fast. I was extremely homesick. The whole community was housed under one roof. We struggled on Mejatto for many years.

“I see my generation as a lost generation of Rongelap Marshal-lese,” she said. “There was no food crop on Mejatto so I never had the opportunity to learn traditional skills and how to make Marshal-lese food.”

Today after living on Majuro, Ebeye and Mejatto Abon consid-ers herself a nomad. “I can move anywhere in the world now and I’ll adapt,” she said. But moving her family back to Rongelap is not an option.

“Maybe Rongelap can be like a getaway — I’ll visit it but I don’t believe it is safe to live there,” she said. “The Rongelap community has mixed feelings on resettle-ment.

There are those who say “we’re already contaminated just never mind let’s return, it’s our home.” Some just want to stay on Mejatto but others want to keep fighting for justice, she said.

Abon says she is of the group that wants to keep fighting and is disheartened that her local government is heavily focused on business development plans as op-posed to going to the US Congress and beating down their doors.

“To return to Rongelap is to give up on the fight our parents’ gen-eration sacrificed their lives for,” said Abon. “My local government is too busy dealing with business plans and they are losing sight of the bigger issue — our nuclear legacy. Those of the first genera-tion that were affected are few now and their issues are being ignored by our leaders.”

For a population that was un-willing participants in the nuclear arms race, the people of Rongelap have paid been forced to pay with their lives.

According to Abon, Rongelap people receive nuclear compen-sation quarterly that amounts to $75 per quarter per person ($25 a month per person).

“This amount decreases regular-ly nowadays,” she said. “Having the Nuclear Claims Tribunal was good but there is no money there.”

Meanwhile “the originals” who were directly exposed to Bravo in 1954 receive an addition $500 quarterly for food. She believes it is far from adequate compensation for the suffering islanders have experienced.

‘Maybe Rongelap can be like a getaway — I’ll visit it but I don’t believe it is safe to live there. The Rongelap people have mixed feelings on resettlement.’

happened to my mother’s generation and for future generations. Though I may not reach the end of this fight, I hope the fu-ture generation will continue to fight for justice. (The US) took our lives so they should care for us forever.”

From page 17

‘I want to fight for justice’

Young N-survivors gather in Majuro


from holding other shipping-related employment, espe-cially as pilots. I do not know how pilotage is structured in the RMI but I assume steps have been taken to avoid these types of conflicts.

In most areas of the world members of these orga-nizations of pilots are subject to strict qualifications and examination by their state and national maritime safety authorities.

They must possess certificates of competency (gener-ally Class 1 Unlimited Master) and meet other rigorous standards such as medical fitness (especially eyesight), STCW requirements, navigation knowledge and bridge resource management. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2003 adopted Resolution A960(23) on “Training, Qualifications and Operational Procedures for Maritime Pilots other than Deep Sea Pilots” as a measure to standardize pilotage activities and requirements among its member states. Because it is not an amendment to a Convention, this Resolution serves as a recommendation only and consequently does not have legal force.

Problems arise in settling damages if the ship’s P&I club (insurance) discovers that the pilot has not been duly examined and properly licensed by the relevant maritime authority (in the RMI this would be the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and not Ports Authority, which is not a marine safety or enforcement agency) or has otherwise been found to be technically incompetent and/or medically unfit. Cover-age may be denied to the vessel owners in this instance and they would have to cover damages themselves.

If P&I cover is cancelled or suspended when the ship has that particular pilot or another member of the association aboard, the ship owner may decline a charterer’s instructions to proceed to that particular port. Or, because owners are required to maintain cover under the terms of a charter party the charterer may then repudiate the contract if the owner cannot meet the terms. It can be a very vicious circle.

I thought this might be good stories to share with your readers especially on value added tax (VAT) movement in the Pacific and our views on the Mayors Association consideration of an absolute rejection of the RMI government’s tax reform bills.

First, on the region level: Kiribati is making progress with tax reform in imple-menting a new computer system to help with the administration of VAT. The Kiribati Parliament passed VAT legislation in Decem-ber 2013 and it is due to come into effect for the first time on April 1, 2014. Kiribati also passed a new Excise Tax Act and a new Revenue Administration Act, which both start on the same day. These are new tax laws and are almost identi-cal to the corresponding tax reform bills we currently have before the Nitijela.

In the same footsteps as Kiribati, Palau is looking seriously to implement the VAT or consumption tax. The expectation, according to our International Mon-etary Fund PFTAC col-leagues, is that Palau will

most likely enact its VAT legislation this April with an implementation date 12 months later in April 2015. Even though RMI started the reform process earlier than Kiribati and Palau it would seem we take “one step forward two steps back-ward.” For all intents and purposes, the tax reform ought to be debated at the highest level of our govern-ing structure, and if it is the decision or judgment of our elected leaders to enact, de-fer or defeat the bills, then that will be the decision we all will need to respect and live with.

I wish to emphasize that it is the intention and foresight of the RMI government through its proposed tax reform policies to modern-ize and simplify our tax system to benefit RMI citi-zens and the private sector. Same as with 14 out of 18 Pacific island countries that are currently using or in the process of implementing the same tax structure RMI is now considering. The RMI’s proposed 10 percent consumption tax rate is quite low in comparison to most other countries in the region. Moreover, the 10 percent rate was the con-sensus reached by the Tax and Revenue Reform and Modernization (TRAM) members representing both the interests of the private and public sectors.

Well performing countries in the region (Fiji, Samoa,

Tonga and Vanuatu, Cook Islands) in terms of imple-menting and administering tax regime have undergone in recent years the same modernization and reform efforts RMI is currently undertaking.

As for our local govern-ments, the only impact or change will be in the way tax is collected. If enacted, ex-isting local government tax collections on sales tax, ho-tel fees and existing excise taxes will be consolidated into the proposed national consumption and excise taxes — tax collection and payment processes are sim-plified and comparable taxes at the national and local levels are harmonized. All other local government fees, business regulations and ordinances associated with Finance will still remain with the local governments. In other words, the National Government or if enacted by the Parliament, the new Marshall Islands Customs and Revenue Authority (MI-CRA) collects the consump-tion and excise taxes and then remits to the Local governments their fair share of revenues.

In this connection, the statement in the article that the new tax legislations will “take the ability of the local governments to generate income from sales tax” is incorrect and inaccurate. Fact is, the income from sales tax collected by a centralized authority and re-

mitted to local governments (through a Revenue Sharing Agreement between the two governments) will likely be higher or at least remain in the same budgetary level. As such, it is a winning proposi-tion for local governments because instead of expend-ing or exerting additional efforts (or costs) to collect taxes, the function, task and responsibility of collecting taxes becomes concentrated and administered by a cen-tralized authority.

Under the current design, the new tax collection au-thority will be independent of the National Govern-ment with its own governing board of directors (including the Mayors of Majuro and Kwajalein), tax revenues to be collected will be dis-bursed on a monthly basis into both treasuries of the National and local gov-ernments, and finally, the upgraded and modernized administrative, transpar-ency and accountability mechanisms built into the new system will give RMI taxpayers absolute confi-dence on the enforcement, compliance and collection of taxes.

Obviously, given the size of our country and waves of challenges looming in the coming years, now is the best and prime time to simplify and unify our tax system thus eliminating duplication of efforts but more so enabling our local governments to focus and provide essential services to their respective com-munities.

In looking ahead and be-yond 2023, the RMI Rev-enue Tax and Customs Of-fice (Ministry of Finance) yields to the wisdom of our National Government that modernizing and simplify-ing our tax and customs arrangements is the best policy to adopt for our small country. Frankly, aside from foreign grant assistance, revenue potentials from our developing fisheries and ship registry programs, we do not have many choices to sustain the country’s rev-enue stream.

OpiNiON pAgE Send letters to pO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960 or email [email protected]

From page 14

Certificates a must for pilots

RMI following example of regional tax systems

By Bruce Bilimon, Assistant Secretary, Customs, Treasury, Revenue and Taxation, Ministry of Finance


Xavier High School in the Federated States of Mi-cronesia has established a formal partnership with Sophia University in To-kyo, Japan. The partnership, which will be formalized in a ceremony at Sophia Uni-versity on April 3 provides for a qualified Xavier High School graduate to attend the noted Jesuit university on a full scholarship each academic year.

The unique partnership, the first of its kind for So-phia University in Oceania, is supported by the Tokyo-based Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC), which, together with Sofia, will fund each Xavier High School students’ four-year program of studies at the Japa-nese university in commemoration of APIC founder Nobuhiko Ushiba, the former State Minister and former Japanese Ambassador to the USA. APIC is now headed by Peter Yoshiyasu Sato, former Japanese Ambas-sador to China.

“The entire Xavier High School com-munity is thrilled with our relationship with Sophia University. Having the opportunity to send one of our best students, each year, to this outstanding Jesuit university will open new opportunities for our graduates, and for their home nations,” said Fr. Rich McAuliff, SJ, the director of Xavier High School. Fr. McAuliff will travel to Tokyo in early April

Elmakwot in kakien nan ukot RMI income tax law eo, emoj an jede imaan Nitijela jen ippen Finance Minister Dennis Momotaro.

Elmakwot in, Bill 56, enaaj jolok aolep income tax eowoj nan armij ro im jonan wonaer ekij $4,160 ak driklok, ilo juon year, im kakobaik juon eowoj kaal kin 16 bojjan nan aolep ro im wonaer elle ilon in $20,800, ekoba nan binej lok ettel ko im rej kio kotlok bwe jikin jerbal ko kab ri jerbal ro ren jab kolla income tax, jen kolla ko jet einwot allowance ko, kab kolla ko jen jikin ko jet.

Elmakwot in nan komman oktak, ej ka-

likare bwe allowance ko kab kolla ko jen in-kind, rej drelon einwot wonen ri jerbal nan un ko rejelet kolla eowoj. Enbwinnin kakien in, elane enaaj weppen, eban jolok jekjek ko jet kio ikijien jab kolla eowoj, botaap ejamin bar wor kon in jerbal kaal ko renaaj melim elkin wot an naaj elle kakien kaal jab in. Kojebwebweik income tax enaaj bed iumin juon Marshall Islands Customs and Revenue Administration kaal.

Oktak kein ikijien income tax rej mottan wot jet bill ko im rej kio ejerwawa wot ippen Nitijela nan ukot aolepen tax system eo ilo Aelon Kein.

to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Sophia University’s President Prof. Takashi Hayashita and APIC President Sato. “I want to thank, in particular, former Ambassador Peter Sato and former Japan Ambassador to the FSM Shoji Sato, and the Association For Promotion of International Coopera-tion, who were instrumental in establishing our partner-ship with Sophia Univer-sity,” Fr. McAuliff added.

Sophia University has ac-tively pursued academic and

student exchange activities with over 180 partner schools and other academic institu-tions in 40 countries around the world. Also, Sophia has entered into memorandums of understanding with local high schools in Indonesia, China and Korea, establishing an “overseas affiliated schools” system to accept international students and build a solid relationship with countries of the Asia-Pacific region. Xavier High School will be part of Sophia’s “overseas affiliated schools” system.

The Society of Jesus established Sophia University in 1913. Since then, the univer-sity has grown to one of Japan’s premier universities. It conducts classes in Japanese and English. Sophia University has ap-proximately 11,500 undergraduates, 1,200 graduate students and nearly 300 students are from nations other than Japan.

Xavier teams up with Japan school

Bill 56 nan ukot income tax

Father. Rich McAuliff, SJ.

Five Marshallese are in this 2012 Xavier graduation

photo. Father Rich McAuliff, SJ, is at center.

Crossword puzzlers in the RMI are getting smarter. Five individuals and teams submit-ted completed crosswords this week and five won. Wow! That’s pretty great.

It’s given the editor the idea that he needs to find a new chief riddler — or perhaps the chief assistant needs an assistant chief. But we’re getting distracted with the main point of this story which is the successful

crossword puzzle people.Getting an A+ this week are: Becky

Lathrop, Dyna Reimers, Herman Lee-Enos, Helbe Namna and the team of Neri Wase and Sharla deBrum.

All of these names are being tossed into the hat for next week’s drawing to see who will win the March pizza from the famous and world-renown Flame Tree.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in conjunction with the College of Marshall Islands and Ministry of Health held a blood drive earlier in February. It was the first of many that are expected for the year for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

The blood drive collected 13 pints of blood, with CMI Dean Ruth Abbott being the first to donate. Following her was the Imam of Uliga Mosque, Imam Kauser. Both had donated blood in previous drives, and were very happy to give back to the community.

“Giving blood is a way to give back to the community and it helps save lives,” said Imam Ahmad, Missionary and Imam

of Uliga Mosque. “And according to the Islamic teachings, saving one life is as if you have saved the whole of humanity. So, us Muslims are always looking for a way to continue to help humanity and we are here for their service.”

Imam Kauser observed: “Local people are not used to going to donating blood.

“However, holding these kinds of events gives a chance for the locals to open up and see that, this is actually for a good cause. We are looking forward to increase the participation in these kinds of commu-nity events, so that more and more people become aware of the benefits of giving blood.”

Drive results in 13 pints of blood

Stardom for Wisdom


Despite a major cutback by the Australian govern-ment to its overseas aid program, the Australian Embassy in Pohnpei said the reductions will have “minimal” impact in the RMI, FSM and Palau — though whether a major Ebeye water improvement project will gain funding for implementation next year remains a question mark.

“We have identified sav-ings which will cause mini-mal disruption to the overall effectiveness of our aid delivery,” said the Austra-lian Embassy in response to questions from the Journal.

“Overall savings totals AUD550,000 (US$496,000) across the North Pacific. We are pleased to report that in the North Pacific aid pro-gram for this financial year expected impacts are likely to be minimal in terms of financial commitment and importantly development outcomes.” Australian officials are still discussing the areas for the reductions with the three governments. Overall, Australia is providing up to $17.4 mil-lion in official development assistance this fiscal year for sustainable eco-nomic development, the Embassy said.

Australia, through the Asian De-velopment Bank, is currently funding the design phase for the Ebeye Water Supply and Sanitation program. The Australian Embassy said funds for the design phase have already been transferred to ADB so changes in the

Australian officials highlighted the effectiveness of an energy technical advisor provided to RMI.

“The work of Australian energy advisor, Nick Wardrop, in col-laboration with the government of RMI led to savings of ap-proximately U$4 million through reforms in the petroleum sector,” the Australian Embassy said. “This is a significant saving to the government of RMI, and in January 2014 Marshalls Energy Company (MEC) announced a $3.2 million profit.”

The Embassy said “the sustain-ability of our investments is a top priority.”

The savings and profit will enable the government of RMI “to implement further reforms allowing long term improvements in service delivery,” the Embassy said. The Australian government is “focused on effectiveness and the rigorous administration of the aid program to achieve results,” the Embassy said. “The govern-ment’s policy is to more closely align aid, trade and diplomacy and to focus on the Asia-Pacific/Indian Ocean region.”

Jirilok eo ikijien waan kaan eo im ear driboje wa eo waan RMI, MV Kwajalein ilo oop en Delap, ekom-man bwe en wonlontak juon unin kenono kin an won eddo eo nan kol-laiki jorrean jab in.

Wa in ilo tore eo ear bed iumin ke-jebarok eo an juon iaan port pilot ro.

Kakien ko an RMI rej kemlet bwe juon wa eo im ej mwelik mweear jen Port Majuro ej aikuij kejerbale port pilot ro.

Jen tore eo ear jino kakien in, elle lok jen 10 year ko remotlok, innem jekjek in ekomman bwe en kanuij in lap wonen pilot ro ewor aer lijen, ekoba jaan nan Marshall Islands Ports Authority eo bareinwot.

Enin ej kajjitok eo kin won eo enaaj kollaik wonen jorrean eo ewalok: Keidri nan year ko lok, enanin aolepen pilot ro rej kio private contractor, im rejjab jerbal nan Ports Authority, elane kenono kin 40 awa

aid program will not affect ongoing design phase of this project. While implementation of the program re-mains a priority for Australia’s North Pacific Aid program, funding to imple-ment the Ebeye water and sanitation improvement depends on:

• Outcomes and recommendations of the design phase.

• The ongoing commitment of the RMI government to a reform agenda to improve service delivery.

• Future Australian Aid budget al-locations.

Aussie aid cutback won’t impact on RMI

juon wiik. Innem elane juon wa ej bed iumin

kejebarok eo aer enaaj jirilok im driboj bar juon wa, ak er ion wod, ak walok juon bar kain jorrean nane im jujen jorrean wa eo makmake im armij ro ion, innem enaaj an won eddo eo nan kollaiki wonen jorrean ko?

Company eo im waan tima eo enaaj ba, “tima eo ej jerakrok kin wonake eo an juon port pilot, innem jekdron ta eo enaaj walok, eban am eddo. Ej an pilot eo eddo.”

Ak ilo ien eo pilot enaaj ba ej jerbal nan RMI Ports Authority, ak

Ports Authority eba ej an pilot eo eddo.

Juon men emool ej bwe port pilot ro ebwe an lap jonan jaan eo rej loe jen aer katartar im mweliki jibuki jima wa im rej mwelik mweear ilo Port Majuro. Botap ewor ke aer maron kolla wonen jorrean ikijien jortokliki jirilok ko rej walok jen maan peier?

Menin ej aikuij in alikkar jen RMI Ports Authority kinke eddo eo im won ej bok eddo in kollaiki ren alikkar, elane eddo nan kollaiki ebed ippen pilot ro, innem emoj aer jela kadede.

Won eo ej eddoik wa ko

Energy advisor a big bonus

ebeye residents haul water in jugs.

‘We have identified savings which will cause minimal disruption to

the overall effectiveness of our aid delivery.’


DiviNg

RADiO

cONSTRUcTiON

pRiNTiNg

BUSiNESS DiREcTORy

Bank of Guam hosted an all-day brief-ing at its Hagatna, Guam headquarters for President Christopher Loeak and the other Presidents of the Freely Associated States last Wednesday. The briefing emphasized banking, community relationships and future opportunities.

Among issues discussed were building relationships, banking opportunities, regional economic outlook, remittance and foreign de-posits and FDIC insurance, financial products and services, investment strategies and trust

services, and financial growth, said Presi-dent’s Chief of Staff Chris deBrum. President Loeak, Foreign Minister Phillip Muller, and their delegation arrived Guam from Japan on Tuesday last week. On Thursday they flew to Honolulu, and we expected to return to Majuro earlier this week. President’s office officials also confirmed that Bank of Guam briefed them about a change affecting wire transfers from the freely associated states, a service that is being halted in response to new US banking regulations.

Pictured at the Bank of Guam briefing, from left: Anthony Babauta, Former

Assistant Secretary of the united States

Department of Interior; President emanuel (Manny) Mori, Federated

States of Micronesia; Lou Leon Guerrero,

Bank of Guam President, Board Chair and Chief

Executive Officer; Lorin Robert,

Secretary of Foreign Affairs, FSM; eddie

Calvo, Governor of Guam; Phillip Muller, Foreign

Minister, Republic of the Marshall Islands;

President Christopher Loeak,

RMI; Delegate Swenny Ongidobel,

Chairman of the Banking and

Financial Matters, House of Delegates, Republic of Palau; President Tommy e. Remengesau,

Republic of Palau; and Senator Philip Reklai, Senate vice President, Republic

of Palau.

New legislation to revamp the RMI’s income tax law has been introduced to Nitijela by Finance Minister Dennis Momotaro.

The proposed amendment, Bill 56, would eliminate all income tax for people earning $4,160 or less, adds a new tax of 16 percent on income above $20,800, and closes loopholes that currently allow employers and employees to avoid income tax through provision of allowances and other pay-ment systems.

The proposed amendment makes it

Income tax law bill introduced

Presidents meet at bank briefing

clear that allowances and benefits-in-kind are included in wages and salaries for the purposes of paying taxes. The legislation, if adopted, will not elimi-nate currently existing tax exemptions, but no new contracts of exemption will be allowed once the bill becomes law.

Administration of income tax will come under a new Marshall Islands Customs and Revenue Administration.

The income tax amendment is part of a series of bills pending with Nitijela to change the entire tax system in the Marshall Islands.

Wage $ % tax• 0-4,160 ..............0%• 4,161-10,400 .....8% of excess over 4,160• 10,401-20,800 ...12% of excess over 10,400• 20,801+ .............16% of excess over 20,800

Proposed new income tax

Watch out for bad $100 billsBeware, counterfeit money is floating around Majuro. Last week, a Do It Best cashier was given the $100 bill that is shown in these photos. Although it appears to be a fairly obvious fake, counterfeit bills often are accepted by cashiers.


gAS STATiON

cOMpUTER REpAiRS

RETAil

EDUcATiON

BEAUTiciANBUSiNESS DiREcTORy

gIFF JOHNSONWe should all be so lucky as the Par-

ties to the Nauru Agreement to have problems like this — what to do with $93 million. How to distribute this pot of money resulting from last year’s successful conclusion of negotiations with the US government and its tuna industry is just one of several pivotal decisions facing the PNA when island fisheries officials meet in Honiara March 5-14.

Over the past four years, PNA has forced a paradigm shift in the com-mercial fishing industry in the region, giving islands the greatest control they’ve ever enjoyed over the $7 billion business. By requiring foreign fishing companies to adhere to a “vessel day scheme” (VDS) and setting a minimum fishing day fee — now at $6,000 — while setting limits on days, PNA has more than tripled revenue accruing to its eight member nations. The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority and the RMI government has been the beneficiary of this windfall in fisheries revenue.

But success has its downside. The challenging issues before PNA “re-flects the success of PNA members,” says PNA CEO Dr. Transform Aqorau, who is based at the organization’s Majuro headquarters. The solidarity of the eight nations — Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Palau, Federated States of Microne-sia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu — has been the key ingredient to PNA’s early success. In addition to the tripling of revenues, PNA at the end of 2013 began successfully marketing internationally certified sustainably caught skipjack in Europe, generating a premium price for the product. More distant water fishing fleets are flagging domestically and more fish processing facilities than ever before are operat-ing in the islands, offering significant employment opportunities.

Still, cracks in PNA unity were evident in 2012, when Kiribati kept selling fishing days to foreign fishing fleets over its agreed-to limit instead trading with other PNA countries for unused days. This resulted in a modest reprimand at PNA’s annual meeting last year and a promise by Kiribati not to do it again. The year just past saw different interpretations of non-fishing days, which has turned into a promi-nent loophole in PNA’s VDS.

Pressure on the region for fishing days will only increase as the European Union has joined the lineup of foreign fishing fleets beating a path to the lucra-tive fishing zones of the PNA. “What we do as a group is contingent on what we do individually,” said Marshall

PNA faces tough decisions in Honiara

Islands fisheries Director Glen Joseph in the lead up to the March meeting.

In Honiara, PNA officials will at-tempt to resolve these issues:

• Distribution of US$93 million from the US fisheries treaty. Key to this is deciding which countries will provide days for the 8,000 promised under the new treaty. In part because the US treaty includes provisions for 15 percent of the funding to be distributed equally among all Forum Fisheries Agency members as well as a percent-age for administration costs, the actual per day rate of US payments to islands in whose waters tuna is caught will be below the new US$6,000 daily bench-mark fee, making it less attractive for PNA members to offer days.

“We have to decide once and for all where we get the days (for the US fleet),” said Joseph.

“We have an agreement with the US we need to honor. We have to come up with an internal agreement in order to move forward.”

• Defining non-fishing days: Differ-ing definitions of non-fishing days is causing “leakage” in the VDS that is intended to cap fishing days to create scarcity and maintain the price. Aqorau said allowance for non-fishing days need to be tightened so it is not abused by distant water fishing nations. The terms “transit” and “non-fishing days” need to be standardized, said Joseph. “How we are using days is creating loopholes,” he said. “It needs to be defined once and for all and enforced.”

• Domestic fisheries development: PNA members are benefiting by foreign vessels gaining domestic designation by accessing licenses through the FSM Arrangement, which allows vessels to fish multiple exclusive economic zones on a single license. The number of foreign vessels seeking licenses under the FSM Arrangement jumped last year, and Joseph worries that it is being used as a vehicle for cheap licenses at the expense of domestic fleet development and access to the region. “We need to address it with our domestic interests at the forefront,” said Joseph. The islands want to attract distant water fishing nation partners but “our domestic in-dustry needs to be developed by us, not dictated by others,” he said.

Synchronizing fishing rules at the national level with those at the regional level is crucial to ongoing success of PNA, said Joseph.

One key issue that doesn’t fit easily into a bullet point issue for resolution is the hurdle that fisheries access agree-ments between islands and distant wa-ter fishing nations pose to PNA nations maximizing the value of a fishing day. As conceived, the VDS aims to create a sellers market, allowing PNA members to auction their days to the highest bid-ders. But bilateral agreements — where fisheries and foreign ministry officials from Asian or other nations come to town every year or two to negotiate deals with their island counterparts — has been a mainstay of Pacific fisheries for more than a generation. Aqorau is encouraging fisheries officials to move away from bilateral fisheries access negotiations to selling days through the VDS, allowing the market to dictate the price — which he believes will punch the price well above the current $,6000 a day benchmark.

The question is how many of these critical issues can PNA solve in Honia-ra. Maintaining unity will, no doubt, be a continuing challenge but also the key to PNA’s ability to drive the industry as it has the past four years.

Marshall Islands fisheries Director

Glen Joseph.

‘Pressure on the region for fishing

days will only increase as the

european Union has joined the

lineup of foreign fishing fleets

beating a path to the lucrative fishing zones of

the PNa’


A two-page report show-ing income and spending for the Pacific Islands Forum was submitted to Nitijela earlier last month by Foreign Minister Phillip Muller.

Since the last session of Nitijela, senators have been requesting a report on this ac-count, which was set up outside of normal Ministry of Finance accounting system.

In a brief cover letter to Speaker Donald Capelle, Muller said: “The works related to the Forum were quite extensive and so many activities were in-volved, however, for your ease of reference the following table should give you the picture of what transpired.”

The table referred to re-ports that the RMI govern-ment received $2,108,870.99 for the Forum while spending $2,167,631.40. This left a deficit of $58,760.41 (the report lists the deficit as “$58,000”). It also notes the Forum account is wait-ing on $100,000 from Marshall Islands Development Bank and the ROC. The two-page report offers line-item amounts for the spending, but no detail.

For example, under the head-ing “contractuals services,” the Forum account is said to have spent $638,573.50. It lists “vehicle” spending at $363,409.60. Meanwhile, “mis-cellaneous expenses” are listed as $118,407.56. There is no breakdown of these and other spending items.

Marshall Islands Auditor General Junior Patrick told the Nitijela in his 60th semi-annual report submitted earlier this month that auditors are in the “planning phase” for a financial and compliance audit of the Forum account.

Income Account Amount4070 Miscellaneous Other ......................... 4,442.584055 United Arab Emirates (UAE) ......... 59,940.004005 Local Contributions ........................ 73,450.004010 Kazakstan Contributions ................ 99,785.704075 MOFA ............................................. 25,000.004060 Turkey Contributions .................... 100,000.004040 Russia Contribution ...................... 125,000.004000 RMI Finance ................................. 300,000.004035 India Contribution ........................ 162,833.104030 New Zealand Contribution ........... 164,014.614045 Japan Contribution........................ 179,175.004065 China Contributions...................... 200,000.004025 Australian Contributions .............. 207,700.004050 ROC Contributions ....................... 407,530.00Total Income ............................................2,108,870.99expense5035 Bank Service Charges BOG ................ 338.605065 Tax Payable Exp. ................................. 753.935100 Charter Boat...................................... 1,850.005050 Communications ............................... 1,424.955030 Auto Rental Expense ...................... 14,066.806001 Vehicle Repair & Maintenance ......... 5,611.255055 Per Diem ........................................... 7,230.006015 SPCL Contractor Workers .............. 17,733.615080 Insurance Expense .......................... 13,584.595095 Handicrafts ..................................... 28,122.506010 Uniforms/Materials......................... 19,933.395000 Travel Domestic ............................. 23,316.005005 Travel International ........................ 24,850.935070 Miscellaneous Expenses ............... 118,407.565015 Fuel ................................................. 72,295.835020 Supplies .......................................... 66,884.305045 Rental Hotel/Housing ..................... 65,923.165085 Repair & Maintenance .................... 96,354.165025 Food .............................................. 128,386.736005 Transfer Out .................................. 159,323.385060 Equipments ................................... 299,256.636000 Vehicle .......................................... 363,409.605010 Contractuals Services ................... 638,573.50Total ..........................................................2,167,631.40Balance ..................................................... (58,760.41)

There was a fighting atmosphere between these Batkan boys when the Journal arrived at the scene. Bojack Timothy’s (pictured left) rooster Lo-kotubtub (challenger) went against Oliver Timothy’s domestic fowl La-lej (Brave). The match was a tough one to call. Photo: Isaac Marty.

Two boys with their birds

Muller presents Forum report

Who gave us $$ for the Forum


LAST WEEK’S AnSWEr

SU

DO

KU

Students from Marshall Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Palau, FSM, and the Northern Marianas were in Washington, DC for five days this past week to join in the Junior State of America’s 23rd annual Winter Congress Convention.

The two-day simulation of the US Congress allowed students to meet as members of a simulated US House of Representatives and US Senate.

The program is part of a special scholarship offered by the Junior Statesmen Foundation and funded by the US department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs.

Students were selected following an essay contest that required a 500-to-700 essay on the topic, “What are the major issues facing the second session of the 113th US Congress.” As part of the program, students involved in the mock US Congress were given the opportunity to submit legislation. In addition to the 12 students from US affiliated islands in the Pacific, five joined from the US Virgin Islands to combine with over 1,200 students from the US. In addition to the Winter Congress Convention, the students visited Washing-ton landmarks including the White House and the US capitol as well as meeting with officials at various US federal government departments.

The two RMI representatives were Drago Dujmovic and Caleb Joseph, both from Majuro Baptist Christian Academy.

Majuro Co-op high school students were at it again. “This time we waited to the week after Valentine’s Day to visit the hospital,” said teacher David

Appelbaum. “We figured that people always get attention on Valentine’s

Day, but then are neglected the week after. The students donated $1 each and we distributed

colorful baskets of apples, oranges and

toothbrushes. This time the mission was called “Obvious

Cupid” — because it was not “Secret Cupid.”

Photos: Cathrine Cheng

The United World College Na-tional Selections Committee in the RMI held its 3rd Selections Day at USP on Friday.

Nine shortlisted candidates spent the day interviewing, play-ing educational games and mak-ing friends.

In the end, only two scholar-ships could be awarded — one went to Eve Burns of Laura High School who will attend Lester B. Pearson UWC in Victoria, Cana-da and the other to Selina Leem of Marshall Islands High School who will attend the Robert Borsch UWC in Freiberg, Germany.

In 2012, Kami Mackphie of Northern Islands High School was awarded the first UWC Scholarship to attend Lester B. Pearson in Canada and in 2013, Sage deBrum of Majuro Coop School was awarded the scholar-

Coop Kids give CuPid a breAk

Eve and Selina UWC

ship to Armand Hammer UWC in New Mexico.

Each scholarship is worth about $80,000. UWC Schools offer the International Baccalau-reate high school program as well as creating an environment of peace, intercultural understand-ing and leadership.

The United World College national

Selections Committee

with this year’s candidates.

Photo: Tamara Greenstone

Alefaio.

Regional group visits US capital

Participants in the Junior State of America’s 23rd annual Winter

Congress Convention.


A brief correction to Dean Jacobson’s letter to the editor in last week’s edition was provided by CMI instructor Karl Fellenius:

“Dean’s environmental science class is now being taught by Mike Trevor, who was already teaching one section and now has two. Dean’s introduction to marine science class is being team-taught by three people at MIMRA — Candice Guavis, Melba White, and Benedict Yamamura. Karl Fellenius is jumping in as needed to assist with lectures and labs, and Don Hess is doing the overall coordination of the joint effort as well as assisting on some labs. All of whom are Dean’s friends.”

Mike adds a college class

Mike Trevor

Among the myriad problems facing Air Marshall Islands as it attempts to stabilize its outer islands service is the poor condition of many outer island runways.

“Fixing airport in the outer islands needs to be a top priority for the government,” AMI General Manager Jefferson Barton said last week. “The runways are like a terrorist (to our planes). Rocks, mud, dirt and coral hit the planes when they land.”

It is not necessary to pave runways, but at minimum they need to be scraped and compacted, he said. “The government can do this at minimal cost and it will save everyone millions of dollars in damages,” Barton said. “Fixing the runways will reduce by 90 percent the damage and breakdown of the planes.”

Everyone is frustrated over the repeated down time of the planes, he said. “A lot of things are intertwined that make air service a challenge,” he said.

AMI pilots do a great job in dealing with runways that have holes, large bushes nearby, and high grass. “Our guys know how to fly,” he said. “They are the best of the best. But the airports are so bad.”

Barton would like to see the government begin working on one outer atoll runway at a time. “It will only take about two weeks

to fix one runway,” he said. “In half a year, all the airport will be in order.”

While the Dornier, which is the workhorse plane for all the smaller runways, has been grounded repeatedly in recent months with a variety of problems, the Dash-8 has not been immune to these problems. Despite its recent $4 million fix during a major over-haul in Australia last year, “we’re already experiencing similar problems with the Dash,” he said.

AMI has no choice but to fly to these outer islands because it has to provide the service and generate revenue, but the cost of doing it hurts the airline and the government, which has to assist the airline to pay for spare parts. “We need drastic action for the success of the airline,” he added. “Then we will have a more reliable service and public confidence will improve.”

The government airline simply can’t keep functioning in this environment, he said. “It’s a burden on AMI,” he added. “More than once a month, we have an ‘aircraft on the ground,’ which shouldn’t be happening more than once in six months.

The government needs to fix the airports so AMI can concentrate on providing ser-vice. Instead, we’re busy trying to fix our aircrafts.”

Runways the big problem for AMI

My name is Greg Michael Lederer. I live in Northern California. I was born in Ebeye, Marshall Islands. I was adopted and I’m trying to reach out to my birth parents John Erakdrik and Neibed Lautej. They were the age of 34 and 33 when I was born December 2, 1987 and I had

eight siblings. I know the sibling before me was born August, 26 1986. If you know of a way I can reach them please let me know.

I would like to thank them for the life they have given me. My email is: [email protected].

Greg’s search for parents

The Dash-8 in Jaluit.


ISaaC MaRtYRMI national archive im mu-

seum Alele, ewor juon an director kaal ilo unjen jila eo. Amenta Mat-thew Tibon, former Utirik Senator, ej monono in jerbal ilo Alele. Kora in ear jinoe jen January 16 raan eo.

Ilo tore in, ewor wot an emen ri jerbal. Kora in ej bok eddo eo jen kar Bonny Taggart, eo im ear jerbal enwot interim director eo. Tibon ear ba bwe jibarbar ko an renaaj nan wonmanlok wot kin jibarbar im kottobar ko an Alele eo, einwot kokmanmanelok imoko ekoba jer-bal ko. “Elap ao kamolol Bonny, Secretary Daisy Alik-Momotaro, Minister Wilbur Heine, Alele board eo, kab ro jet im raar maron jiban im lelok ijoko kunaer nan kejebarok wot Alele eo, eo im ej ijo in ej kokni manit im bwebwenato ko ad. Elap an utiej buruwo nan jerbal im kwalok nan armij kin manit in ad,” Tibon ear ba.

“Ilo Education Week eo, ear kanuij lon ri jikuul ro raar lotok museum eo, innem menin ear ma-ron letok jet melele nan na, bwe in komman jikin an aijri ro maron aluje im ekatok jen ien ko rej lotok.” Ilo torein, museum eo ebed ilo ground floor eo, elkin aer kar kemakiti jen ijo jikin ilo kar jinoin, ilo second floor, itok wot jen an kar ettel eon mweo. Tibon ear ba bwe

Amenta ebok eddron Alele

ettel ko emoj aer kommani kio, im room eo rej aikuij kokaale lowan, im ej wonmanlok wot im kabbok jaan nan kokmanmane.

Museum eo raar drore ilo ground floor eo, jen kelet an Alele board of trustees eo. Menin ebareinwot komman bwe en bidodo an armij

drelone, elaptata nan ro im eaban aer maron jikin uwe lonlok.

Alele eo ej bellok nan public, im ebareinwot wor juon jikin basic computer training program ie, im ebellok nan aolep ro reitok limo ie. Ro rej bok kunaer rej kejenolok ruo ien ko, juon ilo jibbon, im juon

ilo elkin raelep, enaaj wor juon aer kilaaj in ekatok kin kilen kejerbal computer. Alele ej bareinwot wor an kon ilo Retiree’ Center en, (iturin Alele) im rej kommane ejja computer brokraam kein wot nan ritto ro, im jaan nan kommane ej etal jen Institute of Museum im

Library Services eo. Tibon ear ba bwe Alele ij jibarbar nan kelaplok kelwetak eo kin manit im kapeel ko ad ilo ien ko ewor brokraam an public, im kio elap aer jino bebojakjak nan Lutok Kobban Alele (raan eo an manit) ilo naaj September in.

Director kaal eo an Alele Amenta Matthew Tibon.

‘Ilo education Week eo, ear kanuij lon ri jikuul

ro raar lotok museum eo, innem menin ear maron letok jet melele nan na, bwe in komman jikin

an aijri ro maron aluje im ekatok jen ien ko rej

lotok.’ – amenta Matthew tibon.

Museum eo eppelok non am alwoj kiio


The criminal trial of Cata-lina Chee on charges that she was part of a conspiracy to de-fraud the Ministry of Health in 2009 wrapped up Tuesday this week.

Chief Justice Carl Ingram did not issue a ruling from the bench, saying he would take the case under advise-ment and issue a ruling in due course.

The trial before Ingram wrapped up with closing ar-guments by Acting Attorney General Jack Jorbon and defense attorney John Masek.

On September 9, 2009, Chee knowingly and willingly conspired against the RMI government when she prepared two fake purchase requisitions to obtain RMI pay-ments for non-existent services, said Jorbon. The prosecutor emphasized the evidence he had presented during the trial. According to testimony by Candy Leon, Chee was fully aware of the fake documents she prepared, Jorbon told the Chief Justice. Chee took fake purchase requisitions to co-conspirator Steve Samuel at Procurement and Supply, Jorbon said, adding that Chee received her end of the bargain in the form of a cash

payment after RMI checks were cashed.

Defense attorney Masek challenged the “evidence.” Masek said the alleged con-spirators “invented a role” to get Chee involved. Chee was asked to print out fake PRs from a computer that conspirator Danny Andrike could’ve easily done in two minutes.

“The real criminal here is Candy Leon,” Masek said. “Candy Leon got away with her crime. How did she get away with thousands of RMI’s money? The gov-ernment gave her the sweet deal. All Candy Leon had

to do to elude jail time is to come up with a name and she came up with my client.”

While Jorbon contends that Chee was part of ring of conspirators who included Danny Andrike, Candy Leon, Steve Samuel and Nella Nashion, Masek countered that the prosecution had offered “mismatched conflicting evidence” from the main gover-ment witnesses telling different versions while under oath.

“I ask that the court dismiss the case,” Masek concluded.

Jack Jorbon

Chee trial over, CJ to make ruling


KAReN eARNSHAWFour historic Marshallese jaki-

ed have been discovered in the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, San Fran-cisco. Three date from a century ago, while the fourth was made by weaver Matlina Swain of Namdrik in 1977.

The discoveries were made by long-time friend of the Marshalls Caroline Yacoe, who often trav-els from her home in Hawaii to attend the annual exhibition and auction of jaki-ed at the Marshall Islands Resort. She was recently in San Francisco and heard from a colleague that the Academy had some Marshallese mats. She sub-sequently met with the Academy’s Senior Collections Manager Rus-sell Hartman and was shown the mats, which she identified as being jaki-ed.

More jaki-ed have also recently been discovered in museum col-lections in Geneva, Switzerland, and Oakland, California, with the University of the South Pacific’s Majuro campus team working on accessing photographs of these clothing mats. USP’s Director, Dr. Irene Taafaki, along with Maria Fowler, have been key to reviv-ing knowledge about jaki-ed and the revival of the skill of weaving jaki-ed.

Taafaki was also the mastermind behind the creation of a virtual museum for jaki-ed, which can be found at www.clothingmatsofthe-marshalls.com, and was sponsored by the Australian Government.

Each week, hundreds of people around the globe have been check-ing into the site to learn about the history of jaki-ed, the ongoing re-vival program of weaving jaki-ed, and visit the various museums that have jaki-ed in their collections. These include the British Museum, the Linden Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, and the Te Papa Museum in Wellington, New Zealand.

Senator Matt Zackhras was thrilled to hear of the existence of Matlina Swain’s jaki-ed in the California Academy of Sci-ences: “Let me see what I can find out about her,” he said. A short time later he called with the news that he’d found a relative in Majuro, saying that Swain’s grandson is Wamoj Hisaiah, who is a security guard at the National Telecom-munications Authority.

“I remember watching her weaving when I was a young boy on Namdrik,” Hi-saiah said. “She had a big box in the house where she kept all her weaving materials.” He added that his ‘bubu’ would not sell the jaki-ed: “She gave them away as gifts.”

According to Hisaiah, during the time that Japan held power in the Marshall Islands, Swain lived on Jaluit Atoll, where she helped care for a sick man called Roja. “She took care of him using traditional Marshallese medicines and when he was well he took her as his mother.

“She later came to Majuro and lived with his family and gave him a jaki-ed. She died about 10 years ago, and Roja has also now passed on, but I will ask the family if they still have the jaki,” Hisaiah said.

The jaki-ed woven by Matlina Swain was collected in 1977 by a staff member of the California Academy of Sciences. The Senior Collections Manager for the Department of Anthropology, Russell Hartman wrote: “At that time, the Academy had just recently re-instituted its Department of Anthropol-ogy (after a hiatus of some 70 years). The installation of a new permanent Anthropol-

ogy Hall, which featured life-sized dioramas of about 10 cultural groups from around the world was proceeding, with the overall theme being how different cultures adapted to their environments. “One of the dioramas dealt with Micronesia, specifically the Caroline Islands, so a staff member was sent on a col-lecting expedition, as we didn’t really have much from that region.

“Our accession record for this mat records it as a sleeping mat for a chief’s baby (based on the designs) and gives its native term as ‘arelung’.’’

The notes on the jaki-ed also state it was made specifically for the Academy and was purchased from Matlina Swain on Majuro for $20. “Other Marshallese items were pur-chased at Mary Lanwi’s Handicraft Co-op on

Majuro,” Hartman said, “so perhaps someone at the co-op introduced Matlina to our staff person.” Hartman said the mat is woven of pandanus and the black and reddish-brown dyed fibers are hibiscus. “I’m not sure what the blue fibers are, although Caroline Yacoe said the blue dye was likely from carbon pa-per, something that is noted for another object, but not for this particular mat.”

Many Marshallese regularly visit clothing-matsofthemarshalls.com, including, in late 2013, Elenu Patrick, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. She emailed the web master:

“Hi! You have no idea how deeply I appreciate your accomplishment in this kind of work and thought of creating this kind of program to help revive a part of our culture that was actually dying out not too long ago.

“I had tears I my eyes when I found out about

this program and then to see it online as a Virtual Museum. The last time I saw my Great-Great-Grandmother she was weaving a jaki-ed. May she rest in peace.

“Well, many years later I found out that I was one of only few young people at that time who have witnessed the weaving of an actual jaki-ed when at that time the knowledge or at the edge of going extinct. Komol tata for all you good peo-ple’s hard work in creating this kind of program.”

Jaki-ed found in San Francisco

Collecting pieces of culture in the ’70s

Special mat made by Namdrik’s Matlina

Elenu says kommol tata

Hisaiah on his bubu

‘I remember watching

her weaving when I was a young boy on Namdrik. She had a big box in the house

where she kept all her weaving

materials.’

Left, weaver Matlina Swain’s gradson Wamoj Hisaiah with Namdrik Senator Matt Zackhras. Above, the jaki-ed in the California musuem’s collection. Below left, Matlina.


United World College National Selec-tions Committee eo ilo RMI, ear kommane Selections Day eo an kein kajilu ilo USP ilo Friday eo.

Rutimjuon ri jikuul raar jolok aolepen raan eo im interview, kommane jet ikkure kin jikuul, ekoba ione armij im bwebwenato ippaer.

Ilo jemlokin, ruo wot scholarships raar kommani – juon ear etal nan Eve Burns jen Laura High School, eo im enaaj iten jikuul ilo Lester B. Pearson UWC ilo Victoria, Canada, im eo juon ear etal nan Selina Leem, jen Marshall Islands High School, im enaaj etal in jikuul ilo Robert Borsch UWC ilo Freiberg, Germany.

Ilo 2012, Kami Mackphie, jen Northern Islands High School raar lelok nane UWC Scholarship eo kein kajuon, nan an kar etal in jikuul ilo Lester B. Pearson ilo Canada, im ilo 2013, Sage deBrum jen Majuro Coop School raar lelok nane scholarship nan Armand Hammer UWC ilo New Mexico.

The Brazilian martial art known as Capoeira is in session at the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI). It started early this month under the direction of martial artist Ricardo “Ricky” Ribeiro, who is currently an english instructor at CMI. The hour-long program is open to the public starting at 5pm on Mondays and Wednesdays at the old library room. So far a few CMI students are learning the basics with Ricky. According to Ricky, he’s been practicing Capoeira since he was 16 years old. What’s interesting about the art is its got music that adds fun to learning. Photo: Isaac Marty

UWC ej letok 2 scholarship

Kajojo iaan scholarship kein jonan au-rokier remaron kij $80,000. UWC Schools ko rej lelok International Baccalaureate high school program eo, ekoba ejake jet jikin ko rej lorlorjake aenomman, im ekatok kin manit ko reoktak jen dron, im katakin kin jerbal in tel bareinwot.

Burns im kab Leem rej etal im jikuul ilo United World College

Ricky teaches martial arts series

Ri jikuul in Laura High

School eve Burns im ri jikuul in

Marshall Islands High School Selina Leem.


A Marshall Islands atoll that grew 23 per cent in 65 years shows islands can form and grow much more rapidly than previously thought. Scientists say the research may be significant as sea levels continue to rise thanks to climate change, threatening low-lying atolls, reported MSN New Zealand this week.

In 1905, Nadikdik Atoll in the Marshall Islands (near Mili) was hit by a devastating typhoon, which destroyed large sections of the reef island, and killed the entire popula-tion except two survivors. Scientists from the University of Auckland compared aerial photographs from 1945 with pictures from 2010, and found the vegetated area of the islands grew by 23 percent.

The research puts this down to sediments generated from the atoll’s surrounding reef system, which was likely in a healthy condition as the atoll had been uninhabited since 1905.The scientists also noticed a new island grew from a sediment deposit to a fully vegetated and stable island in 61 years, and a number of separate islands formed a

Popular snacks ‘YumYum’ (noodle) and ‘Cool-C’ (drinking mix) from Kiribati found their way to Majuro earlier this month and have created some happy

faces. Pictured from left are CMI students Salome Torejak, Annie Tabuanaba, and Hideo Tokeak. Annie’s older brother flew in on Our Airline with these on

hand for them. “This is something to remember home,” said Salome. Photo: Isaac Marty.

Good news! Atoll is growing bigger

single larger island.“These changes were rapid and indicate

that reef island formation can occur quick-ly,” the report said.

Sea levels are expected to continue rising thanks to climate change, with the levels around Marshall Islands rising at about 2.2 millimeters a year since 1946.

The report said there was considerable global interest about the future stability of the landforms given the projected sea level increases.

Past studies have focused on the immedi-ate impacts of extreme weather events on islands, but comparatively few studies have documented how islands have changed after the impact.

The report was the first to note the devel-opment of new islands.

New report on Nadikdik isle


What we were saying way back when

Journal March 1, 1968P3 Marshall Islands Journal motto

“These are the things you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; Render in your gate judgments that are true and make for Peace.” —Zechariah

P4 Letter to the editorLast week at noon, I saw at the in-

tersection of Reimer’s warehouse and KITCO employees’ homes, four teenage boys with poles in their hands. At the end of the pole was a ring of wire and two others carried a rope basket. I looked to see what dog they were after and saw them trying to corner a dog. I, im-mediately, yelled at them and told them to leave that dog alone — to not harm that dog because it belongs to Judge Kabua. The dog wore no license tag. Upon a later date, in talking to Judge Kabua, I learned his dogs have their licenses but if they wear them, people steal them. Mrs. Yoshimi Jetnil had a fine collar on their dog together with a license, but someone has stolen so he is naked of license.

Question: What use is a license when someone steals it, and the dog is killed because of no license? Suggestion: Let all owners of dogs register their dogs un-der their names and when the New Year arrives, send out notices to each owner to come in and pay their tax. Each home needs one watchdog due to “Peeping Toms,” drunkard nuisance, thievery and a general alarm and — children need a pet. —Nyoma Mikkelsen.

P5 Medical supplies arriveIt has been said that it is either feast

or famine. After an extended period of famine, the Armer Ishoda Memorial Hos-pital is now feasting on a large amount of drugs and medical supplies, which arrived Monday. The hospital had been out of many commonly used drugs such as aspirin.

Bikini elders lay wreaths

P5 Social Security may beginHarry Brown, the Trust Territory’s

Social Security Administration, an-nounced that operations are under way to implement the Social Security Act for citizens of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. The system will go into effect on July 1, 1968.

Journal March 3, 1989P2 It never was the ‘Pearl of the

Pacific’It’s a tough thing to find out that

something you’ve believed in for years isn’t true after all. Yessiree, “The Pearl of the Pacific” never was. In virtually every tourist publication and even in the Marshall Islands Journal, reference has been made to Robert Louis Stevenson’s oft-quoted description of Majuro as “the Pearl of the Pacific.” Fortunately, the Journal was tipped off to this fraud by an alert historian resident of Majuro. We now wish to set the record straight. Stevenson never uttered those words, nor did anyone, except in recent years, when would-be experts attributed the time worn Pearl of the Pacific comment that never was to Stevenson. In fact, a similar remark came not from Stevenson but from his wife, Fanny Stevenson, who wrote of Majuro in 1890 as “a pearl of atolls.”

Journal February 28, 1997P1 ‘For our children’The exhilaration for Bikini elders of

returning to their home island for the first time in 51 years was tempered by a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the old and unkempt cemetery on the island. It reminded Emso Leviticus that she will likely not return to be buried here when she dies. “This is our final trip here,” said Leviticus this week on Bikini. She was a young woman when the US Navy took her and her family from Bikini in 1946 to make way for Operation Crossroads.

lEAD A HEAlTHy lifE. gET OUT AND ExERciSE!


DeMON TOWN vILLAGePolice on the speaker: Parents ,keep your kids off the road. If you can’t handle

them, then stop making babies. Kid on roof: I’m not afraid of the police.

KeJBAROK KILeN AM KeJeRBAL JAAN RAININ BWe KOñANK TA eNAJ WALOK ILIJu

MOKTA. Kid: Leio ilukkin eno ice cream ippa. TOKeliK. Kid: Leio ilukkin kwole. Oh, enwot ewor tokjen ninin pa.

eMAKuTKuT KO AN POLICeMeN IN MAJOL Policeman 1: Jab emakutkut! Policeman 2: Do you see this stick!

Policeman 3: Umaiki lal! Person: Oh my!

LIFe IS HARD NOWADAYSFamily member: You need to think of the needs of others! Unemployed man

enjoying a free meal provided by others in the family: Ouch!

FeBRuARY IS THe MONTH OF LOveMan: Sorry in advance ... but Happy Valentine’s Day. Woman blindly in love: I

will die in your name.

TA eO AD WALOK eLIKIN NeW IIO eODrunk man: Ah, geez! I should have listened, kio itten kalibuuj.

Policeman: Emonono ilo iio in.


Sixteen teams from Marshall Islands High School (MIHS), Assumption, GED, Coop, and Majuro Baptist Christian Academy (MBCA) went head to head in debates dur-ing education week. According to Ministry of Education Assistant Secretary Kanchi Hosia, the topic focused on whether the RMI should provide vocational training to all stu-dents. He said all teams were well prepared and had displayed good performance.

In the end, MIHS was the victor, led by team members Selina Leem (pictured) and Erina Terry. Second place went to MBCA with Caleb Joseph and Hugo Nimoto. Ho-sia said Leem and Joseph received highest honor in the debate for earning perfect scores upon completing the debate. He said he ap-preciated all schools, students, and everyone else who participated and those who were involved in making the debate successful. “The second round debate will be on May Day and in Marshallese. The topic for the debate is pending,” he said.

MIHS students argue the points and win

“The Social Protection of the Vulnerable in the Pacific project is already in full swing,” Project Manager Dwight Heine said this week of ongoing coconut replant-ing projects in Mili, Ailinglaplap, Namdrik, Ebon and Arno. Heine said people on the local atolls are generating income through the project. Funds from the Asian

Development Bank’s ‘Japan Fund for Poverty Alleviation’ are supporting coconut replanting schemes in RMI, Tonga and Cook Islands. Photo: Hilary Hosia

Coconut replanting


HILARY HOSIAA contingent of 19 law enforcement officers from

Sea Patrol, National Police and Airport Security conducted a live-fire shooting exercise near Amata Kabua International Airport last Friday following a three-day weapons familiarization.

Instructors Sergeant First Class Warren Bias and civilian police contractor James Edwards from United States Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll, walked the officers step-by-step through the exercise.

Armed with nine-millimeter Beretta and Smith and

Wesson .38 caliber, the boys shot at still silhouette targets placed 25 meters away. The deafening sound followed by the jingly sound of brass hitting the ground and a hint of gunpowder provided the needed adrenaline rush to empty the clips onto the targets.

Behind the scenes coordinator Australian Royal Navy Commander Peter Metcalf orchestrated the event and is hopeful for future developments.

US Ambassador Tom Armbruster and top-level po-lice members took advantage of the training exercise. They proved to be quite skillful in marksmanship.

Law enforcement teams do some target practice

Tom Armbruster with the Australian Navy’s Gary Bithell.


HILARY HOSIAThe Journal has been scop-

ing out potential leaders — young scholars returning from overseas with pres-tigious educational back-grounds — securing needed government positions as part of our Future Leaders seg-ment.

New to the list is Moriana Phillip (pictured), the new talent at the Office of En-vironmental Planning and Policy Coordination. Other than her local job, Moriana recently acquired the Sec-retariat of the Pacific Re-gional Environment Program (SPREP)’s post as North Pacific’s technical expert in the water sector.

She holds a master’s de-gree in integrated water re-source from the University of Queensland, Australia and bachelor of science in en-vironmental science from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.

Moriana is no stranger in her field of work. She has prior engagements with the International Water Center, Secretariat of the Pacific Community Water Division, United Nations Environmen-tal Program and Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority.

Moriana moves to OEPPC


Ibwiljin jorrean el-lap ko rej jelmae Air Marshall Islands, ilo an kajjeon kokman-manelok service ko an nan aelon ko likin, ej kin kejekjek in an jab emman elon wot iaan jikin jok im kelok ko ilo aelon ko likin.

“Kokmanmanelok airport ko ilo aelon ko likin ej aikuij in bed ilon tata ilo jerbal ko an kien,” AMI Gen-eral Manija Jefferson Barton (pija) ear ba ilo wiik eo lok. “Jikin jok im kelok ko rej einwot ri komman jorrean ak (terrorist) nan baluun ko waam). Dreka, bed-kat, bwirej rej jekare baluun ko ilo tore ko rej jok.”

Ejjab aikuij in biij runway ko, botaap men eo edrik tata kameoeoiki im kakijnene eoer, lein ear ba. “kien eo emaron kommane wawein in ilo an jolok jidrik wot jaan, innem enaaj maron kejebarok million jima tala ko ikijien jorrean,” Barton ear ba. “Kokmanmanelok runway ko enaaj maron kadrikdrik lok jorrean kin 90 bojjan, ekoba an bobrae jorrean ko nan baluun ko bareinwot.”

Aolep armij ebwe aer illu kin an ikutkut an jorrean baluun ko, lein ear ba. “Ekadrik in lon men ko rej puuk ippen dron nan komman bwe air service en lukkun bin im aban,” lein ear ba.

Pilot ro an AMI ekadrik in emman aer jerbale elane rej jok ilo runway ko elon ron, mar, kab aetok wujoj ko ie. “Loma ran relukkun in jela ek kake,” lein ear ba. “Rej mokade iaan ri mokade otemjej. Botaap airport ko relukkun in nana.”

Barton ekonan loe an kien jino komadmode juon iaan outer island runway kane ilo juon ien. “Emaron bok tarrin in ruo wiik ko nan kokmanmane juon runway,” lein ear ba. “Iloan wot jimettan year ak aolep airport ko renaaj dredrelok.”

Ilo an Dornier jab maron in ek kake kin elon kain jorrean ko iloan allon ko kio, eo im baluun in ej bareinwot kein jerbal eo elaptata kejerbale nan runway jiddrik ko, eokwe Dash-8 eo einwot ej bar enjake jorrean kein. Mene jerbal in kok-kaal eo an kio kin kar $4 million ilo Australia ear komman ilo year eo lok, “kimij kio loe ejja kain jorrean rot kein wot rebareinwot walok nan Dash-8 eo,” lein ear ba.

AMI ejjelok an bar kelet ak bwe en kelok nan ene kein kinke ej aikuij in komman service im komman jaan, botaap wonen kommane ekemetak baluun in im kab kien, eo im jen ien nan ien ej jiban airline eo wiaiki part ko an. “Kimij aikuiji bwe en lap jonan jerbal ko rej aikuij in komman elane en emman an airline in jerbal,” lein ear kakobaba. “Innem enaaj emman lok service eo im jujen emman lok jonan liki eo ippen armij.”

Baluun in waan kien eban wonmanlok wot im jerbal ilo jekjek rot kein, lein ear ba. “Ej juon men eo eddo nan AMI,” ear kakobaba. “Elon lok jen juon katten ilo juon allon, baluun eo ejjab kelok, eo im ejjab aikuij in kar eindrein elle lok jen juon alen ilo jiljino allon. Kien ej aikuij in kokmanmanelok airport ko bwe en emman an AMI jerbale wot service eo. Ak ijelokin, elap ad boup kin an kajjeon kokkaali baluun ko.”

Aikuij emman lok airport ko ilo outer


ISAAC MARTYThe need for water on Majuro is high on the list for Ma-

juro Water and Sewer Company (MWSC). General Manager Joseph Batol said the current water

capacity is still not enough for the capital. He said a grant application has been submitted to the Cabinet for approval. It is a grant requesting $30,000,000 to upgrade the current water supply and sanitation systems. He explained that it had three phases:

• Installation of a new 12 inch pipeline• Increasing water reservoir capacity• Replacement of the current sewer outfall with a new one.“The improved water supply and sanitation systems will

provide a healthy environment for the city of Majuro,” said Batol.

Batol explained that people in the west side of Majuro, mainly from Ajeltake to Laura, get their supply of water from the 30,000 gallons reservoir in Laura. He said there were cases where people at the end of the supply line from Laura hardly get water.

“We proposed a one million gallon reservoir for the Laura area to improve water supply. It would be a great benefit for the people in the area,” he said.

General Manager of Majuro Water and Sewer Company Joseph Batol.

MWSC puts in grant request

ATTENTION!claudia velma Heine please stop by Micronitor and see Rose Murphy concerning item #972.

ATTENTION!carlson Elcar please stop by Mi-cronitor and see Rose Murphy con-cerning item #11353.

ATTENTION!Joseph Tibon please stop by Mi-cronitor and see Rose Murphy con-cerning item #130.

ATTENTION!Ailinglaplap Local Government please stop by Micronitor and see Rose Murphy concerning item #1178.

TIDE CHARTDate Time Ft.27 2:54 AM ................3.8Thursday 8:47 ..................... -0.0 3:07 PM ................5.0 9:31 ..................... -0.6

28 3:35 AM ................4.3Friday 9:32 ..................... -0.5 3:49 PM ................5.3 10:08 ................... -0.9

1 4:13 AM ................4.7Saturday 10:13 ................... -0.8 4:28 PM ................5.5 10:43 ................... -1.1

2 4:49 AM ................4.6Sunday 10:51 ................... -1.0 5:04 PM ................5.4 11:16 ................... -1.1

3 5:24 AM ................5.0Monday 11:28 .....................0.9 5:38 PM ................5.2 11:48 ................... -0.9

4 5:58 AM ................5.0Tuesday 12:03 PM .............-0.6 6:11 .......................4.8

5 12:18 AM .............-0.6 Wednesday 6:30 .......................4.7 12:38 PM .............-0.3 6:42 .......................4.3

6 12:47 AM .............-0.2Thursday 7:02 .......................4.3 1:13 PM ................0.2 7:12 .......................3.7

7 1:14 AM ................0.3Friday 7:36 .......................3.9 1:50 PM ................0.7 7:42 .......................3.1


ISAAC MARTYCollege of the Marshall Islands (CMI) is not

going to stop looking for ways to improve stu-dent academic performance. This is the case with its new program Learning Community. The program started last semester and it’s now targeting 57 new students enrolled this semester who are in developmental level one.

According to Learning Community Coordi-nator and Developmental Education Instruc-tor Andrea S.D. Hazzard, the goal is to help students succeed and advance to higher levels.

“The program aims to create community among students in social and academic as-pects,” she said.

“We also don’t want students to drop out. In the past there were students who did because they were discouraged.”

Hazzard said the program encourages stu-dents to move forward.

It introduces topics and majors to give stu-dents a feel for different career paths and in time they would be able to determine where they want to go before they advance to credit level.

The program has eight CMI faculty and two tutors. Hazzard said they are aiming to provide many activities and ways to teach students.

“The hope is to keep students in school and to promote academic success,” she said.

Program to help students move forward

Students Bercy Mealson and veronica Kiluwe play

a motivational game.


Send your hysterical and insightful Are you Awares? to [email protected]

THAT a trial of Cata-lina Chee over allegations that she was involved in defrauding the Ministry of Health in 2009 finished in the High Court this week?

THAT an amendment to RMI’s shark ban legis-lation has been introduced to Nitijela that would al-low shark fins and car-casses caught outside of RMI waters to be trans-ported through the RMI?

THAT the Hawaiian community in Majuro will for the first time join in In-ternational Women’s Day on Saturday March 8?

THAT U t r i k Atoll Local Gov-ernment will in-augurate its new Community Hall o n U t r i k n e x t Wednesday?

THAT a Florida mansion once belonging to crime kingpin Al Capone, purportedly where he planned the Valentine’s Day massacre, is up for sale with a price tag of over $8 million?

THAT a five-foot jellyfish washed ashore earlier this month in Tasmania, one of the biggest ever beached?

THAT 83 percent of French Catholics surveyed think women should be allowed to join the priesthood, while only 21 percent agreed in the Philippines?

THAT famous Hollywood actress Shirley Temple, known as the “biggest little star,” died earlier this month at 85?

THAT the International Space Station has 600 ants aboard for a behavioral monitoring experi-ment?

THAT if you think Marshallese are borrowed up to the hilt, how about the US government that expects to borrow $284 billion in the first quarter of 2014?

THAT a survey about cor-ruption found that 99 percent

of people in Greece believe it is “widespread,” only 20 percent see the problem in Denmark, and the question wasn’t asked in the RMI?

THAT the Nitijela’s Ways and Means Committee aims to hold public hearings on three new tax bills this Thursday afternoon at 2:30, 3 and 4:30pm?

THAT about 70 Marshall Islands High School students have received new Bank of Marshall Islands savings books as a result of community service and support of BOMI, Marshall Islands Basketball Federation, Coach Tom Newell and the US Embassy?

THAT the RMI Auditor Gen-eral’s office now posts audits to its website, http://www.rmioag.com/, making it easy for the public to inform itself about the accountability — or lack thereof — in government agencies?

THAT the play Fiddler on the Roof premieres this coming Tues-day at 8pm at the ICC?

ARE yOU AWARE?

THAT following Jose, the El Salvadoran drifter,

another visitor recently showed up at Delap

Dock area in the form of this toad, held here

by MALGov Sanitation Department’s Abo Mea?

Photo: Hilary Hosia

marshall islands journal 2-28-2014 (1)

Documents

fukushima area

marshall islands journal

marshall islanders

contaminated islands

nuclear contamination

daiichi nuclear power

okuma town

widespread nuclear exposure