1 Sand, surf not enough - Marshall Islands Journal
1 Sand, surf not enough - Marshall Islands Journal
1 Sand, surf not enough - Marshall Islands Journal
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Volume 38, Number 44 • Friday, November 2, 2007 • 75¢ on Majuro<br />
<strong>Sand</strong>,<br />
<strong>surf</strong> <strong>not</strong><br />
<strong>enough</strong><br />
By SUZANNE CHUTARo<br />
Pacifi c <strong>Islands</strong> have been counting<br />
on their beautiful scenery,<br />
white sand beaches and turquoise<br />
waters to attract tourists from<br />
around the world.<br />
But Japan-based travel industry<br />
experts say emerging Pacifi c markets<br />
such as the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
have to offer more than sand, <strong>surf</strong>,<br />
and in the case of the <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong>, diving, if they expect to<br />
attract the hard-to-please Japanese<br />
traveler. This is a particularly critical<br />
issue for Majuro as it looks to<br />
expand the number of charter<br />
fl ights by Japan Airlines.<br />
“Generally, the Japanese traveler<br />
likes the white beaches because we<br />
don’t have this in Japan. But at the<br />
same time they want to eat good<br />
food, do some activities like sight<br />
seeing, water sports and some<br />
Continued next page<br />
With just over two weeks to go before<br />
the November 19 election, candidates<br />
are raising concerns about the voting<br />
lists containing names that are <strong>not</strong><br />
eligible to vote.<br />
A Majuro candidate told the <strong>Journal</strong><br />
this week that there are at least seven<br />
deceased people listed on the Ajeltake<br />
voter list and more than 10 dead people<br />
listed on the Delap voting list.<br />
The Ajeltake listing includes a<br />
number of people who died, including<br />
people who have been dead for more<br />
than 10 years.<br />
Among others who died but who are<br />
still listed as currently registered voters<br />
for Ajeltake is former Majuro Mayor<br />
Tarmile Ishoda.<br />
“I’m aware of it,” Chief Electoral<br />
Offi cer Carl Alik told the <strong>Journal</strong> this<br />
week. Electoral staff is attempting to<br />
clean up the voter lists as much as<br />
1<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007<br />
www.marshallislandsjournal.com<br />
journal@ntamar.net<br />
Ghosts haunt<br />
the voting lists<br />
INSIDE<br />
Norman nomination<br />
challenged: Page<br />
MEC targets<br />
US Navy fuel<br />
sales: Page 10<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> election<br />
results: Pages , 8<br />
‘We’re working<br />
on it,’ says Carl<br />
possible over the next few days before<br />
printing the “master lists” next week,<br />
he said.<br />
The Electoral Administration released<br />
the voter lists more than a<br />
month ago.<br />
When the <strong>Journal</strong> began requesting<br />
information from Electoral on voter<br />
registration in the April and May period<br />
of this year, the <strong>Journal</strong> was told<br />
by Electoral staff that they were still<br />
going through the lists to remove those<br />
who were deceased and otherwise <strong>not</strong><br />
eligible to vote.<br />
The voter registration deadline was<br />
December 31 last year, more than 10<br />
months ago.<br />
Crafty<br />
ladies<br />
sell<br />
big at<br />
Kwaj<br />
on hand to promote<br />
handicraft sales at<br />
the Ebeye trade<br />
fair were, from left,<br />
Matilda Capelle, Mio<br />
Candle, Juana Bellu<br />
and Mary Korok.<br />
Majuro vendors said<br />
that they were happy<br />
with the fi nancial<br />
results of the<br />
combined Kwajalein<br />
and Ebeye fairs.<br />
More photos and<br />
story, P16-17.<br />
Alik said that he had attempted to get<br />
a list of deaths from the Internal Affairs<br />
registrar’s offi ce, but it was never provided<br />
despite repeated requests.<br />
So earlier in October, he asked the<br />
Ministry of Health’s statistics offi ce<br />
for a list of deaths, which was provided<br />
to him on the same day of his request,<br />
Alik said. The list of deaths includes<br />
information dating to 1981.<br />
“We’re about half way through the<br />
list,” Alik said on Tuesday. “We’re trying<br />
to eliminate (people who are dead)<br />
as much as possible.”<br />
He said that the main protection<br />
against people voting more than once<br />
is that this election, all voters after they<br />
cast their vote will stamp their index<br />
fi ngers with indelible ink that can<strong>not</strong><br />
be washed off for a few days, so that<br />
election offi cers will be able to tell if a<br />
person has already voted.
Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
Japanese want<br />
more than diving<br />
From previous page<br />
shopping,” says Kazuo Ito, president of<br />
JALPak’s Micronesia division.<br />
Ito says bluntly that if emerging Pacific<br />
markets want to compete for the<br />
Japanese traveler, they are going to have<br />
to look at Japan’s current top five travel<br />
destinations. The first is China, with 3.8<br />
million visitors. South Korea is second<br />
with 2.3 million Japanese. Hawaii attracts<br />
1.4 million Japanese, down from the 2<br />
million-plus tourists who used to travel<br />
to those islands.<br />
Thailand attracts 1.3 million Japanese,<br />
as does Hong Kong. Taiwan is<br />
the destination of choice for 1.1 million<br />
Japanese, and Guam has about one million<br />
visitors.<br />
Ito’s warning is a red flag for the <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong>. JALPak has this year started<br />
selling package tours on Japan Airline’s<br />
direct charter flight to the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>.<br />
It is promoting the RMI as a new<br />
travel destination.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>, however, has<br />
been promoting itself as a dive destination,<br />
hoping to attract some of Japan’s 3<br />
million certified divers.<br />
Senior Editor Takashi Shigiya of<br />
Japan’s Marine Dive Magazine, which<br />
has a circulation of 170,000, says that the<br />
The writer was a 2007<br />
Sasakawa Pacific Island<br />
<strong>Journal</strong>ism Fellow. This<br />
story was written while on<br />
the fellowship in Japan.<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> ranks number 17 out of<br />
the publication’s top 29 dive destinations<br />
in the world and “its ranking is climbing<br />
up each year.” The magazine’s top three<br />
diving destinations for Japanese are the<br />
Maldives, Palau and Saipan respectively.<br />
According to Shigiya these top three<br />
destinations offer something unique to<br />
divers. In the Maldives it’s their luxury<br />
resorts coupled with other attractions<br />
such as cruising and guaranteed sightings<br />
of whales, sharks and manta rays. Palau<br />
attracts divers with its rich variety of marine<br />
life. Meanwhile, Saipan is popular<br />
because its proximity to Japan and affordability.<br />
The common factor that sets<br />
the top three destinations apart from the<br />
rest is that “they all have Japanese speaking<br />
staff and for Japanese that’s important<br />
for divers,” says Shigiya.<br />
For Japan Air Lines and JALPak,<br />
however, Japan’s dive market alone is <strong>not</strong><br />
<strong>enough</strong> to sustain its new charter service<br />
to the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>. The reason: of<br />
the 3 million certified Japanese divers<br />
only 1 million are active divers. Of those<br />
active divers, only some 100,000 actually<br />
travel abroad and they prefer 16 other dive<br />
destinations over the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>.<br />
“The (Japan) dive market is too small,”<br />
says Ito. “We need to attract general tourist<br />
to sustain the charter.”<br />
Awareness of the <strong>Marshall</strong> Island is<br />
high in the dive market but to the general<br />
Japanese tourist “it’s very low,” warns Ito.<br />
During the first two direct JAL charter<br />
flights to Majuro earlier this year, Masako<br />
Ninomiya of JALPak’s Purchasing and<br />
Tour Planning Group for the Micronesia<br />
Company, was on board to inspect the<br />
tours. “There is too much focus on diving,”<br />
<strong>not</strong>es Ninomiya. “The <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> should follow the example of<br />
Palau which has been attracting non-divers<br />
by offer other activities.” Ninomiya<br />
and Ito say promoting the <strong>Marshall</strong> Island<br />
for now is easy because JALPak is able<br />
to sell it as a new destination. However,<br />
the wholesaler expects it can sustain this<br />
promotion for only a few more years.<br />
“The destination is under pressure but<br />
it needs to pick up as a destination,” says<br />
Ito. “(The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>) have to get<br />
used to providing a service and offer other<br />
activities.”<br />
In the listing of mayor<br />
candidates published in last<br />
week’s newspaper, the <strong>Journal</strong><br />
did <strong>not</strong> include Henry<br />
ARE YOU AWARE? journal@ntamar.net<br />
THAT there are 13,700<br />
parking meters in Manhattan?<br />
THAT a gaggle of liberal<br />
students-cum-teachers visiting<br />
Majuro from Skagway,<br />
Alaska, took over control of<br />
the TV remote at Flame Tree<br />
Wednesday and switched<br />
from balanced Fox news<br />
to “slightly left of extreme<br />
left” Al Jazeera network<br />
while taking breakfast?<br />
THAT in Japan, when<br />
children lose a tooth, they<br />
throw it onto the roof and<br />
wish for a strong replacement<br />
tooth to grow in?<br />
THAT Venezuela’s Angel<br />
Falls is the world’s tallest<br />
waterfall, plunging 3,212<br />
feet (which is two and half<br />
times the height of the Empire<br />
State Building)?<br />
THAT anyone with information<br />
regarding the<br />
whereabouts of the vessel<br />
Litakbouki (formerly located<br />
off Delap beach by<br />
the Public Service Commission)<br />
should contact the<br />
Environmental Protection<br />
Authority?<br />
THAT American Airlines<br />
charges $80 to check the<br />
following items: Antlers<br />
(must be as free of residue as<br />
possible; the skull must be<br />
wrapped and tips protected),<br />
a bicycle, a hang glider,<br />
a <strong>surf</strong>board, and a javelin<br />
(sorry, vaulting poles <strong>not</strong><br />
accepted)?<br />
THAT the Hundred Years’<br />
War between England and<br />
France lasted 116 years?<br />
THAT in the small publication<br />
‘Taiwan Technical<br />
Mission Brief Introduction’<br />
crops being grown here include<br />
the ‘Spring Swallow’<br />
variety of cucumber, the<br />
‘Summer Bright’ variety of<br />
Chinese cabbage, and, best<br />
THAT Miriam Hickson (outgoing legal<br />
man Richard’s mom) is donating a<br />
fresh Xmas tree to the Youth to Youth in<br />
Health office so that it will look bright<br />
and cheery over the holiday season?<br />
of all, the ‘Passion Heart’<br />
variety of bell pepper?<br />
THAT Cuba’s Ambassador<br />
to the United Nations,<br />
Rodrigo Maimierca,<br />
recently said that if just<br />
10 percent of the world’s<br />
military expenditure was<br />
sidetracked, all the “millen-<br />
Election correction<br />
— Henry is running<br />
nium development goals”<br />
could be reached?<br />
THAT local historian<br />
Matt Holly has in his possession<br />
reprints of photos<br />
of American airmen who<br />
crashed on the reef off Laura<br />
during WWII and that these<br />
photographed men, apparently<br />
snapped by Japanese<br />
personnel, were never heard<br />
from after the incident?<br />
THAT the hot new phrase<br />
around town is “kottar ta”<br />
and it means “whatcha waitin’<br />
for” and you say it to<br />
people who are just hanging<br />
around?<br />
THAT in our ripper column<br />
On the Waterfront last<br />
week the call went out for<br />
foolproof ideas on rat bait,<br />
with the most unusual suggestion<br />
coming from garbologist<br />
Alice Leney who<br />
swears by pumpkin seeds to<br />
get rid of the dirty rats?<br />
Kili voters<br />
questioned<br />
A Kili/Bikini council candidate has filed<br />
a complaint to get 39 Kili-registered voters<br />
who live at Ebeye off the election list for this<br />
month’s national election.<br />
The complaint, filed earlier this week, seeks<br />
to get the Electoral Administration to remove<br />
the 39 voters who the High Court ordered removed<br />
from the list in 2003.<br />
Attorney General Posesi Bloomfield said the<br />
complaint was requesting the matter to be put<br />
before the High Court to disqualify these 39<br />
voters. He expected to obtain the petition from<br />
the Electoral Administration on Wednesday this<br />
week, and was preparing to refer it to the High<br />
Court for action. He said he hoped that a hearing<br />
could be held on Ebeye so that the voters could<br />
present themselves for the challenge.<br />
In 2003, Kili/Bikini officials testified that<br />
the 39 voters in question who live on Ebeye<br />
were <strong>not</strong> on the Kili/Bikini authorized list for<br />
quarterly payments, and so they were disqualified<br />
from voting.<br />
Lometo, who is a candidate<br />
for mayor of Namdrik Atoll.<br />
The <strong>Journal</strong> apologizes for<br />
the error.<br />
Attorney<br />
General<br />
Posesi<br />
Bloomfield<br />
No<br />
news<br />
isn’t<br />
good<br />
news<br />
Majuro’s BBC radio listeners<br />
have been deprived as<br />
of late with the unannounced<br />
and unexplained cancellation<br />
of the 24-hour international<br />
news program.<br />
V7AB officials, who<br />
manage the broadcasting<br />
of the BBC locally, told the<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> they don’t know the<br />
exact cause of the problem<br />
though they believe it may<br />
be a satellite positioning<br />
problem.<br />
“We don’t know what’s<br />
wrong and can’t explain<br />
why we’re <strong>not</strong> able to receive<br />
it,” explained one<br />
V7AB official.<br />
V7AB technicians are doing<br />
what they can to troubleshoot<br />
the problem.<br />
If <strong>not</strong> fixed by this weekend,<br />
BBC will have been off<br />
the air for two weeks.
Funky<br />
forklift<br />
The fact of the<br />
matter is that<br />
vehicles that have<br />
died mechanically<br />
still have an<br />
important function<br />
in Majuro — they<br />
offer an ad hoc<br />
jungle gym for the<br />
local kids to have<br />
some fun playing<br />
on as can be seen<br />
from the happy<br />
faces of these back<br />
road Uliga boys.<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> poll shows<br />
25% Nitijela shift<br />
There will be eight new faces in Nitijela, including<br />
two in Majuro, following the November 19 national<br />
election, if the informal poll conducted by the <strong>Journal</strong><br />
is borne out.<br />
A ballot with all Nitijela candidates listed on it was<br />
provided as an insert in last week’s <strong>Journal</strong>, with a<br />
deadline for submitting it to the <strong>Journal</strong> of Tuesday<br />
this week. There are only a few surprises with most<br />
incumbents being backed by local voters.<br />
Of the 33 seats, the <strong>Journal</strong> poll shows eight seats<br />
changing hands (including Wotho, which has no<br />
incumbent).<br />
In the <strong>Journal</strong> poll readers chose Hilda Heine over<br />
Rien Morris at Jaluit, with Heine getting 66 percent<br />
of the votes cast, incumbent Alvin Jacklick getting 63<br />
percent and Morris 31 percent; Jerakoj Bejang narrowly<br />
beat incumbent Irumne Bondrik by getting 52<br />
percent of the vote for Lib; David Kramer and Amatlain<br />
Kabua, getting 58 and 52 percent of the votes cast,<br />
respectively, were the two new faces for Majuro, while<br />
incumbents Jurelang Zedkaia (84 percent), Brenson<br />
Wase (58 percent) and Wilfred Kendall (55 percent)<br />
were picked by <strong>Journal</strong> readers.<br />
At Mejit, Dennis Momotaro defeated incumbent<br />
Helkena Anni by a wide margin of 71-29 percent. At<br />
Ujae, Frederick Muller beat incumbent Caios Lucky<br />
42-32 percent, with two other candidates splitting the<br />
rest at 13 percent each.<br />
At Utrik, Amenta Matthew gained 75 percent of the<br />
votes from <strong>Journal</strong> readers to outdistance incumbent<br />
Hiroshi Yamamura.<br />
David Kabua easily won Wotho in the <strong>Journal</strong> poll,<br />
picking up 73 percent of the votes.<br />
All other current incumbents were picked by <strong>Journal</strong><br />
readers, with the closest contest being Rongelap<br />
with incumbent Abacca Anjain-Maddison getting 44<br />
percent to Kenneth Kedi’s 41.<br />
President Kessai Note was supported by 58 percent<br />
of the ballots, with 36 percent for Anono Loeak.<br />
Two women<br />
for President<br />
Four people — including two women — tied<br />
with most votes for President<br />
in the <strong>Journal</strong>’s poll of readers<br />
conducted earlier this week.<br />
Asked, “if the RMI President<br />
was elected to office by popular<br />
vote, who would you vote for?”:<br />
Four people gained 15 percent<br />
of the votes each — President<br />
Kessai Note, Tony deBrum,<br />
Hilda Heine and Amatlain Kabua.<br />
Next highest, at six percent,<br />
were Speaker Litokwa Tomeing<br />
and Ben Graham (who is <strong>not</strong> a<br />
candidate).<br />
Others who received a vote<br />
each: Carl Heine, Phillip Muller,<br />
Brenson Wase, Donald Capelle,<br />
Alik Alik, Patrick Langmoir,<br />
Gerald Zackios, John Silk and<br />
Jerry Kramer (also <strong>not</strong> a candidate).<br />
By the <strong>Journal</strong>’s count, the<br />
poll results show 13 for the Ailin<br />
Kein Ad party, 17 for the United<br />
Democratic Party (which includes<br />
Speaker Litokwa Tomeing) and<br />
three independents.<br />
See poll results, page 12<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007<br />
Danny<br />
pushes his<br />
complaint<br />
Despite an initial rejection by<br />
the Chief Electoral Office, Aur<br />
Atoll Nitijela candidate Danny<br />
Jack is continuing to press his<br />
complaint about the validity of the<br />
people who nominated incumbent<br />
Norman Matthew to stand for the<br />
November 19 election.<br />
Jack’s campaign chairman Timos<br />
Basin sent a second letter<br />
of complaint to CEO Carl Alik<br />
last week further challenging the<br />
Matthew’s nomination paper.<br />
“Some of the signatures are<br />
forged,” Basin told the <strong>Journal</strong> on<br />
Tuesday this week of the 30 names<br />
and signatures on the nomination<br />
form filed for Matthew. He further<br />
said that it was obvious to even<br />
the casual observer that several of<br />
the names and signatures listed on<br />
the form were written by the same<br />
person, <strong>not</strong> the actual individuals<br />
named.<br />
Attorney General Posesi Bloomfield<br />
told the <strong>Journal</strong> Wednesday<br />
that a meeting was held Tuesday<br />
to address the new complaints. He<br />
said the issue had been narrowed<br />
down to three people who were<br />
alleged to <strong>not</strong> exist, and this was<br />
being checked by the Electoral<br />
Administration.<br />
In response to Basin’s first complaint,<br />
Chief Electoral Officer Carl<br />
Alik wrote him on October 17 that<br />
although Basin had claimed that<br />
only 18 of the names on the list<br />
were registered Aur voters, in fact<br />
“I am confirming that…25 names<br />
in the paper are registered voters<br />
of Aur.”<br />
Alik said that some of the names<br />
on the list were spelled slightly<br />
differently from the names on<br />
the voter registration list, or used<br />
a maiden name instead of their<br />
married name. Two examples<br />
he cited were a first name was<br />
spelled “Ruty” on the nomination<br />
paper but was listed as “Ruthy”<br />
on the voter list, and a different<br />
person’s last name “Hanson” on<br />
the nomination paper compared to<br />
“Hensen” on the voter list.<br />
“For instance, once you find<br />
your name in the voters list,” Alik<br />
told Basin, “you will recognize the<br />
difference. Your name in the letter<br />
that was written to me is Timos<br />
Basin while your name in the voters<br />
list is Timus K. Basin.”
Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
The RMI Riddle No. 163: Sponsored by CopyMasters<br />
ACROSS<br />
1. International comp. (3,4)<br />
5. Grins.<br />
10. Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald<br />
wrote: “The easiest way to get<br />
a reputation is to go outside<br />
the fold, shout around for a<br />
few years as a violent atheist<br />
or a dangerous radical, and<br />
then crawl back to the -------.”<br />
11. A ten Ann found on radio.<br />
12. Church officer.<br />
14. Game, dress, or pooper.<br />
15. Scan animal?<br />
17. Powerful puffs.<br />
19. Letters for Mary and Kessai.<br />
21. Dylan curtsy?<br />
22. Compact colleague. (abb.)<br />
23. Molar or incisor.<br />
24. Picture this IA gem!<br />
25. Perish.<br />
26. Lamp.<br />
28. 4. Down’s home .<br />
30. Quest.<br />
31. Senior sailor.<br />
33. Auto blokes know WUTMI<br />
lady.<br />
34. Lib and Maui.<br />
DOWN<br />
2. RMI example of 8. Down.<br />
3. Engine.<br />
4. Minna’s man. (4,5)<br />
6. Mayor.<br />
7. Delap school. (abb.)<br />
Need a pen to do the puzzle?<br />
Buy your stationery needs at:<br />
8. Dot on the map.<br />
9. Locks.<br />
13. Sickness.<br />
15. Green vegie.<br />
16. Manners, salt, or cloth.<br />
17. Cemented.<br />
18. Moon or space lab.<br />
20. SP people.<br />
27. Bad band.<br />
28. Aquatic authority. (abb.)<br />
29. Greases.<br />
30. Administrator of 1. Across.<br />
32. Buroro.<br />
Answers to Riddle No. 162<br />
Note: (abb.) = abbreviation<br />
(3,4) = indicates the number of<br />
letters in words.<br />
copymasters<br />
majuro<br />
Dash-8 landing<br />
gear corroded<br />
Air <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> kept its two month<br />
run of bad luck unbroken this week, when<br />
mechanics discovered additional problems<br />
with the Dash-8 that mean it is <strong>not</strong> going to<br />
get back in the air anytime soon.<br />
Although the Dash-8 has been grounded<br />
since October 10, it wasn’t until Wednesday<br />
this week that mechanics found additional<br />
problems — corrosion — in the landing<br />
gear of the plane, which means the entire<br />
landing gear, <strong>not</strong> just some parts, need to<br />
be replaced.<br />
AMI general manager Dan Fitzpatrick<br />
called said it will result in a huge replacement<br />
cost and much more down time for the<br />
Dash. “It should have been known in the first<br />
few days after the plane was first grounded,<br />
<strong>not</strong> three weeks later,” he said.<br />
But this followed the equally “devastating<br />
news” that Fitzpatrick received earlier on<br />
Wednesday this week that a key part for the<br />
Stardom for Wisdom<br />
The <strong>Journal</strong>’s band of RMI Riddlers were hard at work<br />
this past week, with entries being received from the Public<br />
Works Boys, Debra Burnsworth, Po’Oino Roa (with a little<br />
help from Suka), Team Western Union, the Cristobal Folks,<br />
Grantpa Gordon, and AMI Accounting. As per usual, the<br />
puzzles were numbered, numbers were scribbled on scraps<br />
of paper, the scraps were tossed in the air and Douglas Henry<br />
plucked out the winner, which is newcomer Debra!<br />
Foot<strong>not</strong>e: Following a few technical problems last week,<br />
at right is the missing answer grid for Riddle No. 161.<br />
Dash that just arrived is the wrong one.<br />
Because of these new problems, AMI has<br />
changed its plan of action from attempting<br />
to get the Dash in the air first to getting the<br />
Dornier fixed.<br />
All the parts needed to fix the Dornier<br />
are here, and it could be in the air in as few<br />
as 10 days if “we get all hands on deck,”<br />
Fitzpatrick said.<br />
All of the mechanical woes have been<br />
complicated by the move from the old hangar<br />
and airport office area out to the lagoon<br />
side hangar, Fitzpatrick said. The computer<br />
that housed the parts inventory for the airline<br />
blew up when it was plugged in at the<br />
hangar, he said — just one of the problems<br />
they’ve faced.<br />
“I can’t believe our run of bad luck,” he<br />
said, adding that AMI’s woes since August<br />
have resulted in essentially two months of<br />
no revenue for the airline.<br />
Answers to Riddle No. 161<br />
Juon jorren ilo Delap en<br />
Ekar wor ruo wa rar kuraaj ibben dron ilo iman in convention center eo ilo<br />
Delap ilo raan in Juuje, ekoba juon wa SUV kaal eo rekar bwilli lok ilo kar iien<br />
eo wot ri pija eo ad ear tobar lok ijo ear walok jorren eo ie.<br />
Shoniber ej<br />
fiscal opiija<br />
eo an MEC<br />
Secretary eo an kar Finance mokta<br />
lok Saeko Shoniber ej fiscal opiija eo<br />
ekaal nan <strong>Marshall</strong>s Energy Company<br />
eo nan board of director ro.<br />
Jen ke ekar etal jen Finance ilo<br />
2005 eo, Shoniber ej kijon kar jerbal<br />
nan Majuro Water and Sewer<br />
Company eo im bareinwot jiban<br />
lok <strong>Marshall</strong>s Energy Company eo<br />
ekoba imon jarom eo an Ebeye ak<br />
KAJUR bwe en bojak nan aer maron<br />
in bune.<br />
Ilo kar raan in Taije ilo wiik in,<br />
board eo ekar kautiej lok Shoniber<br />
bwe en kio bok jerbal in fiscal opiija<br />
eo.<br />
KAJUR ear itok iumwin pein MEC<br />
ilo kar iio eo lok; MWSC ekar bed<br />
iumwin pein MEC jen kar 1993 eo.<br />
MEC general manija Billy Roberts<br />
ear ba bwe board eo ear kanuij<br />
in monono in kejerbal Shoniber ilo<br />
jerbal kaal in an, ilo aer kar ba bwe<br />
“enaaj kommane juon jerbal eo emman.”<br />
Lein ear kwalok bwe jerbal<br />
kaal in ej nan kommani ta jibarbar<br />
ko an company in jarom im dren<br />
kein im nan repoote lok tobrak in<br />
jibarbar kein nan ippen board eo, ilo<br />
an manija ro kajojo aikuij in repoot<br />
lok nane ikijien jerbal in bonbon im<br />
kab kotbalbal ko aer.<br />
Ilo an company kein jilu kio bed<br />
iumwin pein, board eo an MEC ej aikuiji<br />
juon armij eo im ewor an kapeel<br />
ikijien jerbal in bonbon nan an jerbal<br />
ippen board eo. Lein ear kwalok an<br />
lap an liki ri jerbal in bonbon im jeen<br />
ko an company kein jilu botaap ekar<br />
ba bwe ejjelok juon iaan ro uwaan<br />
board in ewor aer kapeel in bonbon<br />
im kejerbal jeen innem ear juon men<br />
eo emman nan boktok Shoniber bwe<br />
en jerbal nan board eo im lelok naan<br />
in rejan ko nan board eo ikijien jabdrewot<br />
kajjitok kin kejerbal jeen im<br />
kab bonbon ikotaan company kein im<br />
board in ej lorlorjaki.<br />
Saeko<br />
Shoniber<br />
Saeko elap<br />
an jiban mon<br />
jarom ko ad<br />
Ri kabiloklok eo an MEC board eo ikijien jeen<br />
Saeko Shoniber ear jolok jet ien ko ion Ebeye ilo<br />
jemlok in Oktoba eo nan lelok kaminene ko nan<br />
ri jerbal in accounting department eo aer nan aer<br />
keboje repoot im lokan jerbal ko nan iio eo kio<br />
bwe ren bojak in bonbon ilo 2007.<br />
Company in jarom eo an Ebeye ear rumij ikijien<br />
bonbon ko an kin jilu iio ko mae ien eo im Shoniber<br />
ear jino an jerbal ippaer jino jen raan ko lok, im<br />
kin menin bonbon ko an 2005, 2006 renanin in<br />
dredrelok jen ippen Deloitte and Touche.<br />
MEC general manija eo ear watwate bwe bonbon<br />
eo an FY2007 ikijien KAJUR enaaj ijjino ilo allon<br />
in Tijemba in.<br />
Bonbon ko an MEC im kab Majuro Water and<br />
Sewer Company eo emoj aer karoki bwe ren ijjino<br />
ilo jemlok in lok wiik in im renaaj dredrelok ilo<br />
jemlok in Nopemba.<br />
Antone bwe bonbon eo an KAJUR enaaj ijjino<br />
ilo Tijemba, menin enaaj melele in bwe ej kab<br />
naaj iten juon katten ilo bwebwenato jen ke ekar<br />
ijjino Compact II ilo 2004, aolepen company in<br />
jarom im dren kein renaaj maron in kijone menin<br />
aikuij eo bwe bonbon ko aer ren dredrelok iloan<br />
wot jiljino allon ko ilo jemlok in fiscal iio eo, ej<br />
melele in bwe ren dredrelok en jab rumij lok jen<br />
allon in Maaj.
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007<br />
RMI votes no to Cuba<br />
An aerial shot of Kwaj.<br />
Bar lo yuk Yokwe Yuk<br />
A landmark of significance is slated<br />
to bite the dust at Kwajalein.<br />
The Yokwe Yuk Club held its last<br />
functions this past weekend, and its<br />
doors are now closed.<br />
For well over 30 years, the club<br />
has been the US Army Kwajalein<br />
Atoll’s primary site for formal dinner<br />
functions, as well as providing<br />
the only non-cafeteria style food<br />
service on the island. It is <strong>not</strong> only<br />
being closed, but will be bulldozed<br />
shortly, and with it will go a modest<br />
bit of Kwajalein’s history.<br />
JoREENY<br />
ALLEN<br />
12th grade<br />
I like to listen<br />
to 99.9 FM<br />
because it’s<br />
a Christian<br />
radio station.<br />
I don’t want to<br />
listen to other<br />
radio stations<br />
because they<br />
are <strong>not</strong> as good.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> joined the United<br />
States and only two other nations in voting<br />
against a United Nations resolution<br />
that called for an end to the US economic<br />
blockade against Cuba.<br />
The resolution was endorsed by the<br />
UN’s General Assembly 183-4 last week<br />
to end the nearly 50-year-old US economic<br />
embargo on Cuba, which is located<br />
90 miles south of Florida.<br />
In addition to the RMI and US, Israel<br />
and Palau voted ‘no’ and the Federated<br />
States of Micronesia abstained on the<br />
issue.<br />
The three US-affiliated islands vote<br />
with the US at the UN nearly 100 percent<br />
of the time.<br />
StatiOns thaT put a<br />
sMiLe oN thEir diALs<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> intern reporter Selvenious Marvin, a freshman at <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
High School, asked MIHS students:<br />
“What radio station do you<br />
listen to and why?”<br />
DARSoN ANJEL<br />
12th grade<br />
V7AB, ’cuz I really<br />
love to listen to<br />
the unforgettable<br />
birthday dedications,<br />
broadcast news,<br />
and the <strong>Marshall</strong>ese<br />
traditional songs.<br />
Also, it’s my pleasure<br />
to listen to important<br />
announcements.<br />
SoLINA<br />
JoRMELU<br />
9th grade<br />
99.9 FM It is a<br />
Christian radio<br />
and I am a<br />
Christian. There<br />
are no bad songs<br />
but only good and<br />
gospel songs. It<br />
also gives word<br />
of God.<br />
MANI KEJET<br />
9th grade<br />
I like to listen<br />
to 99.9 FM<br />
because the<br />
songs are for<br />
Christians<br />
and because<br />
I am a<br />
Christian.<br />
God bless<br />
you all.<br />
RoNI<br />
KoNELIoS<br />
9th grade<br />
I like to listen<br />
95.5 FM<br />
because I<br />
am much<br />
interested in<br />
the music that<br />
Fred Pedro is<br />
playing.<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> intern reporter<br />
Selvenious Marvin<br />
JUNIoR JoEL<br />
9th grade<br />
I like to listen to<br />
V7AB because<br />
it tells news<br />
about the<br />
weather and it<br />
also tells about<br />
our relatives<br />
who died. It also<br />
tells us about<br />
outside news on<br />
the BBC.
Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
Sitting or<br />
standing by?<br />
A slew of Majuro’s standby<br />
engines seemed to be in a<br />
“sitting” mode on Monday,<br />
when a fault at the power<br />
plant shut down power to the<br />
island. Normally quick to<br />
respond generators weren’t<br />
doing much by way of<br />
pumping out power around<br />
town. We heard that while<br />
MEC crews were busy trying<br />
to sort out its own power<br />
problem, NTA officials rang<br />
up and asked MEC if it could<br />
send some guys over to fix<br />
their standby generator.<br />
Meanwhile, some football<br />
hopefuls who know that<br />
Monday mornings are when<br />
you watch gridiron doings in<br />
Majuro, figured they could<br />
beat the power outage by<br />
heading over to Tide Table<br />
because of RRE’s standby.<br />
Well, turned out it took a<br />
while for that one to come<br />
on, though it did after a<br />
while.<br />
Then V7AB, which is<br />
usually up and running during<br />
an outage with its own<br />
power pack, couldn’t get on<br />
the air because its generator<br />
was down.<br />
Last but surely <strong>not</strong> least,<br />
as soon as MEC got some of<br />
the island back up, they got a<br />
call from the airport that its<br />
backup generator was down,<br />
so MEC dispatched a crew<br />
to help out there.<br />
Where was Moses when<br />
the lights went out? In Majuro.<br />
Ugly people<br />
You wanna make some<br />
money Around Town in the<br />
next couple of weeks? If you<br />
have more than a modicum<br />
of political savvy pay attention.<br />
As you know the<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> last week provided<br />
a national ballot choice page<br />
in the paper (the results are<br />
on page 3). Well, one guy<br />
came up with the idea of<br />
making a pool to see who<br />
could make the highest percentage<br />
of rights choices for<br />
winners in the upcoming<br />
November 19 election.<br />
If you want to enter the<br />
pool, bring in five dollars to<br />
AROUND TOWN<br />
Welcome to the <strong>Journal</strong>’s world<br />
As a subscriber to the <strong>Journal</strong> online,<br />
Heather Wilson had to dig into the<br />
<strong>Journal</strong>’s past to have her photo taken<br />
with a hard copy version. The paper<br />
she’s holding as she sits outside the<br />
University of California Los Angeles<br />
the Flame Tree and get an<br />
official pool form. Highest<br />
number of correct choices<br />
takes the pot, and if there is a<br />
tie, the pot gets split evenly.<br />
If you don’t want to join the<br />
pool, just don’t join. It’s that<br />
simple.<br />
We do remind readers<br />
of one significant fact they<br />
may wish to consider before<br />
deciding to enter the pool<br />
or <strong>not</strong>: a recent worldwide<br />
survey of people over the Internet<br />
indicated that people<br />
who participate in pools are<br />
considered five times more<br />
sexually attractive than individuals<br />
who don’t.<br />
We realize this is an inconvenient<br />
truth for all you<br />
ugly people out there, but<br />
what the hell, we didn’t<br />
make you look like Michael<br />
Moore.<br />
Oh boy!<br />
We think it was a taxi with<br />
the number 0853 on it right<br />
at Assumption. Passenger<br />
swung open his door, leaned<br />
out, and dropped a large,<br />
juicy film of spit “kabilo!”<br />
right on the road. But what<br />
happened next was beautiful.<br />
Guy in the car right<br />
behind the spitter jumped<br />
out of his car and ran to the<br />
spitting taxi and pulled the<br />
spitter out, slammed him<br />
up against the side of the<br />
taxi and asked him roughly,<br />
“Why you spit so I drive<br />
over your spit?”<br />
The nitwit spitter then<br />
started a bunch of “jolok<br />
bwir, jolok bwir” like a<br />
frightened infant. Knows<br />
how to spit, but then can’t<br />
defend his actions when<br />
shove comes to push.<br />
Spitters, it turns out, are<br />
cowards who cry “jolok<br />
bwid” when confronted.<br />
It doesn’t<br />
work<br />
Jenrok problem: church<br />
on the side of the road right<br />
in Jenrok near Ambulin’s<br />
restaurant and store location.<br />
Ladies are energetic and<br />
nice <strong>enough</strong> as they fundraise<br />
with car washing. But<br />
the carwash soapy water<br />
only goes into roadside<br />
drain and the only place<br />
that soapy water could go<br />
is right into the lagoon. But<br />
<strong>not</strong> Jenrok only place we<br />
see the roadside drains getting<br />
misused: Chinese lady<br />
down in Small Island area<br />
has been seen dumping her<br />
library dates back to sometime in<br />
2006. Heather’s a grad student at the<br />
university focusing on linguistics and<br />
as part of her program spent the last<br />
two summers in Majuro. “I miss it a<br />
lot,” she wrote.<br />
table leftovers through the<br />
grate into the drain. Not so<br />
good, eh? Face it, the drains<br />
don’t work, are clogged to<br />
the point of being a major<br />
project to clean out, and<br />
should simply just be filled<br />
in with concrete and forgotten.<br />
Whose dumb idea was it<br />
to put drains along the road<br />
anyway?<br />
Hi, Doug<br />
Monday night was a scene<br />
of quiet welcoming at the<br />
popular Melele Room of<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Resort.<br />
According to the general<br />
manager Bill Weza, a welcoming<br />
do was prepared<br />
for Doug Morris, deputy<br />
chief of mission at the US<br />
Embassy. Doug arrived in<br />
Majuro with three additional<br />
enrollees in tow at the Coop<br />
School and, according to<br />
Bill, he was a very impressive<br />
background in diplomatic<br />
assignments.<br />
President Note took the<br />
opportunity to show up and<br />
nod his recognition of the<br />
new assignee, along with<br />
about 50 guests who were<br />
on hand for the affair.<br />
Now this brings up a<br />
thought or two with regard<br />
to the US Embassy presence
Miles of<br />
smiles<br />
at<br />
WUTMI<br />
meet<br />
Lijon Eknilang<br />
(right) shakes<br />
hands with<br />
Leroij Likwor<br />
Litokwa at the<br />
opening of<br />
the WUTMI<br />
executive<br />
board meeting<br />
last Saturday.<br />
Next to Leroij<br />
Likwor is<br />
Leroij Takbar<br />
Ishiguru.<br />
Full report,<br />
see page 14<br />
here in the <strong>Marshall</strong>s and the<br />
evolved way in which it interacts<br />
with the community.<br />
Those useless twits known<br />
as fundamental Islamists<br />
have ruined the whole personality<br />
of embassy life, <strong>not</strong><br />
just here, but throughout the<br />
world.<br />
These humorless, jealous<br />
globs of cranky insufficiency<br />
have managed to ruin the<br />
enjoyment level of millions<br />
of people throughout the<br />
world. Now, because of the<br />
fundamental Islamists, you<br />
have to go through a serious<br />
security pat-down just to get<br />
into Embassy property.<br />
Before, like on the July 4<br />
Independence Day celebrations,<br />
you could just saunter<br />
up to the Embassy, wag<br />
your tennis racket around<br />
the court, and put your<br />
mouth onto a serious hot<br />
dog. Now, however, the immature,<br />
uneducated, easily<br />
manipulated, weak headed<br />
fundamental Islamists have<br />
ruined celebrations <strong>not</strong> only<br />
for the many millions of<br />
moderate Islamists who<br />
share the globe with us, but<br />
also Christians, Jews and<br />
atheists alike. They are a vile<br />
and cancerous set of mortals<br />
and should be exterminated.<br />
Everyone knows they sweat<br />
so much they heat up the<br />
environment causing global<br />
warming. Just ask Al Gore,<br />
if you don’t believe us.<br />
Jump for<br />
her life<br />
A <strong>Journal</strong> staffer was having<br />
a chat in a taxi on Monday<br />
when a co-passenger<br />
groaned and complained<br />
AROUND TOWN<br />
about his sore back. “What<br />
happened?” the scribe<br />
asked. “I was on the fourth<br />
floor of the MIDB building<br />
when the power went out,”<br />
explained the staffer’s new<br />
pal, Jimmy. “The elevator<br />
was stuck, so we pulled the<br />
doors open and there was a<br />
woman with her baby.<br />
“But the floor was up<br />
here (pointing to the roof of<br />
the taxi).” Jimmy retrieved<br />
the child with no problem<br />
and was just explaining to<br />
the woman that she should<br />
hurry up and jump down<br />
before the power came back<br />
on when ... whoomf... she<br />
did just that, flattening our<br />
poor Jimmy.<br />
Our staffer suggested he<br />
find someone to give him<br />
a back massage that night.<br />
“Worrorr!” he exclaimed.<br />
“My wife is going to Jaluit<br />
tonight.” We guess that<br />
meant no massage anytime<br />
soon.<br />
“Perhaps,” our staffer<br />
said, “she’s leaving because<br />
she heard that women are<br />
always jumping at you from<br />
elevators?”<br />
Ooops! “Ij to ijane” and<br />
with that the staffer left behind<br />
a taxi full of giggling<br />
lakatus.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007
8 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
Stand by for<br />
Ebon debate<br />
A debate is being planned for Ebon Atoll Nitijela and<br />
Mayor candidates.<br />
The Ebon Local Council is reported to have met earlier<br />
this week and scheduled a debate for Saturday, November<br />
17 — two days before the election.<br />
The debate will be held in Majuro, at a time and place<br />
to be announced. In a<strong>not</strong>her development, the council is<br />
reported to have voted to set up a trust fund for Ebon with<br />
the leftover money from the 150th anniversary celebration<br />
of Christianity’s arrival to RMI.<br />
From the fundraising for the event, $9,000 was left. The<br />
council has put the money in an interest-bearing TCD account,<br />
and plans to set up a trust fund for future community<br />
benefi t.<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> poll results<br />
(Percentage of votes after<br />
the candidates’ names)<br />
Ailinglaplap<br />
Gordon Note, 19<br />
Christopher Loeak, 81<br />
Harney Paul, 13<br />
Ruben Zackhras, 69<br />
Francis Horiuchi, 19<br />
Ailuk<br />
Hackney Takju, 29<br />
Maynard Alfred, 58<br />
Hemos Jack, 13<br />
Arno<br />
Nidel Lorak, 77<br />
Gerald Zackios, 65<br />
Jiba Kabua, 32<br />
Juan Lokot, 10<br />
Mike HAlferty, 13,<br />
Ruman Jorbal, 0<br />
Weiner Kattil, 3<br />
Aur<br />
Danny Jack, 23<br />
Norman Matthew, 77<br />
Ebon<br />
Heran Bellu, 44<br />
John Silk, 56<br />
Enewetak<br />
Mishael John, 20<br />
Jack Ading, 80<br />
Jabat<br />
Abo Loeak, 6<br />
Anono Loeak, 36<br />
Kessai Note, 58<br />
Jaluit<br />
Frederick deBrum, 19<br />
John Bungitak, 9<br />
Hilda Heine, 66<br />
Jokane Bisentha, 0<br />
Rien Morris, 31<br />
Alvin Jacklick, 63<br />
Lenest Lanki, 13<br />
Kili<br />
March Samuel, 23<br />
Tomaki Juda, 76<br />
Kwajalein<br />
Ataji Balos, 25<br />
Jeban Riklon, 63<br />
Michael Kabua, 88<br />
Sato Maie, 22<br />
Stephen Dribo, 31<br />
Tony deBrum, 69<br />
Lae<br />
Charles deBrum, 32<br />
Joblo Samuel, 6<br />
Rellong Lemari, 39<br />
Rino Phillip, 23<br />
Lib<br />
Irumne Bondrik, 48<br />
Jerakoj Bejang, 52<br />
Likiep<br />
Donald Capelle, 53<br />
Tom Kijiner, 47<br />
Majuro<br />
Carl Heine, 13<br />
Biuma Samson, 13<br />
Amatlain Kabua, 52<br />
Edwin Lakien, 6<br />
Jurelang Zedkaia, 84<br />
Witten Philippo, 26<br />
Rosalie Konou, 6<br />
Brenson Wase, 58<br />
Jack Jorbon, 13<br />
Jakeo Relang, 3<br />
Phillip Muller, 42<br />
Wilfred Kendall, 55<br />
Melvin Narruhn, 29<br />
Alik Alik, 45<br />
David Kramer, 58<br />
Maloelap<br />
Emil deBrum, 30<br />
Hemlen Langmoir, 3<br />
Michael Konelios, 60<br />
Patrick Langmoir, 7<br />
Mejit<br />
Dennis Momotaro, 71<br />
Luckner Abner, 0<br />
Helkena Anni, 29<br />
Mili<br />
Alee Alik, 16<br />
Kejjo Bien, 22<br />
Billy Billy, 19<br />
Tadashi Lometo, 31<br />
Homer Graham, 12<br />
Namdrik<br />
Rod Nakamura, 39<br />
Mattlan Zackhras, 61<br />
Namu<br />
Kaiboke Kabua, 50<br />
Anna Anien, 17<br />
Tony Aiseia, 33<br />
Rongelap<br />
Abacca Anjain-Maddison,<br />
44<br />
Atbi Riklon, 16<br />
Kenneth Kedi, 41<br />
Ujae<br />
Caios Lucky, 32<br />
Frederick Muller, 42<br />
Marcella Sakaio, 13<br />
William Swain, 13<br />
Utrik<br />
Amenta Matthew, 75<br />
Hiroshi Yamamura, 25<br />
Wotho<br />
Elmer Langbata, 17<br />
Namar Nashon, 10<br />
David Kabua, 73<br />
Wotje<br />
Litokwa Tomeing, automatic<br />
Note: Not all totals add up<br />
to 100 percent as they’ve<br />
been rounded off or refl ect<br />
multiple seat constituencies.<br />
Honeymooners<br />
mad at airline<br />
LETTERS PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960<br />
The following letter, dated October<br />
10, was sent to Air <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
general manager Dan Fitzpatrick by<br />
Rhiannon and Andrew Pitkin, residents<br />
of Gainesville, Florida:<br />
My husband and I have just returned<br />
from Bikini Atoll, having spent our<br />
honeymoon diving the nuclear fl eet.<br />
We were scheduled to leave Bikini on<br />
fl ight 555 to Majuro in order that we<br />
make our connection to Honolulu and<br />
onto Newark. We were due to spend<br />
the last four days of our honeymoon<br />
in Manhattan before traveling home to<br />
Florida on Sunday, October 7.<br />
Late afternoon on Tuesday, October<br />
2 we were informed by the head divemaster<br />
of Bikini Atoll Divers that the<br />
scheduled AMI fl ight was postponed<br />
“indefi nitely due to pilot issues.” We<br />
were later told that these issues were<br />
related to an excess of pilot hour<br />
and the fl ight would arrive Tuesday,<br />
October 9 — six days late. I fi nd it<br />
incredible to believe that this was <strong>not</strong><br />
predicted until 16 hours before the<br />
fl ight was due to leave Majuro and<br />
that a back up plan was <strong>not</strong> already<br />
in place, particularly with no second<br />
plane available.<br />
Following a meeting in Majuro when<br />
the pilot issues were addressed, the<br />
fl ight was rescheduled to leave early<br />
Thursday, October 4. We were told<br />
the fl ight was late leaving but had left<br />
the runway on Thursday en route to<br />
Kwajalein.<br />
However, we were then informed<br />
that the fl ight had <strong>not</strong> in fact ever taken<br />
off due to technical diffi culties. It was<br />
tentatively rescheduled for some time<br />
on Friday. We eventually left Bikini on<br />
Friday morning — two days late and<br />
having missed our connections from<br />
Majuro and Honolulu.<br />
Bikini Atoll Divers arranged for<br />
our flights on from Majuro to be<br />
rescheduled and we arrived in New<br />
York on Saturday, October 6. We had<br />
only 18 hours of our four-day-stay in<br />
Manhattan left before we had to return<br />
to Florida.<br />
I am therefore writing for compensation<br />
for the loss of our four-day holiday<br />
in New York and for the signifi cant<br />
inconvenience we experienced as a<br />
direct result of the two-day delay of<br />
Air <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> fl ight 555. My<br />
husband has no more vacation allowance<br />
for the year, having used it all for<br />
this honeymoon. He also had to return<br />
to work without any opportunity to<br />
recover from the inevitable considerable<br />
jetlag.<br />
I have copied this letter to the<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> following<br />
the article of October 5 and to Bikini<br />
Atoll Divers. We spent two weeks of<br />
diving spectacular shipwrecks and<br />
were looked after very well by the dive<br />
team during this time and during the<br />
delay. However, the diver operation’s<br />
reliance on Air <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> to<br />
transport customers to and from Bikini<br />
means that we are unlikely to return.<br />
We traveled with a<strong>not</strong>her couple that<br />
were similarly inconvenienced and feel<br />
the same way in this regard.<br />
We look forward to hearing from<br />
you shortly with an appropriate compensation<br />
package.
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007<br />
LETTERS PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960, Fax 625-3136, email journal@ntamar.net<br />
Hard-working kids get ripped off<br />
Fake $20<br />
bill used<br />
in Laura<br />
store<br />
I live in Lomar, Laura. My younger<br />
brother Jim and I have owned a small momand-pop<br />
store for about five years now, with<br />
the intent of saving up money for college.<br />
On Thursday evening, October 25, someone<br />
came up and bought with a $20 dollar<br />
bill. The next morning, upon closer inspection,<br />
we realized the money was counterfeit;<br />
unfortunately, we could <strong>not</strong> remember who<br />
had used the bill.<br />
The bill was smaller than a regular $20<br />
bill, and the ink was starting to smear.<br />
When held up to the light, there was no<br />
watermark of President Andrew Jackson’s<br />
face.<br />
We knew the incident took place at night-<br />
Eta in Bethany Fisher, im ij jokwe ilo<br />
Lomar, Laura. Lalem year emootlok kõmro<br />
ear laddik eo jatiõ kajutak juon mon wia bwe<br />
kõmin kapok wonan college.<br />
Boñin Taije eo, October 25 raan, juon<br />
armej ear itok im wia kõn $20 dollar. Inem<br />
lak jibbõñ in raan eo juon, kõmij kab kile<br />
bwe riab in jããn men eo, ak kõmij jab<br />
kememej wõn eo ear wia kõn $20 dollar<br />
eo. Unin ad jelã bwe riab in tala men eo ej<br />
kõnke edikrik jidik jãn mool in tala, kab uno<br />
eo e jamej. Barãinwõt ke komar lale dollar<br />
eo ilo meram, komar jab lo annañin mejan<br />
time, when the store is usually very busy.<br />
We were able to remember almost everyone<br />
who had come up and bought that night.<br />
My mom and I spent the next evening interviewing<br />
some of the customers that had<br />
made purchases on the night of the crime,<br />
so that we could ascertain who had bought<br />
with the bogus bill.<br />
We have been spreading the word about<br />
this criminal act in hopes that we will nab<br />
the suspect and warn people to keep an eye<br />
out for any suspicious-looking money.<br />
I hope this article will be of help to people<br />
and that it will raise awareness about counterfeit<br />
money here in the RMI.<br />
Bethany Fisher<br />
Loe jaan riab ilo<br />
Laura imon wia<br />
Sam Smith<br />
President Andrew Jackson.<br />
Komar kememej bwe ri nana eo ear itok<br />
im wia ke ejota, im komar kememej enañin<br />
aolep ro im raar wia boñin eo. Komro kar<br />
jinõ etal im bwebwenato ippãn ro im raar<br />
wia, bwe kõmin etale wõn eo ear wia kõn<br />
riab in jããn eo.<br />
Komij kajelaik aolep armej kõn men in<br />
me ear walok bwe ren mejmej karuo im<br />
kejparok er jãn ro ri nana. Ij kejatdikdik bwe<br />
article in enaaj jipañ elõñ armej ikkijien riab<br />
in jããn, ak counterfeit, ilo RMI in.<br />
Bethany Fisher<br />
Head ‘lion’<br />
roars komol<br />
to <strong>Journal</strong><br />
On behalf of the Lions Club of the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
we would like to express our sincere appreciation to<br />
the <strong>Journal</strong> for covering the Charter Night Induction<br />
Ceremony in your October 19 issue. The Lions Club<br />
is a humanitarian NGO that concentrates its efforts<br />
to help the community. We will look for needs that<br />
should be fulfilled and we will try to help.<br />
Your contribution and support in the form of publicity<br />
helps to promote this effort and will enable us to<br />
gain individual and private sector support to realizes<br />
our mission to develop programs and projects that will<br />
be of service to those in need in our community.<br />
Samuel L. Smith, President, Lions Club<br />
A big breakthrough in<br />
talks with the European<br />
Union (EU) will pave the<br />
way for fish exports from<br />
the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> for<br />
the first time.<br />
R&D Minister John<br />
Silk told the <strong>Journal</strong> Saturday<br />
that the opening of<br />
the EU market to the <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> and other<br />
small islands in the region<br />
promises a big economic<br />
boost for the islands.<br />
Up until last month, the<br />
EU — which represents<br />
27 European countries<br />
— had set fish export<br />
regulations that prevented<br />
most Pacific islands from any possibility of<br />
ever exporting the one big resource available<br />
for export: fish.<br />
This is because the EU was demanding<br />
that for fish to be exported into the EU it had<br />
to meet “rules of origin” that included that<br />
50 percent island ownership of the fishing<br />
boats and a 50 percent local crew.<br />
Silk said for the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> and other<br />
small islands, this requirement prevented<br />
any possibility of exports to EU countries,<br />
despite the fact that fish handled and processed<br />
in Majuro is now being exported to<br />
the US and Japan.<br />
Bethany Fisher holds up the counterfeit $20 bill,<br />
which was ‘spent’ at her Laura store. Above, a<br />
real $20 <strong>not</strong>e, with the false one underneath.<br />
EU okays RMI<br />
fish exports<br />
Minister for<br />
Resources and<br />
Development<br />
John Silk.<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Fishing<br />
Venture, which handles<br />
the export of sashimigrade<br />
tuna from Majuro to<br />
the US and Japan, has for<br />
several years been keen<br />
to gain access to the big<br />
EU market.<br />
Last month, the EU<br />
negotiators changed their<br />
position, and dropped the<br />
requirement of 50 percent ownership and<br />
crew.<br />
“We’ve been negotiating with them for<br />
three years on this,” Silk said. “It’s a big<br />
breakthrough.”<br />
An agreement is expected to be signed<br />
next month that will open the EU doors<br />
to fish exports from the RMI and other<br />
islands.<br />
Silk said it has the potential for increasing<br />
employment to <strong>Marshall</strong> Islanders as the<br />
demand for fish transshipped out of Majuro<br />
will grow tremendously with the opening of<br />
the EU market.
10 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
MEC targets the navy<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong>s Energy Company<br />
is stepping up its efforts to get the<br />
US Navy to use Majuro as a regular<br />
refueling stop, with the hiring<br />
of a new staff member to push its<br />
fuel services.<br />
Former Micronesian Shipping<br />
Agency chief Phil Welch is the<br />
new safety officer and bunkering<br />
manager for MEC, who officially<br />
started this week.<br />
“The bonus with hiring Phil is<br />
that he’s a qualified fireman and<br />
he knows the shipping business,”<br />
MEC general manager Billy Roberts<br />
said. “We’re getting two for<br />
one.”<br />
Welch’s work with MEC will be<br />
two-fold, Roberts said.<br />
A major initial focus of Welch’s<br />
work with MEC will be to upgrade<br />
fire safety systems at the<br />
power plant and tank farm, Roberts<br />
said.<br />
This is part of MEC’s goal to<br />
improve its tank farm operations.<br />
“Our guys (tank farm staff) are doing<br />
a great job, but it needs refining<br />
to meet international standards,”<br />
Roberts said.<br />
“We’ve started the process, but<br />
there’s been too much going on.<br />
Phil will bring the focus that we<br />
need.”<br />
On the fuel side, Welch’s exten-<br />
sive knowledge of and contacts in<br />
the shipping world will help MEC<br />
attract more fuel sales opportunities,<br />
<strong>not</strong> only with the US Navy,<br />
but also with fishing boats.<br />
“There are lots of fishing boats<br />
out there that don’t fuel in Majuro,”<br />
Roberts said.<br />
“Now we’ve got someone to<br />
focus on it (getting the fishing<br />
companies to come to Majuro).”<br />
Public Works Minister and MEC<br />
board chairman Matt Zackhras<br />
Phil Welch poses<br />
for the camera<br />
with his daughter<br />
Andrea.<br />
has already sent a letter to the US<br />
Navy about future ongoing use of<br />
MEC fuel and tank farm storage<br />
opportunities.<br />
“If we could get one Navy ship<br />
a month, it would be a big boost<br />
for the economy,” Roberts said.<br />
“Forget fuel, these (Navy) guys<br />
spend money in town. There are a<br />
lot of benefits.”<br />
But it’s <strong>not</strong> only the Navy that<br />
MEC is aiming to bring in on a<br />
more regular basis to increase its<br />
Saeko helps to sort<br />
out KAJUR’s finances<br />
New MEC board fiscal advisor Saeko<br />
Shoniber spent time on Ebeye in late<br />
October to train KAJUR accounting<br />
staff and organize financial documents<br />
for the current fiscal year 2007 audit.<br />
Ebeye’s utility company was three<br />
years behind on audits until Shoniber<br />
began working with the KAJUR accounting<br />
staff earlier this year. The<br />
FY2004 audit was published recently,<br />
and the 2005 and 2006 audits are nearly<br />
completed by Deloitte and Touche.<br />
MEC general manager said he anticipates<br />
the FY2007 audit for KAJUR<br />
Ad maron in wia<br />
kake ek nan EU<br />
Juon tobrak laplap<br />
ikijien kenono ko ippen<br />
European Union eo ak<br />
(EU) enaaj kebelok ial<br />
eo nan jerbal in wia<br />
kake ek ko jen Aelon<br />
Kein ej kab naaj juon<br />
katten ilo bwebwenato<br />
nan ijokein ba kaki.<br />
R&D Minister John<br />
Silk ear jiron tok <strong>Journal</strong><br />
eo ilo raan in Jadredre<br />
eo ke bellok in an<br />
jikin makit ko an EU<br />
tok nan Aelon Kein<br />
ekoba lal jidrik ko mottan<br />
eletok juon kallimur<br />
laplap ikijien an laplok<br />
jonan jerammon eo nan<br />
lal kein ijokein. Mae<br />
kar allon eo lok, EU eo – im<br />
ej jutak kake 27 lal ko ilo<br />
aelon in Europe kan – ekar<br />
bobrae jerbal in wia kake ek<br />
nan ippaer nan elon wot iaan<br />
lal ko woj ilo belakin Pacific<br />
in ikijien men in jerammon<br />
eo elaptata ippaer: EK.<br />
Wawein in ear eindrein<br />
kinke EU eo ear karoke<br />
im kakiene bwe jabdrewot<br />
ek ko im rej wia kake lok<br />
Minister John Silk<br />
nan ippaer ren aikuij in loor<br />
juon men eo rej ba “rules<br />
of origin” ak kakien ikijien<br />
jikin eo ej itok jene, eo im<br />
ej kemlet bwe ej aikuij in<br />
jonan in 50 bojjan waan ri<br />
aelon kein waan eonod ko<br />
im ej aikuij wor 50 bojjan ri<br />
aelon kein rej jerbal ilo waan<br />
eonod kein.<br />
Silk ear ba bwe <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> ekoba lal jidrik ko<br />
jet mottan rekar jab<br />
maron in teru kin kar<br />
jekjek in nan aer maron<br />
in kar wia kake<br />
lok ek nan lal ko an<br />
EU, mene ek ko im<br />
rej keboji im kommani<br />
ion Majuro in rej wia<br />
kaki lok nan US im<br />
kab Japan.<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
Fishing Venture, eo<br />
im ej keboji kanniek in<br />
ek lap kein im rej wia<br />
kaki lok nan US im<br />
kab Japan, iumwin kar<br />
jet iio ko kio ear kanuij<br />
in konan kar komman<br />
bwe en maron in wia<br />
kake lok ek nan jikin<br />
makit ko rellap ilo EU eo.<br />
Ilo allon eo lok, ri bebe<br />
ro jen droluul eo an EU<br />
rekar ukot karok in aer kar<br />
mokta lok im jolok wawein<br />
in ikijien 50 bojjan aikuij<br />
bwe en waan wa eo im 50<br />
bojjan aikuij bwe en wor ri<br />
jerbal in ijokein ion waan<br />
eonod eo.<br />
“Kimar kenono ippen<br />
EU kin wawein in iumwin<br />
jilu iio ko kio,” Silk ear ba.<br />
“Menin ej juon dreblok eo<br />
ekanuij in lap.” Juon kon<br />
rekar kotmene bwe renaaj<br />
jaini iloan allon in lal im<br />
enaaj maron in kebeloke<br />
kejem ko an EU nan jerbal in<br />
wia kake ek lok nan lal kan<br />
aer jen Aelon Kein ekoba lal<br />
ko jet jen belaak in ijokein.<br />
Silk ear kwalok bwe enaaj<br />
lonlok jerbal ko rebellok ilo<br />
Aelon Kein jen wot an naaj<br />
laplok jerbal in wia kake<br />
im ijilok lok ek kein jen<br />
Majuro in ilo an naaj maron<br />
in laplok jerbal in wia kake<br />
in lok nan jikin makit ko an<br />
EU eo.<br />
fuel sale volume. An important<br />
consideration for purse seine fishing<br />
operators is the need for both<br />
diesel for the vessels and jet fuel<br />
for the helicopters on board.<br />
“A lot of purse seiners are interested<br />
to come to Majuro but they<br />
want a one-stop-shop,” Roberts<br />
said.<br />
“If we’ve got jet, they’ll come<br />
in. So we’re talking with several<br />
fishing companies about supplying<br />
jet fuel.”<br />
will begin in December. Audits for<br />
MEC and Majuro Water and Sewer<br />
Company are scheduled to start later<br />
this week and be completed by the end<br />
of November.<br />
Assuming KAJUR is ready for the<br />
audit to start in December, it should<br />
mean that for the first time since Compact<br />
II was implemented in 2004, all<br />
three RMI utility companies will meet<br />
the Compact’s requirement that audits<br />
be completed within six months of<br />
the end of the fiscal year, meaning by<br />
March.<br />
He said MEC is looking at several<br />
options, including having a<br />
fishing company buy the jet fuel<br />
with MEC storing and delivering<br />
it when needed.<br />
Currently only Mobil sells jet<br />
fuel in Majuro, but that is reserved<br />
for sales to airplanes.<br />
The bottom line for MEC is that<br />
increasing fuel sales to ships and<br />
fishing boats increases its overall<br />
revenues, which can help to crosssubsidize<br />
electric costs.
Team XXXX<br />
crew member<br />
Karness Kusto<br />
holds up a<br />
wahoo at the<br />
Shoreline dock<br />
as the sun sinks<br />
slowly in the<br />
west.<br />
EATING OUT IN MAJURO<br />
Yahoo! It was a<br />
wahoo weekend<br />
Weatherman<br />
Reggie<br />
White<br />
and RMI<br />
Ambassador<br />
to RoC<br />
Alex Bing<br />
pose with a<br />
barracuda<br />
caught on<br />
Lady Lu.<br />
If you didn’t eat some<br />
fresh wahoo this week, you<br />
were sitting at the wrong<br />
dining table.<br />
That’s because Majuro’s<br />
champion fisherfolk<br />
brought home 443.1 qualifying<br />
pounds of the scrumptious<br />
species (and a bunch<br />
more smaller fry that also<br />
found their way into kitchens<br />
around town).<br />
One place you could definitely<br />
have dined on some<br />
wonderful wahoo is the<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Resort’s<br />
Enra Restaurant, because<br />
food and beverage manager<br />
Edward Fowler always<br />
makes sure he has a fish<br />
dish available for clients.<br />
“We buy about 360 pounds<br />
of fish a week,” Ed said.<br />
Take advantage<br />
of vegetables<br />
If you think the only people who like to eat veggies in<br />
Majuro are Liz Rodick, Jack Niedenthal and Giff Johnson,<br />
you’d be wrong.<br />
What we were amazed to find out the other day is that<br />
items like veggie pizzas and pumpkin-spinach pasta are getting<br />
traction with lots of carnivorous types around town.<br />
Don’t believe us? Then just watch what people are ordering<br />
at places like MI Resort, Flame Tree and Tide Table.<br />
Could it be a trend?<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007 11<br />
“Mostly we buy yellowfin<br />
tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo.”<br />
The restaurant’s main<br />
supplier is the fish base, but<br />
Edward also buys from local<br />
fishermen such as Robin<br />
Reimers and Bwiji Aliven.<br />
“We pay about $3 a pound<br />
for their fish if they give it<br />
to us already filleted.”<br />
And speaking of Robin<br />
and Bwiji, they were just two<br />
of 15 skippers who headed<br />
out to the waters around<br />
Majuro in last Saturday’s<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong>s Billfish Club Reef<br />
Runner Tournament.<br />
Bwiji, fishing on Celinda,<br />
came out the big winner on<br />
the day, with 163 pounds of<br />
tuna, wahoo and barracuda.<br />
Second place went to Kyle<br />
Aliven on Dragon, with 110<br />
pounds of target fish, plus<br />
a 300-pound marlin (giving<br />
him a cool 410 points<br />
towards the President’s Cup<br />
competition). Third place<br />
went to Team True Blue,<br />
skippered by Melvin Aliven,<br />
with 106 pounds of fishy<br />
flesh (plus 250 points for a<br />
tag-and-release billfish).<br />
Only three boats came<br />
back to the Shoreline dock<br />
with <strong>not</strong>hing to weigh, so all<br />
in all it was a seafood weekend<br />
for many Majuro-ites.
1 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
EATING OUT IN MAJURO<br />
Iron men<br />
Long Island Hotel is becoming Majuro’s<br />
sports spot. The inn has long been<br />
the in place for tennis and now golf is<br />
on the agenda. Photographer Douglas<br />
Henry stopped by the hotel on Monday<br />
at lunch and found a squad of VIPs<br />
— including (front row) Ambassador<br />
Bruce Linghu, President Kessai Note,<br />
and Minister Witten Philippo — talking<br />
up tee-offs and bragging about birdies<br />
at the inaugural meeting of the <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> Golf Club Federation.<br />
Rice is nice<br />
but don’t frown at brown<br />
What can you do with rice to make it<br />
more exciting than just a glob of white<br />
stuff on your plate?<br />
Well, as long as you’re <strong>not</strong> Japanese,<br />
you can pick up the bottle of soy sauce<br />
and pour it on the white rice, turning it<br />
brown and salty tasting — a habit that<br />
many locals, <strong>Marshall</strong>ese and ribelle<br />
alike, follow.<br />
Or you can locate your hamburger<br />
with gravy on top of the rice to spice<br />
up the taste of your carbs.<br />
If you’re interested in changing<br />
people’s thinking toward eating brown<br />
If we were to start a column featured<br />
in our monthly restaurant guide<br />
for Majuro and chose the first word<br />
identifying the eatery as “AL”, you’d<br />
probably think we were about to push<br />
something on you about the restaurateur<br />
Al Wong (the guy who leads<br />
the charge at Flame Tree). And since<br />
we have begun our series of reviews,<br />
those of you with long memories and<br />
discriminating minds will have quite<br />
possibly come to the conclusion that<br />
the <strong>Journal</strong> has run out of places to<br />
review: From RRE’s Tide Table,<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Resort’s Enra, Long<br />
Island Hotel’s restaurant, Flame, Lathbern,<br />
White House, Chit Chat, Kitco,<br />
Won Hai, Special, Uliga Restaurant,<br />
Monica’s etc, just about every potential<br />
eatery has been evaluated.<br />
All we claim, except one. And, like<br />
we said, (or at least hinted at above)<br />
this one begins with the appellation<br />
“AL”.<br />
The dining experience we are targeting<br />
for this week, sadly, is limited to<br />
a once-a-week affair, that is, open for<br />
business only one day each week. And<br />
rice, you can be sneaky to get your<br />
way. Instead of trying to foist a bowl<br />
of brown rice on suspecting customers,<br />
there’s a<strong>not</strong>her way to get your<br />
way. Start out with two-thirds white<br />
rice, one-third brown, mixed together<br />
in the rice cooker so when it’s cooked<br />
it doesn’t show so much. Guaranteed<br />
everyone will eat it and likely without<br />
any comment at all.<br />
Do this for a few meals till your<br />
home eaters are accustomed. Then up<br />
the amount of brown rice periodically.<br />
It’s been scientifically proven to work!<br />
So try it.<br />
But how about brown rice out in the<br />
open, no subterfuge about it?<br />
We were amazed with a concoction<br />
produced in a local kitchen the other<br />
day. Check this: brown rice mixed with<br />
bits of spinach, raisins and thin slices<br />
of almonds. Wiz-wow. That was pretty<br />
exciting stuff.<br />
So interesting in fact that when it<br />
was out on our table at the Tide Table,<br />
a next table neighbor looked over and<br />
asked the waitresses to change her<br />
order so she could try it, too.<br />
EATING OUT IN MAJURO<br />
We suggest you<br />
try ‘Eating AL’<br />
‘It is a veritable font<br />
of fresh produce and<br />
cookery, resplendant<br />
with “doctor<br />
recommended” antidiabetes<br />
vitamins.’<br />
you can’t exactly talk about this restaurant<br />
in terms of the owner because, you<br />
see, there are many owners involved<br />
in this eating phenomenon. Yet it is<br />
in terms of quality food (fresh beyond<br />
the capability of Payless or Formosa to<br />
import) our eating experience for this<br />
week beats every other restaurant in<br />
town for simple freshness; right out of<br />
mother nature and into your tummy.<br />
And talk about variety! Wow! Giant<br />
clam, bananas (both eating and cooking),<br />
octopus, fresh reef fish, pickled<br />
papaya, ground-baked breadfruit, fresh<br />
prepared likor (grated baby coconut<br />
with sweetened milk), ready to drink<br />
coconuts, bwiro, boiled pandanus,<br />
baked “bao in lal” (locally raised<br />
chicken) and jirol.<br />
The restaurant is spread from about<br />
midway Ajeltake to the end of Laura<br />
and appears in the form of little stands<br />
discreetly located along the road to and<br />
through Laura Village.<br />
It is a veritable font of fresh produce<br />
and cookery, resplendant with<br />
“doctor recommended” anti-diabetes<br />
vitamins.<br />
Enjoy a full, cold glass of freshly<br />
milked “jakaro”, so high in vitamin C<br />
content that it normally scores off any<br />
regular scale designed to compare nutritional<br />
value of different fruits. And<br />
taste? Absolutely invigorating!<br />
Yes, this is all yours at “Al Fresco”,<br />
the magnificent outdoor eating experience<br />
set up each Sunday for visitors<br />
from Rita who hanker for a nice jambo<br />
to the other end of the atoll from town.<br />
The “Al Fresco” experience is a great<br />
way to enjoy Majuro, spread some<br />
moolah around the local community,<br />
and treat your body to a refreshing<br />
bombardment of healthy, tasty food.<br />
It’s truly a worthwhile experience.
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> High School’s library was jam packed with students who<br />
showed up to take the US military entrance test that was conducted last week<br />
in Majuro. Tests were also given at Assumption and Laura High School.<br />
ADB: Good<br />
governance<br />
is the key<br />
There is a direct link between<br />
“good governance” and economic<br />
growth in Pacific island countries,<br />
Asian Development Bank officials<br />
told the seventh annual Pacific Region<br />
Investment Conference held in<br />
Manila last month.<br />
Craig Sugden and Rashiel Velarde<br />
of ADB’s Pacific Regional<br />
Department described the Solomon <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Palau as<br />
“recent recoveries” — the economies of<br />
which all have projected growth this year<br />
around five percent, which is considered<br />
good. Meanwhile, the Cook <strong>Islands</strong>, Tuvalu<br />
and Samoa, all of which were at or above<br />
five percent growth in the early 2000s, have<br />
dropped down and are projected to remain in<br />
the two-to-three percent range in 2007-08.<br />
By comparison, the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
Kiribati and Federated States of Micronesia<br />
saw about two percent growth in 2005-06<br />
and are expected to remain at this same<br />
modest level of growth in 2007-08.<br />
Fiji and Tonga have had numerous internal<br />
problems — a military coup in Fiji, riots<br />
and unrest in Tonga — and their growth is<br />
projected to be negative in 2007-08.<br />
The ADB officials said that “government<br />
effectiveness” has a big influence on making<br />
economic growth possible and increasing<br />
per capita gross domestic product (GDP).<br />
While this is true globally, it also applies<br />
in the Pacific, the said. They tracked island<br />
economies among ADB member nations in<br />
the Pacific, showing that those with better<br />
control of corruption had higher average<br />
levels of growth.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> was one of eight<br />
islands that had negative growth over the<br />
most recent 10-year period, at an overall<br />
10-year rate of minus one percent per year.<br />
Timor-Leste had the worst economic growth<br />
at minus seven percent per year for the past<br />
10 years, while Nauru was next worst at<br />
minus four percent.<br />
On the positive side are Cook <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
with an average growth rate of about six<br />
‘The ADB sees tourism,<br />
remittances, offshore<br />
investments and offshore<br />
fishing as the main areas with<br />
potential for growth.’<br />
percent over 10 years, followed by Tuvalu<br />
at five percent and Samoa at about three<br />
percent. Kiribati, Tonga and Fiji were the<br />
three other islands with positive growth<br />
over 10 years.<br />
The ADB officials said that among the<br />
causes of poor governance in the Pacific<br />
are:<br />
• Poorly developed systems, which result<br />
from a lack of trained workers, weak ability<br />
to make policies, and people who don’t get<br />
behind and support changes or reforms.<br />
• Tension between traditional and modern<br />
systems.<br />
• Weak links between people and their<br />
governments, which is caused by a lack<br />
of information being shared with the community<br />
that translates further into people<br />
<strong>not</strong> having much of a voice in their government.<br />
“Pacific island economies can grow,” the<br />
ADB officials said. But local economies<br />
need to be led by the private sector and allow<br />
for foreign investment to prosper.<br />
One of the real challenges in the Pacific<br />
“is a deep inertia (unwillingness to move)<br />
in some economies,” they said.<br />
The ADB sees tourism, remittances<br />
(money sent home by islanders living in the<br />
US, Australia and New Zealand), offshore<br />
investments and offshore fishing as the main<br />
areas with potential for growth.<br />
They emphasized the need to improve<br />
governance in the region, with an emphasis<br />
on:<br />
• Physical infrastructure, including developing<br />
human (people) resources.<br />
• Essential social services.<br />
• Private sector friendly environments.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007 1<br />
TALK of TARAWA<br />
Kiribati goes<br />
for Kiwi, Oz<br />
work schemes<br />
By BATIRI BATAUA<br />
Last month, 30 I-Kiribati<br />
trainee nurses went to Australia<br />
to complete their studies,<br />
and after graduation,<br />
they will be employed there<br />
and can apply for Australian<br />
citizenship.<br />
Meanwhile, before the<br />
end of this year, about 1,000<br />
youths will go to New Zealand<br />
to work on farms as part<br />
of the New Zealand government’s<br />
Pacific scheme to<br />
expand the number of work<br />
opportunities for islanders.<br />
The Kiribati Technical<br />
Institute in Betio is to be<br />
upgraded so its graduates<br />
will obtain a standard skill<br />
recognized in Australia,<br />
New Zealand and elsewhere<br />
so that they can successfully<br />
compete for jobs.<br />
These are part of a longterm<br />
plan outlined by President<br />
A<strong>not</strong>e Tong, who told<br />
reporters it’s also to respond<br />
to sea rising.<br />
The continuation of I-<br />
Kiribati nurse training in<br />
Australia is a result of a<br />
bilateral talks between Tong<br />
and Australian PM John<br />
Howard.<br />
“I often talked with Mr.<br />
Howard at the Forum and<br />
other meetings, and asked<br />
him why (Australia is) recruiting<br />
Asians to work in<br />
Australia and <strong>not</strong> Pacific<br />
islanders and in particular,<br />
I-Kiribati.<br />
“Mr. Howard answered<br />
me back and said, our people<br />
don’t have the skills<br />
required.”<br />
The two leaders agreed<br />
to start with nurses, and<br />
Australia has also shown its<br />
interests in the upgrading of<br />
skill standard at the Kiribati<br />
Technical Institute.<br />
New Zealand, Japan,<br />
Taiwan, Canada and other<br />
countries are also interested,<br />
as they have plans to<br />
recruit skilled laborers from<br />
Kiribati.”<br />
Tong, who was just reelected<br />
to his second term,<br />
also told reporters that when<br />
this youth recruitment program<br />
comes to a reality, it<br />
will pave a way for mobi-<br />
Batiri<br />
Bataua<br />
Outer islands men in<br />
Kiribati are against using<br />
condoms when having<br />
sex.<br />
They say it’s unnatural<br />
and interfering. And could<br />
cause a nuisance to both<br />
partners during sex.<br />
Mobile teams from the<br />
Kiribati National HIV/<br />
AIDS and TB Task Force<br />
lizing I-Kiribati to higher<br />
grounds before they get<br />
drowned in 50-100 years<br />
from now, as predicted by<br />
scientists because of global<br />
warming.<br />
“The New Zealand labor<br />
scheme could accept more<br />
than 1,000 people if they<br />
abide by immigration laws<br />
and behave themselves,”<br />
he said. “I-Kiribati are very<br />
much liked in New Zealand,<br />
Australia and elsewhere<br />
because of their obedience<br />
and respect.<br />
“And if the number increased<br />
annually, Kiribati’s<br />
economy could boom in<br />
terms of millions and mil-<br />
‘The New Zealand<br />
labor scheme<br />
could accept more<br />
than 1,000 people<br />
if they abide<br />
by immigration<br />
laws and behave<br />
themselves.’<br />
– Kiribati<br />
President A<strong>not</strong>e<br />
Tong<br />
outer islands men<br />
oppose condoms<br />
visiting six islands this<br />
year recommended in<br />
their reports that more<br />
emphasis should focus<br />
on condom use and demonstration.<br />
Men on Marakei Island<br />
told the visiting team<br />
they don’t know how to<br />
use condoms, and it was<br />
therefore agreed that in<br />
future visits, more time<br />
will be spend on condom<br />
usage and demonstrations.<br />
The mobile teams included<br />
two HIV/AIDS<br />
patients. The number of<br />
AIDS cases this year has<br />
increased from 32 to 50,<br />
with most of them being<br />
I-Kiribati seafarers.<br />
lions of dollars through remittances.<br />
And many people<br />
would be able to pay to<br />
migrate, which I’m encouraging.”<br />
President Tong explained<br />
before Kiribati drowns, a<br />
lot of its people would have<br />
been already shifted abroad,<br />
and government would be<br />
dealing with a few remaining.<br />
When Tong was asked<br />
about grouping I-Kiribati<br />
in one place, he said the<br />
Reserve Fund, which now<br />
stands at more than $670<br />
million, could be used to<br />
purchase a land for I-Kiribati.
1 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
WUTMI weaves past<br />
lessons into the future<br />
The US Ambassador Clyde<br />
Bishop delivered a strong endorsement<br />
of the work of Women<br />
United Together <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
(WUTMI) at its annual executive<br />
board opening last Saturday in<br />
Majuro. Excerpts from his key<strong>not</strong>e<br />
speech follow:<br />
“The work you are doing in<br />
the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> is important<br />
work, and I, the Embassy, and the<br />
United States are proud to support<br />
it, as you should all be proud to be<br />
a part of it.<br />
“I thought about the theme for<br />
this conference (“Iden Mwekun”)<br />
and I liked how poetic and appropriate<br />
the image of the past weaving<br />
the future is to the <strong>Marshall</strong>s<br />
and to the work WUTMI does.<br />
First, I like the image of weaving<br />
as a description of how the future<br />
comes into being. Threads of past<br />
events come together, combining<br />
and forming a pattern that determines<br />
the shape of the future. But,<br />
by describing this as weaving it<br />
also reminds us that these events<br />
do <strong>not</strong> come together by themselves.<br />
Just as in weaving, people<br />
choose the pattern and people lock<br />
the threads together. Every person<br />
has the chance to help weave the<br />
pattern of their own lives and the<br />
lives of those around them. More<br />
than this, you can help choose<br />
the pattern for the entire <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong>. By being here today and<br />
helping WUTMI do its work in<br />
voter education, outreach to young<br />
parents, and so much more you are<br />
all choosing the pattern and weaving<br />
the threads of the future in the<br />
RMI. What you do today can make<br />
a huge difference for the RMI.<br />
“The past weaving the future<br />
The national women’s organization<br />
WUTMI has emphasized<br />
the participation of both<br />
men and women in its conferences<br />
and workshops, and<br />
this week’s executive board<br />
meeting is no different.<br />
During the introductions<br />
also reminds us of the source of<br />
strength that the past provides.<br />
This is especially true of the efforts<br />
of WUTMI to promote good<br />
governance and women’s issues<br />
in the RMI. <strong>Marshall</strong>ese culture<br />
has always had a strong role for<br />
women and women leaders, and<br />
a strong role for consensus-based<br />
governance to the benefit of all.<br />
As WUTMI works towards its<br />
goals, it can take strength from<br />
this tradition, and use the best<br />
from the past to help weave a<br />
Pictured left to right are<br />
Majuro councilwoman Jouban<br />
Kabua, US Ambassador to the<br />
RMI Clyde Bishop, WUTMI<br />
director Daisy Momotaro,<br />
and Chief Secretary Casten<br />
Nemra, who all spoke at the<br />
opening ceremony of the<br />
WUTMI meeting. Photos: Giff<br />
Johnson.<br />
Neiobwe Anjain-Maddison, Leroij Neimed Loeak Boene,<br />
former First Lady Emlain Kabua, and Rongelap incumbent<br />
Abacca Anjain-Maddison at the WUTMI ceremony.<br />
Lakatus welcome<br />
of the participants from the<br />
various outer islands, while<br />
women were, naturally, in<br />
the majority, there were also<br />
a significant number of men<br />
participating as representatives<br />
of their respective<br />
islands.<br />
better future. I believe the future<br />
WUTMI is working for…embraces<br />
inclusiveness and greater<br />
participation in government, both<br />
of which are vital democratic<br />
values.<br />
“From the perspective of the<br />
United States, one of the most<br />
important things this organization<br />
does is its Gender Equality in<br />
Leadership project. Our high regard<br />
for this project can be seen in<br />
the support that USAID provides<br />
to the project. It is the only, I be-<br />
lieve, voter education program in<br />
the RMI and its importance can<strong>not</strong><br />
be understated. For a democratic<br />
government to work, the people<br />
must know how to participate and<br />
what their rights are in shaping the<br />
path their nation will take. Your efforts<br />
to spread this vital knowledge<br />
will help the RMI stay true to the<br />
democratic ideals that can serve it<br />
so well. As this vital project moves<br />
forward you can rest assured that<br />
the Embassy will continue to support<br />
it however we can.<br />
“WUTMI’s other projects show<br />
this same commitment to good<br />
democratic values. Whether the<br />
projects are educating young<br />
children and their parents, working<br />
to improve the living conditions<br />
of outer islanders, or promoting<br />
human rights and equality, they<br />
are all aimed at a better future for<br />
the <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> through an<br />
educated, prosperous population<br />
committed to keeping a democratic<br />
RMI.”<br />
Members of Youth to Youth in Health entertained<br />
the crowd at the WUTMI conference opening.<br />
Leroij<br />
gather for<br />
opening<br />
WUTMI launched its second<br />
annual executive board meeting<br />
with an opening ceremony<br />
last Saturday that brought out a<br />
large group of leroij (chiefs), a<br />
handful of Nitijela senators, US<br />
and Taiwan ambassadors, and<br />
a large turnout of people in the<br />
community.<br />
Speaking for the RMI government,<br />
Chief Secretary Casten<br />
Nemra said the government<br />
supported non-government organizations<br />
and his office door<br />
was open to assist WUTMI any<br />
time.<br />
Majuro Councilwoman Jouban<br />
Kabua welcomed the WUTMI<br />
executive members on behalf of<br />
Mayor Riley Albertter.<br />
WUTMI executive director<br />
Daisy Momotaro said that three<br />
US government donor programs<br />
helped WUTMI to put on this<br />
year’s event, including the Global<br />
Fund for Women, the Women<br />
Issues Fund and the National<br />
Park Service. Locally, both Bank<br />
of <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> and <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> Development Bank are<br />
supporting WUTMI’s conference.<br />
Momotaro told the group<br />
that the meeting is bringing in<br />
a variety of resource people to<br />
lead training sessions during the<br />
week, including Ben Graham,<br />
Ben Chutaro, Fred Pedro, Pohnpei-based<br />
Willy Kotska who<br />
heads the Micronesian Conservation<br />
Trust, McAnthony Keah,<br />
and resource people from the<br />
KIO Club and <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong><br />
Conservation Society.<br />
Among those attending included<br />
Minister John Silk and<br />
Senators Abacca Anjain-Maddison,<br />
Jurelang Zedkaia and Kaiboke<br />
Kabua, Ambassadors Clyde<br />
Bishop and Bruce Linghu, Chief<br />
Justice Carl Ingram, and former<br />
First Lady Emlain Kabua.
RMI edreklok wot kin 2%<br />
Ewor juon koba eo ikotaan “kien emman”<br />
im kab edreklok in jerammon nan elon wot<br />
iaan lal ko woj ibelakin Pacific in, ekkar<br />
nan opiija ro an Asian Development Bank<br />
eo ilo kar kwelok eo an kajojo iio im ej kein<br />
kajiljilimjuon ilo Pacific Region Investment<br />
Conference eo im rekar kommani ilo Manila<br />
allon eo lok.<br />
Craig Sugden im kab Rashiel Velarde jen<br />
department eo an Pacific Region ilo ADB<br />
eo rekar kemelele bwe lal ko an Solomon<br />
<strong>Islands</strong>, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea im kab<br />
Palau rej einwot “wonmanlok ko ilo raan<br />
kein” – ak bwe jonan mweie im jerammon<br />
ko aer rekar maron in edreklok iloan iio ko<br />
kio kin lalem bojjan, menin rej watoke bwe<br />
ej juon jonak eo emman.<br />
Mekarta, ilo Cook <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
Tuvalu im kab Samoa,<br />
aolepen ijokein im kajojo<br />
iaer rekar bed ilon in lalem<br />
bojjan jonan edreklok ko<br />
aer ilo kar jino in lok 2000<br />
jima ko, bwe emoj aer kio<br />
wotlok im rej kio watwate<br />
bwe renaaj loe jonan in ruo<br />
lok nan jilu bojjan edreklok<br />
ilo 2007-08.<br />
Keidri, <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
Kiribati im kab Federated<br />
States ko an Micronesia bwe<br />
rekar maron in loe wot ruo<br />
bojjan edreklok ilo 2005-06<br />
im rej kotmene bwe renaaj bedwot ilo ejja<br />
jonan in wot im ejjab kanuij in lap ilo naaj<br />
2007-08. Fiji im kab Tonga ekar kanuij in<br />
lon jorrean ko ilowaer – an wor juon military<br />
coup ilo Fiji ak an jarin tarinae ko aer<br />
bok maron jen kien eo im an wor imajaj im<br />
tarbuk ko ilo Tonga – innem jonan edreklok<br />
ko aer jen dron rekar watwate bwe rebed ilo<br />
bonbon ko ilal in ejjelok ak bwe rej negative<br />
ilo jonak ko an 2007-08.<br />
Opiija rein jen ADB eo rekar ba bwe<br />
“jonan an kien jejjet an jerbal” ej men eo in<br />
im elap an lap kilan ilo komman wonmanlok<br />
ko im kelaplok jonan jeen eo kajojo armij<br />
rej mour kake ak rej ba per capita gross<br />
domestic product eo (GDP).<br />
Mene menin emol ilo belaak in lalin,<br />
wawein in ej bareinwot maron jerbal ijokein<br />
ilo Pacific in, rekar ba.<br />
Rekar ekatok kake jonan mweie im kab<br />
jerammon ko nan lal ko ibelakin Pacific<br />
in im rej uwaan ADB eo innem rekar loe<br />
bwe lal ko im emman lok aer kejebarok er<br />
make jen jorrean in kemakitkit kien ko aer<br />
ekar laplok jonan eo ekka aer edreklok kake<br />
ikijien mweie kab jerammon.<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> ear juon iaan lal ko<br />
rualitok im bonbon ko an rekar bed ilal in<br />
ejjelok ak rej ba negative growth iloan kar<br />
iio ko jonoul im rej jemlok lok, kin jonan eo<br />
ekka ej driklok kin juon bojjan iloan kajojo<br />
kar iio 10 rej jemlok lok. Timor-Leste ear ijo<br />
im ekar kanuij in nana tata jonan edreklok<br />
in mweie im jerammon eo an kin jonan in<br />
ej driklok kin jiljilimjuon bojjan ilo kajojo<br />
iio iloan iio ko jonoul im rej jemlok lok,<br />
im keidri nan lal eo an Nauru ilal in tok<br />
kin driklok kin emen bojjan iloan iio ko<br />
jonoul.<br />
Ro im rebed ilo bonbon ko remmon rej<br />
Cook <strong>Islands</strong>, jonan eo ej ekka an edreklok<br />
kake ej kin jiljino bojjan iloan kar iio ko<br />
10, elkin tok ej Tuvalu kin lalem bojjan im<br />
Samoa kin jilu bojjan.<br />
Kiribati, Tonga im kab Fiji rekar lal ko<br />
jilu ijelokin im rekar bareinwot bar edreklok<br />
‘Keidri, <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>,<br />
Kiribati im kab Federated<br />
States ko an Micronesia<br />
bwe rekar maron in loe<br />
wot ruo bojjan edreklok<br />
ilo 2005-06 im rej<br />
kotmene bwe renaaj<br />
bedwot ilo ejja jonan in<br />
wot im ejjab kanuij in lap<br />
ilo naaj 2007-08.’<br />
Jonan<br />
mweie ilo<br />
lal ko an<br />
Pacific in<br />
iloan iio ko jonoul im rej kab jemlok lok.<br />
Opiija rein an ADB rekar ba bwe ibwiljin<br />
wawein ko im rej komman an mojno an<br />
emakitkit kien ko ibelakin Pacific in rej er<br />
kein:<br />
• Jekjek ko rej loori elap aer nana, menin<br />
ej walok tok jen an jabwe ri jerbal ro im ewor<br />
kaminene im kapeel ko ippaer, emojno aer<br />
maron in kommane jibarbar ko aer innem<br />
menin ej komman bwe armij ren jab rie lok<br />
jibarbar im kotobar ko aer nan komman<br />
oktak ko.<br />
• Limotak ko ikotaan manit im kab jekjek<br />
in jerbal ko an raan kein.<br />
• Emojno kwod eo ikotaan armij im kab<br />
kien ko aer, menin ej walok kinke ejabwe an<br />
wor leto letak in melele jen ippen jukjuk in<br />
bed eo im wawein in ej melele in bwe elon<br />
wot armij ejjelok anikieer ilo kien eo aer.<br />
“Jonan mweie im jerammon ilo lal kein ilo<br />
Pacific in remaron in edreklok,” Opiija rein<br />
an ADB rekar ba. Botaap jonan mweie im<br />
jerammon eo ijokein rej aikuij in ijjino jen<br />
ippen raan komman jerbal in business ko aer<br />
im komman bwe jerbal in wonmanlok ko jen<br />
likin ren bareinwot maron in edreklok.<br />
Juon iaan menin jelmae ko rellap ilo Pacific<br />
in “ej juon mejatoto in ejjelok makitkit<br />
ko ak (makoko in komman emakitkit) ilo jet<br />
iaan lal kein,” rekar ba.<br />
ADB eo ej loe bwe jerbal in kanol ri lotok<br />
ro, ijiloktok ko ak (jeen ko ro nukid ilo US,<br />
Austrialia im kab New Zealand rej jilkin<br />
tok), jerbal in wonmanlok ko jen likin ekoba<br />
eonod bwe rej einwot jikin ko im jemaron<br />
in kadrekilok.<br />
Rekar kemlele bwe ej aikuij in emman lok<br />
kilen kotbalbale kien ko ibelakin jokein, ilo<br />
aer kalikare bwe en einwot in:<br />
• Ekkal kein komman wonmanlok ko<br />
ekoba kokajurlok ri jerbal ro.<br />
• Kommani jerbal in jiban ikijien social<br />
services ko nan jukjuk in bed eo.<br />
• En emman wawein im jekjek ko nan<br />
raan komman business ko aer ak nan private<br />
sector ko aer.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007 1<br />
No decision<br />
yet about<br />
Kwaj layoffs<br />
An internal Kwajalein<br />
Range Services (KRS) memo<br />
of October 10 said that proposed<br />
worker layoffs “must<br />
wait until after RMI national<br />
elections for RMI employees.”<br />
In response to questions<br />
from the <strong>Journal</strong> as to why<br />
the Army was waiting until<br />
after the elections to announce<br />
layoffs, US Ambassador<br />
Clyde Bishop said this<br />
week, “It would be inappropriate<br />
for US Army Kwajalein<br />
Atoll to speculate on<br />
the fallout that any potential<br />
layoffs might have on the<br />
election.”<br />
He also said that “there<br />
has been no decision to lay<br />
off any RMI employees at<br />
this time. Of course, USAKA does <strong>not</strong> wish<br />
to interfere with the internal politics of the<br />
RMI and would <strong>not</strong> want to influence in any<br />
way the outcome of this upcoming election.<br />
Reciprocally, USAKA will <strong>not</strong> allow politics<br />
to be a driving factor in determining the<br />
best operational course of action for our<br />
installation.”<br />
The KRS memo said that because of<br />
the need to wait until after the election to<br />
announce layoffs, 60-day <strong>not</strong>ice might <strong>not</strong><br />
be possible. “USAKA will always follow<br />
the Status of Forces Sub-Agreement to<br />
the Compact,” Bishop said. “Kwajalein<br />
Range Services, our prime contractor, has<br />
US Ambassador<br />
Clyde Bishop<br />
a policy that applies to all<br />
employees — American and<br />
<strong>Marshall</strong>ese — that gives<br />
them 30-day written <strong>not</strong>ice of<br />
layoffs. That is the standard.<br />
The 60-day <strong>not</strong>ice period is<br />
<strong>not</strong> a standard. It is a courtesy<br />
extended to employees when<br />
the employer determines it to<br />
be appropriate in a particular<br />
case. Again, we have made<br />
no decision to lay off RMI<br />
employees.”<br />
Despite saying that there<br />
has been no decision on laying<br />
off <strong>Marshall</strong>ese workers<br />
ta Kwajalein, Bishop said<br />
that the logistics budget for<br />
KRS is being cut this year.<br />
The logistics contract “has<br />
seen a significant reduction<br />
this year,” he said. “USAKA<br />
is working closely with its contractors to<br />
try to limit the impact of a reduced budget<br />
profile. We are hopeful that we can mitigate<br />
the impacts, especially with regard to our<br />
RMI employees. It is our goal to have no<br />
RMI layoffs if at all possible.<br />
There may be a small number of US<br />
contractor employees that are let go but<br />
that is <strong>not</strong> clear to us right now. We deeply<br />
regret having to impact anyone but it is<br />
necessary in these times of increasing fiscal<br />
constraint.”<br />
The US population at Kwajalein has reportedly<br />
declined from about 2,500 in the<br />
early 2000s to about 1,700 now.<br />
Ladies learn lots<br />
at night school<br />
A team of teachers under the supervision<br />
of Reverends Gary and Marjorie Bixby<br />
(pictured above right) have been providing a<br />
group of about 50 out-of-school girls with a<br />
chance to get back into the academic world<br />
and improve their future. They are running<br />
the special “school” three nights a week at<br />
Assumption’s library.
1 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong><br />
‘Four hours on Kwaj was better<br />
Dollars<br />
pour in<br />
at Kwaj<br />
market<br />
A significant number of Majuro’s “local<br />
producers” — of handicrafts, nin juice and<br />
related products — boxed up their goods and<br />
hopped on the Continental flight to Kwajalein<br />
on October 20 for the latest trade fair.<br />
Despite its abbreviated nature, the event<br />
produced a healthy amount of revenue for<br />
the Majuro and Ebeye sellers.<br />
“Four hours on Kwaj was better than three<br />
days on Guam,” said one of the participants<br />
who had also attended the recent Micronesian<br />
fair in Guam to sell crafts.<br />
Some sellers said they hoped that the next<br />
trade fair at Kwaj will be open for a whole<br />
day, instead of the 1:30 pm cutoff for last<br />
week’s fair.<br />
The following day, the group moved over<br />
to Ebeye for a day-long trade fair that was<br />
well-received by Ebeye residents.<br />
Zita Silk and Merina Ring (above) were<br />
busy selling handicrafts at Kwajalein last<br />
month. The fair gave lots of choice to local<br />
residents (below).<br />
It wasn’t only handicrafts<br />
that got Kwajalein<br />
residents to line up, but<br />
also these tasty lobsters<br />
(left). Meanwhile, the<br />
Tobolar table sold lots of<br />
soap and oil (below left),<br />
and Bank of <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong> president Patrick<br />
Chen joined with BoMI<br />
Kwaj teller Paulina Abija,<br />
who was busy offering<br />
various bank services<br />
and selling phone cards<br />
and other products.<br />
Photos courtesy by<br />
Bank of <strong>Marshall</strong><br />
<strong>Islands</strong>.
than 3 days on Guam’<br />
There was no<br />
“discrimination” against<br />
Ebeye folks last<br />
month, as the trade fair<br />
was held on both Kwaj<br />
and Ebeye, attracting<br />
lots of attention (above<br />
and below). Leroij<br />
Seagull Kabua James<br />
(left in the photo at<br />
right) joined with Mona<br />
Joel at the event on<br />
Ebeye.<br />
Happy customers<br />
were the order of<br />
the day at Kwajalein<br />
(left) as Majuro<br />
vendors (such as<br />
Jeirok Councilman<br />
Bokmej Bokmej,<br />
below left at left)<br />
cashed in on the<br />
high level of interest.<br />
The <strong>Marshall</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> <strong>Journal</strong> — Friday, November 2, 2007 1<br />
Ewor ri mij ilo<br />
lajrak in vote eo<br />
Daniel<br />
Andrew<br />
School leagues<br />
set to start<br />
Elementary and high school basketball for<br />
boys and volleyball for girls will kick off shortly,<br />
with all team registrations due to the Internal Affairs<br />
Sports and Recreation office no later than<br />
November 6.<br />
Sports coordinator Daniel Andrew told the<br />
<strong>Journal</strong> that registration for the leagues closes<br />
on Tuesday next week.<br />
The competitions will be held at the ECC gym<br />
in Delap.<br />
Juon iaan ri jibadrek ro an Majuro<br />
in ear jiron tok <strong>Journal</strong> eo ilo wiik<br />
jab in ke driktata ewor jiljilimjuon<br />
armij ro im emoj aer mij rej bed wot<br />
ilo laajrak in ri vote ro an Ajeltake<br />
im ebar lon lok jen 10 armij ro im<br />
emoj aer bar mij ijoke ej elaajrak<br />
etaer ilo laajrak eo an Delap en.<br />
Laajrak eo an Ajeltake edrelon<br />
woran jet armij ro im emoj aer jako,<br />
ekoba ro im elelok jen 10 iio jen ke<br />
rekar jako.<br />
Ibwiljin rein im rekar jako im<br />
ej walok wot etaer ilo laajrak in ri<br />
vote ro an Ajeltake ej kar Mayor<br />
eo mokta an Majuro in, Tarmile<br />
Ishoda.<br />
Electoral Administration eo ear<br />
kadriwoj tok laajrak in ri vote rein<br />
ilo kar July eo.<br />
Ke <strong>Journal</strong> eo ekar jino an kajjitok<br />
melele jen Electoral ikijien<br />
woran ro im emoj aer register ilo<br />
kar April im May eo in iio jab in,<br />
rekar jiron tok kim bwe rej kar<br />
etale wot laajrak eo kinke rej jolok<br />
etan ro im emoj aer jako ak rejjab<br />
maron in vote.<br />
Ien eo ekar jemlok kadrelon et<br />
nan ekalel ej kar ilo Tijemba 31<br />
raan in iio eo lok.