1 Sand, surf not enough - Marshall Islands Journal

Volume 38, Number 44 • Friday, November 2, 2007 • 75¢ on Majuro
Sand,
surf not
enough
By SUZANNE CHUTARo
Pacifi c Islands have been counting
on their beautiful scenery,
white sand beaches and turquoise
waters to attract tourists from
around the world.
But Japan-based travel industry
experts say emerging Pacifi c markets
such as the Marshall Islands
have to offer more than sand, surf,
and in the case of the Marshall
Islands, diving, if they expect to
attract the hard-to-please Japanese
traveler. This is a particularly critical
issue for Majuro as it looks to
expand the number of charter
fl ights by Japan Airlines.
“Generally, the Japanese traveler
likes the white beaches because we
don’t have this in Japan. But at the
same time they want to eat good
food, do some activities like sight
seeing, water sports and some
Continued next page
With just over two weeks to go before
the November 19 election, candidates
are raising concerns about the voting
lists containing names that are not
eligible to vote.
A Majuro candidate told the Journal
this week that there are at least seven
deceased people listed on the Ajeltake
voter list and more than 10 dead people
listed on the Delap voting list.
The Ajeltake listing includes a
number of people who died, including
people who have been dead for more
than 10 years.
Among others who died but who are
still listed as currently registered voters
for Ajeltake is former Majuro Mayor
Tarmile Ishoda.
“I’m aware of it,” Chief Electoral
Offi cer Carl Alik told the Journal this
week. Electoral staff is attempting to
clean up the voter lists as much as
1
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007
www.marshallislandsjournal.com
journal@ntamar.net
Ghosts haunt
the voting lists
INSIDE
Norman nomination
challenged: Page
MEC targets
US Navy fuel
sales: Page 10
Journal election
results: Pages , 8
‘We’re working
on it,’ says Carl
possible over the next few days before
printing the “master lists” next week,
he said.
The Electoral Administration released
the voter lists more than a
month ago.
When the Journal began requesting
information from Electoral on voter
registration in the April and May period
of this year, the Journal was told
by Electoral staff that they were still
going through the lists to remove those
who were deceased and otherwise not
eligible to vote.
The voter registration deadline was
December 31 last year, more than 10
months ago.
Crafty
ladies
sell
big at
Kwaj
on hand to promote
handicraft sales at
the Ebeye trade
fair were, from left,
Matilda Capelle, Mio
Candle, Juana Bellu
and Mary Korok.
Majuro vendors said
that they were happy
with the fi nancial
results of the
combined Kwajalein
and Ebeye fairs.
More photos and
story, P16-17.
Alik said that he had attempted to get
a list of deaths from the Internal Affairs
registrar’s offi ce, but it was never provided
despite repeated requests.
So earlier in October, he asked the
Ministry of Health’s statistics offi ce
for a list of deaths, which was provided
to him on the same day of his request,
Alik said. The list of deaths includes
information dating to 1981.
“We’re about half way through the
list,” Alik said on Tuesday. “We’re trying
to eliminate (people who are dead)
as much as possible.”
He said that the main protection
against people voting more than once
is that this election, all voters after they
cast their vote will stamp their index
fi ngers with indelible ink that cannot
be washed off for a few days, so that
election offi cers will be able to tell if a
person has already voted.

Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
Japanese want
more than diving
From previous page
shopping,” says Kazuo Ito, president of
JALPak’s Micronesia division.
Ito says bluntly that if emerging Pacific
markets want to compete for the
Japanese traveler, they are going to have
to look at Japan’s current top five travel
destinations. The first is China, with 3.8
million visitors. South Korea is second
with 2.3 million Japanese. Hawaii attracts
1.4 million Japanese, down from the 2
million-plus tourists who used to travel
to those islands.
Thailand attracts 1.3 million Japanese,
as does Hong Kong. Taiwan is
the destination of choice for 1.1 million
Japanese, and Guam has about one million
visitors.
Ito’s warning is a red flag for the Marshall
Islands. JALPak has this year started
selling package tours on Japan Airline’s
direct charter flight to the Marshall Islands.
It is promoting the RMI as a new
travel destination.
The Marshall Islands, however, has
been promoting itself as a dive destination,
hoping to attract some of Japan’s 3
million certified divers.
Senior Editor Takashi Shigiya of
Japan’s Marine Dive Magazine, which
has a circulation of 170,000, says that the
The writer was a 2007
Sasakawa Pacific Island
Journalism Fellow. This
story was written while on
the fellowship in Japan.
Marshall Islands ranks number 17 out of
the publication’s top 29 dive destinations
in the world and “its ranking is climbing
up each year.” The magazine’s top three
diving destinations for Japanese are the
Maldives, Palau and Saipan respectively.
According to Shigiya these top three
destinations offer something unique to
divers. In the Maldives it’s their luxury
resorts coupled with other attractions
such as cruising and guaranteed sightings
of whales, sharks and manta rays. Palau
attracts divers with its rich variety of marine
life. Meanwhile, Saipan is popular
because its proximity to Japan and affordability.
The common factor that sets
the top three destinations apart from the
rest is that “they all have Japanese speaking
staff and for Japanese that’s important
for divers,” says Shigiya.
For Japan Air Lines and JALPak,
however, Japan’s dive market alone is not
enough to sustain its new charter service
to the Marshall Islands. The reason: of
the 3 million certified Japanese divers
only 1 million are active divers. Of those
active divers, only some 100,000 actually
travel abroad and they prefer 16 other dive
destinations over the Marshall Islands.
“The (Japan) dive market is too small,”
says Ito. “We need to attract general tourist
to sustain the charter.”
Awareness of the Marshall Island is
high in the dive market but to the general
Japanese tourist “it’s very low,” warns Ito.
During the first two direct JAL charter
flights to Majuro earlier this year, Masako
Ninomiya of JALPak’s Purchasing and
Tour Planning Group for the Micronesia
Company, was on board to inspect the
tours. “There is too much focus on diving,”
notes Ninomiya. “The Marshall
Islands should follow the example of
Palau which has been attracting non-divers
by offer other activities.” Ninomiya
and Ito say promoting the Marshall Island
for now is easy because JALPak is able
to sell it as a new destination. However,
the wholesaler expects it can sustain this
promotion for only a few more years.
“The destination is under pressure but
it needs to pick up as a destination,” says
Ito. “(The Marshall Islands) have to get
used to providing a service and offer other
activities.”
In the listing of mayor
candidates published in last
week’s newspaper, the Journal
did not include Henry
ARE YOU AWARE? journal@ntamar.net
THAT there are 13,700
parking meters in Manhattan?
THAT a gaggle of liberal
students-cum-teachers visiting
Majuro from Skagway,
Alaska, took over control of
the TV remote at Flame Tree
Wednesday and switched
from balanced Fox news
to “slightly left of extreme
left” Al Jazeera network
while taking breakfast?
THAT in Japan, when
children lose a tooth, they
throw it onto the roof and
wish for a strong replacement
tooth to grow in?
THAT Venezuela’s Angel
Falls is the world’s tallest
waterfall, plunging 3,212
feet (which is two and half
times the height of the Empire
State Building)?
THAT anyone with information
regarding the
whereabouts of the vessel
Litakbouki (formerly located
off Delap beach by
the Public Service Commission)
should contact the
Environmental Protection
Authority?
THAT American Airlines
charges $80 to check the
following items: Antlers
(must be as free of residue as
possible; the skull must be
wrapped and tips protected),
a bicycle, a hang glider,
a surfboard, and a javelin
(sorry, vaulting poles not
accepted)?
THAT the Hundred Years’
War between England and
France lasted 116 years?
THAT in the small publication
‘Taiwan Technical
Mission Brief Introduction’
crops being grown here include
the ‘Spring Swallow’
variety of cucumber, the
‘Summer Bright’ variety of
Chinese cabbage, and, best
THAT Miriam Hickson (outgoing legal
man Richard’s mom) is donating a
fresh Xmas tree to the Youth to Youth in
Health office so that it will look bright
and cheery over the holiday season?
of all, the ‘Passion Heart’
variety of bell pepper?
THAT Cuba’s Ambassador
to the United Nations,
Rodrigo Maimierca,
recently said that if just
10 percent of the world’s
military expenditure was
sidetracked, all the “millen-
Election correction
— Henry is running
nium development goals”
could be reached?
THAT local historian
Matt Holly has in his possession
reprints of photos
of American airmen who
crashed on the reef off Laura
during WWII and that these
photographed men, apparently
snapped by Japanese
personnel, were never heard
from after the incident?
THAT the hot new phrase
around town is “kottar ta”
and it means “whatcha waitin’
for” and you say it to
people who are just hanging
around?
THAT in our ripper column
On the Waterfront last
week the call went out for
foolproof ideas on rat bait,
with the most unusual suggestion
coming from garbologist
Alice Leney who
swears by pumpkin seeds to
get rid of the dirty rats?
Kili voters
questioned
A Kili/Bikini council candidate has filed
a complaint to get 39 Kili-registered voters
who live at Ebeye off the election list for this
month’s national election.
The complaint, filed earlier this week, seeks
to get the Electoral Administration to remove
the 39 voters who the High Court ordered removed
from the list in 2003.
Attorney General Posesi Bloomfield said the
complaint was requesting the matter to be put
before the High Court to disqualify these 39
voters. He expected to obtain the petition from
the Electoral Administration on Wednesday this
week, and was preparing to refer it to the High
Court for action. He said he hoped that a hearing
could be held on Ebeye so that the voters could
present themselves for the challenge.
In 2003, Kili/Bikini officials testified that
the 39 voters in question who live on Ebeye
were not on the Kili/Bikini authorized list for
quarterly payments, and so they were disqualified
from voting.
Lometo, who is a candidate
for mayor of Namdrik Atoll.
The Journal apologizes for
the error.
Attorney
General
Posesi
Bloomfield
No
news
isn’t
good
news
Majuro’s BBC radio listeners
have been deprived as
of late with the unannounced
and unexplained cancellation
of the 24-hour international
news program.
V7AB officials, who
manage the broadcasting
of the BBC locally, told the
Journal they don’t know the
exact cause of the problem
though they believe it may
be a satellite positioning
problem.
“We don’t know what’s
wrong and can’t explain
why we’re not able to receive
it,” explained one
V7AB official.
V7AB technicians are doing
what they can to troubleshoot
the problem.
If not fixed by this weekend,
BBC will have been off
the air for two weeks.

Funky
forklift
The fact of the
matter is that
vehicles that have
died mechanically
still have an
important function
in Majuro — they
offer an ad hoc
jungle gym for the
local kids to have
some fun playing
on as can be seen
from the happy
faces of these back
road Uliga boys.
Journal poll shows
25% Nitijela shift
There will be eight new faces in Nitijela, including
two in Majuro, following the November 19 national
election, if the informal poll conducted by the Journal
is borne out.
A ballot with all Nitijela candidates listed on it was
provided as an insert in last week’s Journal, with a
deadline for submitting it to the Journal of Tuesday
this week. There are only a few surprises with most
incumbents being backed by local voters.
Of the 33 seats, the Journal poll shows eight seats
changing hands (including Wotho, which has no
incumbent).
In the Journal poll readers chose Hilda Heine over
Rien Morris at Jaluit, with Heine getting 66 percent
of the votes cast, incumbent Alvin Jacklick getting 63
percent and Morris 31 percent; Jerakoj Bejang narrowly
beat incumbent Irumne Bondrik by getting 52
percent of the vote for Lib; David Kramer and Amatlain
Kabua, getting 58 and 52 percent of the votes cast,
respectively, were the two new faces for Majuro, while
incumbents Jurelang Zedkaia (84 percent), Brenson
Wase (58 percent) and Wilfred Kendall (55 percent)
were picked by Journal readers.
At Mejit, Dennis Momotaro defeated incumbent
Helkena Anni by a wide margin of 71-29 percent. At
Ujae, Frederick Muller beat incumbent Caios Lucky
42-32 percent, with two other candidates splitting the
rest at 13 percent each.
At Utrik, Amenta Matthew gained 75 percent of the
votes from Journal readers to outdistance incumbent
Hiroshi Yamamura.
David Kabua easily won Wotho in the Journal poll,
picking up 73 percent of the votes.
All other current incumbents were picked by Journal
readers, with the closest contest being Rongelap
with incumbent Abacca Anjain-Maddison getting 44
percent to Kenneth Kedi’s 41.
President Kessai Note was supported by 58 percent
of the ballots, with 36 percent for Anono Loeak.
Two women
for President
Four people — including two women — tied
with most votes for President
in the Journal’s poll of readers
conducted earlier this week.
Asked, “if the RMI President
was elected to office by popular
vote, who would you vote for?”:
Four people gained 15 percent
of the votes each — President
Kessai Note, Tony deBrum,
Hilda Heine and Amatlain Kabua.
Next highest, at six percent,
were Speaker Litokwa Tomeing
and Ben Graham (who is not a
candidate).
Others who received a vote
each: Carl Heine, Phillip Muller,
Brenson Wase, Donald Capelle,
Alik Alik, Patrick Langmoir,
Gerald Zackios, John Silk and
Jerry Kramer (also not a candidate).
By the Journal’s count, the
poll results show 13 for the Ailin
Kein Ad party, 17 for the United
Democratic Party (which includes
Speaker Litokwa Tomeing) and
three independents.
See poll results, page 12
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007
Danny
pushes his
complaint
Despite an initial rejection by
the Chief Electoral Office, Aur
Atoll Nitijela candidate Danny
Jack is continuing to press his
complaint about the validity of the
people who nominated incumbent
Norman Matthew to stand for the
November 19 election.
Jack’s campaign chairman Timos
Basin sent a second letter
of complaint to CEO Carl Alik
last week further challenging the
Matthew’s nomination paper.
“Some of the signatures are
forged,” Basin told the Journal on
Tuesday this week of the 30 names
and signatures on the nomination
form filed for Matthew. He further
said that it was obvious to even
the casual observer that several of
the names and signatures listed on
the form were written by the same
person, not the actual individuals
named.
Attorney General Posesi Bloomfield
told the Journal Wednesday
that a meeting was held Tuesday
to address the new complaints. He
said the issue had been narrowed
down to three people who were
alleged to not exist, and this was
being checked by the Electoral
Administration.
In response to Basin’s first complaint,
Chief Electoral Officer Carl
Alik wrote him on October 17 that
although Basin had claimed that
only 18 of the names on the list
were registered Aur voters, in fact
“I am confirming that…25 names
in the paper are registered voters
of Aur.”
Alik said that some of the names
on the list were spelled slightly
differently from the names on
the voter registration list, or used
a maiden name instead of their
married name. Two examples
he cited were a first name was
spelled “Ruty” on the nomination
paper but was listed as “Ruthy”
on the voter list, and a different
person’s last name “Hanson” on
the nomination paper compared to
“Hensen” on the voter list.
“For instance, once you find
your name in the voters list,” Alik
told Basin, “you will recognize the
difference. Your name in the letter
that was written to me is Timos
Basin while your name in the voters
list is Timus K. Basin.”

Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
The RMI Riddle No. 163: Sponsored by CopyMasters
ACROSS
1. International comp. (3,4)
5. Grins.
10. Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald
wrote: “The easiest way to get
a reputation is to go outside
the fold, shout around for a
few years as a violent atheist
or a dangerous radical, and
then crawl back to the -------.”
11. A ten Ann found on radio.
12. Church officer.
14. Game, dress, or pooper.
15. Scan animal?
17. Powerful puffs.
19. Letters for Mary and Kessai.
21. Dylan curtsy?
22. Compact colleague. (abb.)
23. Molar or incisor.
24. Picture this IA gem!
25. Perish.
26. Lamp.
28. 4. Down’s home .
30. Quest.
31. Senior sailor.
33. Auto blokes know WUTMI
lady.
34. Lib and Maui.
DOWN
2. RMI example of 8. Down.
3. Engine.
4. Minna’s man. (4,5)
6. Mayor.
7. Delap school. (abb.)
Need a pen to do the puzzle?
Buy your stationery needs at:
8. Dot on the map.
9. Locks.
13. Sickness.
15. Green vegie.
16. Manners, salt, or cloth.
17. Cemented.
18. Moon or space lab.
20. SP people.
27. Bad band.
28. Aquatic authority. (abb.)
29. Greases.
30. Administrator of 1. Across.
32. Buroro.
Answers to Riddle No. 162
Note: (abb.) = abbreviation
(3,4) = indicates the number of
letters in words.
copymasters
majuro
Dash-8 landing
gear corroded
Air Marshall Islands kept its two month
run of bad luck unbroken this week, when
mechanics discovered additional problems
with the Dash-8 that mean it is not going to
get back in the air anytime soon.
Although the Dash-8 has been grounded
since October 10, it wasn’t until Wednesday
this week that mechanics found additional
problems — corrosion — in the landing
gear of the plane, which means the entire
landing gear, not just some parts, need to
be replaced.
AMI general manager Dan Fitzpatrick
called said it will result in a huge replacement
cost and much more down time for the
Dash. “It should have been known in the first
few days after the plane was first grounded,
not three weeks later,” he said.
But this followed the equally “devastating
news” that Fitzpatrick received earlier on
Wednesday this week that a key part for the
Stardom for Wisdom
The Journal’s band of RMI Riddlers were hard at work
this past week, with entries being received from the Public
Works Boys, Debra Burnsworth, Po’Oino Roa (with a little
help from Suka), Team Western Union, the Cristobal Folks,
Grantpa Gordon, and AMI Accounting. As per usual, the
puzzles were numbered, numbers were scribbled on scraps
of paper, the scraps were tossed in the air and Douglas Henry
plucked out the winner, which is newcomer Debra!
Footnote: Following a few technical problems last week,
at right is the missing answer grid for Riddle No. 161.
Dash that just arrived is the wrong one.
Because of these new problems, AMI has
changed its plan of action from attempting
to get the Dash in the air first to getting the
Dornier fixed.
All the parts needed to fix the Dornier
are here, and it could be in the air in as few
as 10 days if “we get all hands on deck,”
Fitzpatrick said.
All of the mechanical woes have been
complicated by the move from the old hangar
and airport office area out to the lagoon
side hangar, Fitzpatrick said. The computer
that housed the parts inventory for the airline
blew up when it was plugged in at the
hangar, he said — just one of the problems
they’ve faced.
“I can’t believe our run of bad luck,” he
said, adding that AMI’s woes since August
have resulted in essentially two months of
no revenue for the airline.
Answers to Riddle No. 161
Juon jorren ilo Delap en
Ekar wor ruo wa rar kuraaj ibben dron ilo iman in convention center eo ilo
Delap ilo raan in Juuje, ekoba juon wa SUV kaal eo rekar bwilli lok ilo kar iien
eo wot ri pija eo ad ear tobar lok ijo ear walok jorren eo ie.
Shoniber ej
fiscal opiija
eo an MEC
Secretary eo an kar Finance mokta
lok Saeko Shoniber ej fiscal opiija eo
ekaal nan Marshalls Energy Company
eo nan board of director ro.
Jen ke ekar etal jen Finance ilo
2005 eo, Shoniber ej kijon kar jerbal
nan Majuro Water and Sewer
Company eo im bareinwot jiban
lok Marshalls Energy Company eo
ekoba imon jarom eo an Ebeye ak
KAJUR bwe en bojak nan aer maron
in bune.
Ilo kar raan in Taije ilo wiik in,
board eo ekar kautiej lok Shoniber
bwe en kio bok jerbal in fiscal opiija
eo.
KAJUR ear itok iumwin pein MEC
ilo kar iio eo lok; MWSC ekar bed
iumwin pein MEC jen kar 1993 eo.
MEC general manija Billy Roberts
ear ba bwe board eo ear kanuij
in monono in kejerbal Shoniber ilo
jerbal kaal in an, ilo aer kar ba bwe
“enaaj kommane juon jerbal eo emman.”
Lein ear kwalok bwe jerbal
kaal in ej nan kommani ta jibarbar
ko an company in jarom im dren
kein im nan repoote lok tobrak in
jibarbar kein nan ippen board eo, ilo
an manija ro kajojo aikuij in repoot
lok nane ikijien jerbal in bonbon im
kab kotbalbal ko aer.
Ilo an company kein jilu kio bed
iumwin pein, board eo an MEC ej aikuiji
juon armij eo im ewor an kapeel
ikijien jerbal in bonbon nan an jerbal
ippen board eo. Lein ear kwalok an
lap an liki ri jerbal in bonbon im jeen
ko an company kein jilu botaap ekar
ba bwe ejjelok juon iaan ro uwaan
board in ewor aer kapeel in bonbon
im kejerbal jeen innem ear juon men
eo emman nan boktok Shoniber bwe
en jerbal nan board eo im lelok naan
in rejan ko nan board eo ikijien jabdrewot
kajjitok kin kejerbal jeen im
kab bonbon ikotaan company kein im
board in ej lorlorjaki.
Saeko
Shoniber
Saeko elap
an jiban mon
jarom ko ad
Ri kabiloklok eo an MEC board eo ikijien jeen
Saeko Shoniber ear jolok jet ien ko ion Ebeye ilo
jemlok in Oktoba eo nan lelok kaminene ko nan
ri jerbal in accounting department eo aer nan aer
keboje repoot im lokan jerbal ko nan iio eo kio
bwe ren bojak in bonbon ilo 2007.
Company in jarom eo an Ebeye ear rumij ikijien
bonbon ko an kin jilu iio ko mae ien eo im Shoniber
ear jino an jerbal ippaer jino jen raan ko lok, im
kin menin bonbon ko an 2005, 2006 renanin in
dredrelok jen ippen Deloitte and Touche.
MEC general manija eo ear watwate bwe bonbon
eo an FY2007 ikijien KAJUR enaaj ijjino ilo allon
in Tijemba in.
Bonbon ko an MEC im kab Majuro Water and
Sewer Company eo emoj aer karoki bwe ren ijjino
ilo jemlok in lok wiik in im renaaj dredrelok ilo
jemlok in Nopemba.
Antone bwe bonbon eo an KAJUR enaaj ijjino
ilo Tijemba, menin enaaj melele in bwe ej kab
naaj iten juon katten ilo bwebwenato jen ke ekar
ijjino Compact II ilo 2004, aolepen company in
jarom im dren kein renaaj maron in kijone menin
aikuij eo bwe bonbon ko aer ren dredrelok iloan
wot jiljino allon ko ilo jemlok in fiscal iio eo, ej
melele in bwe ren dredrelok en jab rumij lok jen
allon in Maaj.

The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007
RMI votes no to Cuba
An aerial shot of Kwaj.
Bar lo yuk Yokwe Yuk
A landmark of significance is slated
to bite the dust at Kwajalein.
The Yokwe Yuk Club held its last
functions this past weekend, and its
doors are now closed.
For well over 30 years, the club
has been the US Army Kwajalein
Atoll’s primary site for formal dinner
functions, as well as providing
the only non-cafeteria style food
service on the island. It is not only
being closed, but will be bulldozed
shortly, and with it will go a modest
bit of Kwajalein’s history.
JoREENY
ALLEN
12th grade
I like to listen
to 99.9 FM
because it’s
a Christian
radio station.
I don’t want to
listen to other
radio stations
because they
are not as good.
The Marshall Islands joined the United
States and only two other nations in voting
against a United Nations resolution
that called for an end to the US economic
blockade against Cuba.
The resolution was endorsed by the
UN’s General Assembly 183-4 last week
to end the nearly 50-year-old US economic
embargo on Cuba, which is located
90 miles south of Florida.
In addition to the RMI and US, Israel
and Palau voted ‘no’ and the Federated
States of Micronesia abstained on the
issue.
The three US-affiliated islands vote
with the US at the UN nearly 100 percent
of the time.
StatiOns thaT put a
sMiLe oN thEir diALs
Journal intern reporter Selvenious Marvin, a freshman at Marshall Islands
High School, asked MIHS students:
“What radio station do you
listen to and why?”
DARSoN ANJEL
12th grade
V7AB, ’cuz I really
love to listen to
the unforgettable
birthday dedications,
broadcast news,
and the Marshallese
traditional songs.
Also, it’s my pleasure
to listen to important
announcements.
SoLINA
JoRMELU
9th grade
99.9 FM It is a
Christian radio
and I am a
Christian. There
are no bad songs
but only good and
gospel songs. It
also gives word
of God.
MANI KEJET
9th grade
I like to listen
to 99.9 FM
because the
songs are for
Christians
and because
I am a
Christian.
God bless
you all.
RoNI
KoNELIoS
9th grade
I like to listen
95.5 FM
because I
am much
interested in
the music that
Fred Pedro is
playing.
Journal intern reporter
Selvenious Marvin
JUNIoR JoEL
9th grade
I like to listen to
V7AB because
it tells news
about the
weather and it
also tells about
our relatives
who died. It also
tells us about
outside news on
the BBC.

Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
Sitting or
standing by?
A slew of Majuro’s standby
engines seemed to be in a
“sitting” mode on Monday,
when a fault at the power
plant shut down power to the
island. Normally quick to
respond generators weren’t
doing much by way of
pumping out power around
town. We heard that while
MEC crews were busy trying
to sort out its own power
problem, NTA officials rang
up and asked MEC if it could
send some guys over to fix
their standby generator.
Meanwhile, some football
hopefuls who know that
Monday mornings are when
you watch gridiron doings in
Majuro, figured they could
beat the power outage by
heading over to Tide Table
because of RRE’s standby.
Well, turned out it took a
while for that one to come
on, though it did after a
while.
Then V7AB, which is
usually up and running during
an outage with its own
power pack, couldn’t get on
the air because its generator
was down.
Last but surely not least,
as soon as MEC got some of
the island back up, they got a
call from the airport that its
backup generator was down,
so MEC dispatched a crew
to help out there.
Where was Moses when
the lights went out? In Majuro.
Ugly people
You wanna make some
money Around Town in the
next couple of weeks? If you
have more than a modicum
of political savvy pay attention.
As you know the
Journal last week provided
a national ballot choice page
in the paper (the results are
on page 3). Well, one guy
came up with the idea of
making a pool to see who
could make the highest percentage
of rights choices for
winners in the upcoming
November 19 election.
If you want to enter the
pool, bring in five dollars to
AROUND TOWN
Welcome to the Journal’s world
As a subscriber to the Journal online,
Heather Wilson had to dig into the
Journal’s past to have her photo taken
with a hard copy version. The paper
she’s holding as she sits outside the
University of California Los Angeles
the Flame Tree and get an
official pool form. Highest
number of correct choices
takes the pot, and if there is a
tie, the pot gets split evenly.
If you don’t want to join the
pool, just don’t join. It’s that
simple.
We do remind readers
of one significant fact they
may wish to consider before
deciding to enter the pool
or not: a recent worldwide
survey of people over the Internet
indicated that people
who participate in pools are
considered five times more
sexually attractive than individuals
who don’t.
We realize this is an inconvenient
truth for all you
ugly people out there, but
what the hell, we didn’t
make you look like Michael
Moore.
Oh boy!
We think it was a taxi with
the number 0853 on it right
at Assumption. Passenger
swung open his door, leaned
out, and dropped a large,
juicy film of spit “kabilo!”
right on the road. But what
happened next was beautiful.
Guy in the car right
behind the spitter jumped
out of his car and ran to the
spitting taxi and pulled the
spitter out, slammed him
up against the side of the
taxi and asked him roughly,
“Why you spit so I drive
over your spit?”
The nitwit spitter then
started a bunch of “jolok
bwir, jolok bwir” like a
frightened infant. Knows
how to spit, but then can’t
defend his actions when
shove comes to push.
Spitters, it turns out, are
cowards who cry “jolok
bwid” when confronted.
It doesn’t
work
Jenrok problem: church
on the side of the road right
in Jenrok near Ambulin’s
restaurant and store location.
Ladies are energetic and
nice enough as they fundraise
with car washing. But
the carwash soapy water
only goes into roadside
drain and the only place
that soapy water could go
is right into the lagoon. But
not Jenrok only place we
see the roadside drains getting
misused: Chinese lady
down in Small Island area
has been seen dumping her
library dates back to sometime in
2006. Heather’s a grad student at the
university focusing on linguistics and
as part of her program spent the last
two summers in Majuro. “I miss it a
lot,” she wrote.
table leftovers through the
grate into the drain. Not so
good, eh? Face it, the drains
don’t work, are clogged to
the point of being a major
project to clean out, and
should simply just be filled
in with concrete and forgotten.
Whose dumb idea was it
to put drains along the road
anyway?
Hi, Doug
Monday night was a scene
of quiet welcoming at the
popular Melele Room of
Marshall Islands Resort.
According to the general
manager Bill Weza, a welcoming
do was prepared
for Doug Morris, deputy
chief of mission at the US
Embassy. Doug arrived in
Majuro with three additional
enrollees in tow at the Coop
School and, according to
Bill, he was a very impressive
background in diplomatic
assignments.
President Note took the
opportunity to show up and
nod his recognition of the
new assignee, along with
about 50 guests who were
on hand for the affair.
Now this brings up a
thought or two with regard
to the US Embassy presence

Miles of
smiles
at
WUTMI
meet
Lijon Eknilang
(right) shakes
hands with
Leroij Likwor
Litokwa at the
opening of
the WUTMI
executive
board meeting
last Saturday.
Next to Leroij
Likwor is
Leroij Takbar
Ishiguru.
Full report,
see page 14
here in the Marshalls and the
evolved way in which it interacts
with the community.
Those useless twits known
as fundamental Islamists
have ruined the whole personality
of embassy life, not
just here, but throughout the
world.
These humorless, jealous
globs of cranky insufficiency
have managed to ruin the
enjoyment level of millions
of people throughout the
world. Now, because of the
fundamental Islamists, you
have to go through a serious
security pat-down just to get
into Embassy property.
Before, like on the July 4
Independence Day celebrations,
you could just saunter
up to the Embassy, wag
your tennis racket around
the court, and put your
mouth onto a serious hot
dog. Now, however, the immature,
uneducated, easily
manipulated, weak headed
fundamental Islamists have
ruined celebrations not only
for the many millions of
moderate Islamists who
share the globe with us, but
also Christians, Jews and
atheists alike. They are a vile
and cancerous set of mortals
and should be exterminated.
Everyone knows they sweat
so much they heat up the
environment causing global
warming. Just ask Al Gore,
if you don’t believe us.
Jump for
her life
A Journal staffer was having
a chat in a taxi on Monday
when a co-passenger
groaned and complained
AROUND TOWN
about his sore back. “What
happened?” the scribe
asked. “I was on the fourth
floor of the MIDB building
when the power went out,”
explained the staffer’s new
pal, Jimmy. “The elevator
was stuck, so we pulled the
doors open and there was a
woman with her baby.
“But the floor was up
here (pointing to the roof of
the taxi).” Jimmy retrieved
the child with no problem
and was just explaining to
the woman that she should
hurry up and jump down
before the power came back
on when ... whoomf... she
did just that, flattening our
poor Jimmy.
Our staffer suggested he
find someone to give him
a back massage that night.
“Worrorr!” he exclaimed.
“My wife is going to Jaluit
tonight.” We guess that
meant no massage anytime
soon.
“Perhaps,” our staffer
said, “she’s leaving because
she heard that women are
always jumping at you from
elevators?”
Ooops! “Ij to ijane” and
with that the staffer left behind
a taxi full of giggling
lakatus.
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007

8 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
Stand by for
Ebon debate
A debate is being planned for Ebon Atoll Nitijela and
Mayor candidates.
The Ebon Local Council is reported to have met earlier
this week and scheduled a debate for Saturday, November
17 — two days before the election.
The debate will be held in Majuro, at a time and place
to be announced. In another development, the council is
reported to have voted to set up a trust fund for Ebon with
the leftover money from the 150th anniversary celebration
of Christianity’s arrival to RMI.
From the fundraising for the event, $9,000 was left. The
council has put the money in an interest-bearing TCD account,
and plans to set up a trust fund for future community
benefi t.
Journal poll results
(Percentage of votes after
the candidates’ names)
Ailinglaplap
Gordon Note, 19
Christopher Loeak, 81
Harney Paul, 13
Ruben Zackhras, 69
Francis Horiuchi, 19
Ailuk
Hackney Takju, 29
Maynard Alfred, 58
Hemos Jack, 13
Arno
Nidel Lorak, 77
Gerald Zackios, 65
Jiba Kabua, 32
Juan Lokot, 10
Mike HAlferty, 13,
Ruman Jorbal, 0
Weiner Kattil, 3
Aur
Danny Jack, 23
Norman Matthew, 77
Ebon
Heran Bellu, 44
John Silk, 56
Enewetak
Mishael John, 20
Jack Ading, 80
Jabat
Abo Loeak, 6
Anono Loeak, 36
Kessai Note, 58
Jaluit
Frederick deBrum, 19
John Bungitak, 9
Hilda Heine, 66
Jokane Bisentha, 0
Rien Morris, 31
Alvin Jacklick, 63
Lenest Lanki, 13
Kili
March Samuel, 23
Tomaki Juda, 76
Kwajalein
Ataji Balos, 25
Jeban Riklon, 63
Michael Kabua, 88
Sato Maie, 22
Stephen Dribo, 31
Tony deBrum, 69
Lae
Charles deBrum, 32
Joblo Samuel, 6
Rellong Lemari, 39
Rino Phillip, 23
Lib
Irumne Bondrik, 48
Jerakoj Bejang, 52
Likiep
Donald Capelle, 53
Tom Kijiner, 47
Majuro
Carl Heine, 13
Biuma Samson, 13
Amatlain Kabua, 52
Edwin Lakien, 6
Jurelang Zedkaia, 84
Witten Philippo, 26
Rosalie Konou, 6
Brenson Wase, 58
Jack Jorbon, 13
Jakeo Relang, 3
Phillip Muller, 42
Wilfred Kendall, 55
Melvin Narruhn, 29
Alik Alik, 45
David Kramer, 58
Maloelap
Emil deBrum, 30
Hemlen Langmoir, 3
Michael Konelios, 60
Patrick Langmoir, 7
Mejit
Dennis Momotaro, 71
Luckner Abner, 0
Helkena Anni, 29
Mili
Alee Alik, 16
Kejjo Bien, 22
Billy Billy, 19
Tadashi Lometo, 31
Homer Graham, 12
Namdrik
Rod Nakamura, 39
Mattlan Zackhras, 61
Namu
Kaiboke Kabua, 50
Anna Anien, 17
Tony Aiseia, 33
Rongelap
Abacca Anjain-Maddison,
44
Atbi Riklon, 16
Kenneth Kedi, 41
Ujae
Caios Lucky, 32
Frederick Muller, 42
Marcella Sakaio, 13
William Swain, 13
Utrik
Amenta Matthew, 75
Hiroshi Yamamura, 25
Wotho
Elmer Langbata, 17
Namar Nashon, 10
David Kabua, 73
Wotje
Litokwa Tomeing, automatic
Note: Not all totals add up
to 100 percent as they’ve
been rounded off or refl ect
multiple seat constituencies.
Honeymooners
mad at airline
LETTERS PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960
The following letter, dated October
10, was sent to Air Marshall Islands
general manager Dan Fitzpatrick by
Rhiannon and Andrew Pitkin, residents
of Gainesville, Florida:
My husband and I have just returned
from Bikini Atoll, having spent our
honeymoon diving the nuclear fl eet.
We were scheduled to leave Bikini on
fl ight 555 to Majuro in order that we
make our connection to Honolulu and
onto Newark. We were due to spend
the last four days of our honeymoon
in Manhattan before traveling home to
Florida on Sunday, October 7.
Late afternoon on Tuesday, October
2 we were informed by the head divemaster
of Bikini Atoll Divers that the
scheduled AMI fl ight was postponed
“indefi nitely due to pilot issues.” We
were later told that these issues were
related to an excess of pilot hour
and the fl ight would arrive Tuesday,
October 9 — six days late. I fi nd it
incredible to believe that this was not
predicted until 16 hours before the
fl ight was due to leave Majuro and
that a back up plan was not already
in place, particularly with no second
plane available.
Following a meeting in Majuro when
the pilot issues were addressed, the
fl ight was rescheduled to leave early
Thursday, October 4. We were told
the fl ight was late leaving but had left
the runway on Thursday en route to
Kwajalein.
However, we were then informed
that the fl ight had not in fact ever taken
off due to technical diffi culties. It was
tentatively rescheduled for some time
on Friday. We eventually left Bikini on
Friday morning — two days late and
having missed our connections from
Majuro and Honolulu.
Bikini Atoll Divers arranged for
our flights on from Majuro to be
rescheduled and we arrived in New
York on Saturday, October 6. We had
only 18 hours of our four-day-stay in
Manhattan left before we had to return
to Florida.
I am therefore writing for compensation
for the loss of our four-day holiday
in New York and for the signifi cant
inconvenience we experienced as a
direct result of the two-day delay of
Air Marshall Islands fl ight 555. My
husband has no more vacation allowance
for the year, having used it all for
this honeymoon. He also had to return
to work without any opportunity to
recover from the inevitable considerable
jetlag.
I have copied this letter to the
Marshall Islands Journal following
the article of October 5 and to Bikini
Atoll Divers. We spent two weeks of
diving spectacular shipwrecks and
were looked after very well by the dive
team during this time and during the
delay. However, the diver operation’s
reliance on Air Marshall Islands to
transport customers to and from Bikini
means that we are unlikely to return.
We traveled with another couple that
were similarly inconvenienced and feel
the same way in this regard.
We look forward to hearing from
you shortly with an appropriate compensation
package.

The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007
LETTERS PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960, Fax 625-3136, email journal@ntamar.net
Hard-working kids get ripped off
Fake $20
bill used
in Laura
store
I live in Lomar, Laura. My younger
brother Jim and I have owned a small momand-pop
store for about five years now, with
the intent of saving up money for college.
On Thursday evening, October 25, someone
came up and bought with a $20 dollar
bill. The next morning, upon closer inspection,
we realized the money was counterfeit;
unfortunately, we could not remember who
had used the bill.
The bill was smaller than a regular $20
bill, and the ink was starting to smear.
When held up to the light, there was no
watermark of President Andrew Jackson’s
face.
We knew the incident took place at night-
Eta in Bethany Fisher, im ij jokwe ilo
Lomar, Laura. Lalem year emootlok kõmro
ear laddik eo jatiõ kajutak juon mon wia bwe
kõmin kapok wonan college.
Boñin Taije eo, October 25 raan, juon
armej ear itok im wia kõn $20 dollar. Inem
lak jibbõñ in raan eo juon, kõmij kab kile
bwe riab in jããn men eo, ak kõmij jab
kememej wõn eo ear wia kõn $20 dollar
eo. Unin ad jelã bwe riab in tala men eo ej
kõnke edikrik jidik jãn mool in tala, kab uno
eo e jamej. Barãinwõt ke komar lale dollar
eo ilo meram, komar jab lo annañin mejan
time, when the store is usually very busy.
We were able to remember almost everyone
who had come up and bought that night.
My mom and I spent the next evening interviewing
some of the customers that had
made purchases on the night of the crime,
so that we could ascertain who had bought
with the bogus bill.
We have been spreading the word about
this criminal act in hopes that we will nab
the suspect and warn people to keep an eye
out for any suspicious-looking money.
I hope this article will be of help to people
and that it will raise awareness about counterfeit
money here in the RMI.
Bethany Fisher
Loe jaan riab ilo
Laura imon wia
Sam Smith
President Andrew Jackson.
Komar kememej bwe ri nana eo ear itok
im wia ke ejota, im komar kememej enañin
aolep ro im raar wia boñin eo. Komro kar
jinõ etal im bwebwenato ippãn ro im raar
wia, bwe kõmin etale wõn eo ear wia kõn
riab in jããn eo.
Komij kajelaik aolep armej kõn men in
me ear walok bwe ren mejmej karuo im
kejparok er jãn ro ri nana. Ij kejatdikdik bwe
article in enaaj jipañ elõñ armej ikkijien riab
in jããn, ak counterfeit, ilo RMI in.
Bethany Fisher
Head ‘lion’
roars komol
to Journal
On behalf of the Lions Club of the Marshall Islands,
we would like to express our sincere appreciation to
the Journal for covering the Charter Night Induction
Ceremony in your October 19 issue. The Lions Club
is a humanitarian NGO that concentrates its efforts
to help the community. We will look for needs that
should be fulfilled and we will try to help.
Your contribution and support in the form of publicity
helps to promote this effort and will enable us to
gain individual and private sector support to realizes
our mission to develop programs and projects that will
be of service to those in need in our community.
Samuel L. Smith, President, Lions Club
A big breakthrough in
talks with the European
Union (EU) will pave the
way for fish exports from
the Marshall Islands for
the first time.
R&D Minister John
Silk told the Journal Saturday
that the opening of
the EU market to the Marshall
Islands and other
small islands in the region
promises a big economic
boost for the islands.
Up until last month, the
EU — which represents
27 European countries
— had set fish export
regulations that prevented
most Pacific islands from any possibility of
ever exporting the one big resource available
for export: fish.
This is because the EU was demanding
that for fish to be exported into the EU it had
to meet “rules of origin” that included that
50 percent island ownership of the fishing
boats and a 50 percent local crew.
Silk said for the Marshall Islands and other
small islands, this requirement prevented
any possibility of exports to EU countries,
despite the fact that fish handled and processed
in Majuro is now being exported to
the US and Japan.
Bethany Fisher holds up the counterfeit $20 bill,
which was ‘spent’ at her Laura store. Above, a
real $20 note, with the false one underneath.
EU okays RMI
fish exports
Minister for
Resources and
Development
John Silk.
Marshall Islands Fishing
Venture, which handles
the export of sashimigrade
tuna from Majuro to
the US and Japan, has for
several years been keen
to gain access to the big
EU market.
Last month, the EU
negotiators changed their
position, and dropped the
requirement of 50 percent ownership and
crew.
“We’ve been negotiating with them for
three years on this,” Silk said. “It’s a big
breakthrough.”
An agreement is expected to be signed
next month that will open the EU doors
to fish exports from the RMI and other
islands.
Silk said it has the potential for increasing
employment to Marshall Islanders as the
demand for fish transshipped out of Majuro
will grow tremendously with the opening of
the EU market.

10 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
MEC targets the navy
The Marshalls Energy Company
is stepping up its efforts to get the
US Navy to use Majuro as a regular
refueling stop, with the hiring
of a new staff member to push its
fuel services.
Former Micronesian Shipping
Agency chief Phil Welch is the
new safety officer and bunkering
manager for MEC, who officially
started this week.
“The bonus with hiring Phil is
that he’s a qualified fireman and
he knows the shipping business,”
MEC general manager Billy Roberts
said. “We’re getting two for
one.”
Welch’s work with MEC will be
two-fold, Roberts said.
A major initial focus of Welch’s
work with MEC will be to upgrade
fire safety systems at the
power plant and tank farm, Roberts
said.
This is part of MEC’s goal to
improve its tank farm operations.
“Our guys (tank farm staff) are doing
a great job, but it needs refining
to meet international standards,”
Roberts said.
“We’ve started the process, but
there’s been too much going on.
Phil will bring the focus that we
need.”
On the fuel side, Welch’s exten-
sive knowledge of and contacts in
the shipping world will help MEC
attract more fuel sales opportunities,
not only with the US Navy,
but also with fishing boats.
“There are lots of fishing boats
out there that don’t fuel in Majuro,”
Roberts said.
“Now we’ve got someone to
focus on it (getting the fishing
companies to come to Majuro).”
Public Works Minister and MEC
board chairman Matt Zackhras
Phil Welch poses
for the camera
with his daughter
Andrea.
has already sent a letter to the US
Navy about future ongoing use of
MEC fuel and tank farm storage
opportunities.
“If we could get one Navy ship
a month, it would be a big boost
for the economy,” Roberts said.
“Forget fuel, these (Navy) guys
spend money in town. There are a
lot of benefits.”
But it’s not only the Navy that
MEC is aiming to bring in on a
more regular basis to increase its
Saeko helps to sort
out KAJUR’s finances
New MEC board fiscal advisor Saeko
Shoniber spent time on Ebeye in late
October to train KAJUR accounting
staff and organize financial documents
for the current fiscal year 2007 audit.
Ebeye’s utility company was three
years behind on audits until Shoniber
began working with the KAJUR accounting
staff earlier this year. The
FY2004 audit was published recently,
and the 2005 and 2006 audits are nearly
completed by Deloitte and Touche.
MEC general manager said he anticipates
the FY2007 audit for KAJUR
Ad maron in wia
kake ek nan EU
Juon tobrak laplap
ikijien kenono ko ippen
European Union eo ak
(EU) enaaj kebelok ial
eo nan jerbal in wia
kake ek ko jen Aelon
Kein ej kab naaj juon
katten ilo bwebwenato
nan ijokein ba kaki.
R&D Minister John
Silk ear jiron tok Journal
eo ilo raan in Jadredre
eo ke bellok in an
jikin makit ko an EU
tok nan Aelon Kein
ekoba lal jidrik ko mottan
eletok juon kallimur
laplap ikijien an laplok
jonan jerammon eo nan
lal kein ijokein. Mae
kar allon eo lok, EU eo – im
ej jutak kake 27 lal ko ilo
aelon in Europe kan – ekar
bobrae jerbal in wia kake ek
nan ippaer nan elon wot iaan
lal ko woj ilo belakin Pacific
in ikijien men in jerammon
eo elaptata ippaer: EK.
Wawein in ear eindrein
kinke EU eo ear karoke
im kakiene bwe jabdrewot
ek ko im rej wia kake lok
Minister John Silk
nan ippaer ren aikuij in loor
juon men eo rej ba “rules
of origin” ak kakien ikijien
jikin eo ej itok jene, eo im
ej kemlet bwe ej aikuij in
jonan in 50 bojjan waan ri
aelon kein waan eonod ko
im ej aikuij wor 50 bojjan ri
aelon kein rej jerbal ilo waan
eonod kein.
Silk ear ba bwe Marshall
Islands ekoba lal jidrik ko
jet mottan rekar jab
maron in teru kin kar
jekjek in nan aer maron
in kar wia kake
lok ek nan lal ko an
EU, mene ek ko im
rej keboji im kommani
ion Majuro in rej wia
kaki lok nan US im
kab Japan.
Marshall Islands
Fishing Venture, eo
im ej keboji kanniek in
ek lap kein im rej wia
kaki lok nan US im
kab Japan, iumwin kar
jet iio ko kio ear kanuij
in konan kar komman
bwe en maron in wia
kake lok ek nan jikin
makit ko rellap ilo EU eo.
Ilo allon eo lok, ri bebe
ro jen droluul eo an EU
rekar ukot karok in aer kar
mokta lok im jolok wawein
in ikijien 50 bojjan aikuij
bwe en waan wa eo im 50
bojjan aikuij bwe en wor ri
jerbal in ijokein ion waan
eonod eo.
“Kimar kenono ippen
EU kin wawein in iumwin
jilu iio ko kio,” Silk ear ba.
“Menin ej juon dreblok eo
ekanuij in lap.” Juon kon
rekar kotmene bwe renaaj
jaini iloan allon in lal im
enaaj maron in kebeloke
kejem ko an EU nan jerbal in
wia kake ek lok nan lal kan
aer jen Aelon Kein ekoba lal
ko jet jen belaak in ijokein.
Silk ear kwalok bwe enaaj
lonlok jerbal ko rebellok ilo
Aelon Kein jen wot an naaj
laplok jerbal in wia kake
im ijilok lok ek kein jen
Majuro in ilo an naaj maron
in laplok jerbal in wia kake
in lok nan jikin makit ko an
EU eo.
fuel sale volume. An important
consideration for purse seine fishing
operators is the need for both
diesel for the vessels and jet fuel
for the helicopters on board.
“A lot of purse seiners are interested
to come to Majuro but they
want a one-stop-shop,” Roberts
said.
“If we’ve got jet, they’ll come
in. So we’re talking with several
fishing companies about supplying
jet fuel.”
will begin in December. Audits for
MEC and Majuro Water and Sewer
Company are scheduled to start later
this week and be completed by the end
of November.
Assuming KAJUR is ready for the
audit to start in December, it should
mean that for the first time since Compact
II was implemented in 2004, all
three RMI utility companies will meet
the Compact’s requirement that audits
be completed within six months of
the end of the fiscal year, meaning by
March.
He said MEC is looking at several
options, including having a
fishing company buy the jet fuel
with MEC storing and delivering
it when needed.
Currently only Mobil sells jet
fuel in Majuro, but that is reserved
for sales to airplanes.
The bottom line for MEC is that
increasing fuel sales to ships and
fishing boats increases its overall
revenues, which can help to crosssubsidize
electric costs.

Team XXXX
crew member
Karness Kusto
holds up a
wahoo at the
Shoreline dock
as the sun sinks
slowly in the
west.
EATING OUT IN MAJURO
Yahoo! It was a
wahoo weekend
Weatherman
Reggie
White
and RMI
Ambassador
to RoC
Alex Bing
pose with a
barracuda
caught on
Lady Lu.
If you didn’t eat some
fresh wahoo this week, you
were sitting at the wrong
dining table.
That’s because Majuro’s
champion fisherfolk
brought home 443.1 qualifying
pounds of the scrumptious
species (and a bunch
more smaller fry that also
found their way into kitchens
around town).
One place you could definitely
have dined on some
wonderful wahoo is the
Marshall Islands Resort’s
Enra Restaurant, because
food and beverage manager
Edward Fowler always
makes sure he has a fish
dish available for clients.
“We buy about 360 pounds
of fish a week,” Ed said.
Take advantage
of vegetables
If you think the only people who like to eat veggies in
Majuro are Liz Rodick, Jack Niedenthal and Giff Johnson,
you’d be wrong.
What we were amazed to find out the other day is that
items like veggie pizzas and pumpkin-spinach pasta are getting
traction with lots of carnivorous types around town.
Don’t believe us? Then just watch what people are ordering
at places like MI Resort, Flame Tree and Tide Table.
Could it be a trend?
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007 11
“Mostly we buy yellowfin
tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo.”
The restaurant’s main
supplier is the fish base, but
Edward also buys from local
fishermen such as Robin
Reimers and Bwiji Aliven.
“We pay about $3 a pound
for their fish if they give it
to us already filleted.”
And speaking of Robin
and Bwiji, they were just two
of 15 skippers who headed
out to the waters around
Majuro in last Saturday’s
Marshalls Billfish Club Reef
Runner Tournament.
Bwiji, fishing on Celinda,
came out the big winner on
the day, with 163 pounds of
tuna, wahoo and barracuda.
Second place went to Kyle
Aliven on Dragon, with 110
pounds of target fish, plus
a 300-pound marlin (giving
him a cool 410 points
towards the President’s Cup
competition). Third place
went to Team True Blue,
skippered by Melvin Aliven,
with 106 pounds of fishy
flesh (plus 250 points for a
tag-and-release billfish).
Only three boats came
back to the Shoreline dock
with nothing to weigh, so all
in all it was a seafood weekend
for many Majuro-ites.

1 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
EATING OUT IN MAJURO
Iron men
Long Island Hotel is becoming Majuro’s
sports spot. The inn has long been
the in place for tennis and now golf is
on the agenda. Photographer Douglas
Henry stopped by the hotel on Monday
at lunch and found a squad of VIPs
— including (front row) Ambassador
Bruce Linghu, President Kessai Note,
and Minister Witten Philippo — talking
up tee-offs and bragging about birdies
at the inaugural meeting of the Marshall
Islands Golf Club Federation.
Rice is nice
but don’t frown at brown
What can you do with rice to make it
more exciting than just a glob of white
stuff on your plate?
Well, as long as you’re not Japanese,
you can pick up the bottle of soy sauce
and pour it on the white rice, turning it
brown and salty tasting — a habit that
many locals, Marshallese and ribelle
alike, follow.
Or you can locate your hamburger
with gravy on top of the rice to spice
up the taste of your carbs.
If you’re interested in changing
people’s thinking toward eating brown
If we were to start a column featured
in our monthly restaurant guide
for Majuro and chose the first word
identifying the eatery as “AL”, you’d
probably think we were about to push
something on you about the restaurateur
Al Wong (the guy who leads
the charge at Flame Tree). And since
we have begun our series of reviews,
those of you with long memories and
discriminating minds will have quite
possibly come to the conclusion that
the Journal has run out of places to
review: From RRE’s Tide Table,
Marshall Islands Resort’s Enra, Long
Island Hotel’s restaurant, Flame, Lathbern,
White House, Chit Chat, Kitco,
Won Hai, Special, Uliga Restaurant,
Monica’s etc, just about every potential
eatery has been evaluated.
All we claim, except one. And, like
we said, (or at least hinted at above)
this one begins with the appellation
“AL”.
The dining experience we are targeting
for this week, sadly, is limited to
a once-a-week affair, that is, open for
business only one day each week. And
rice, you can be sneaky to get your
way. Instead of trying to foist a bowl
of brown rice on suspecting customers,
there’s another way to get your
way. Start out with two-thirds white
rice, one-third brown, mixed together
in the rice cooker so when it’s cooked
it doesn’t show so much. Guaranteed
everyone will eat it and likely without
any comment at all.
Do this for a few meals till your
home eaters are accustomed. Then up
the amount of brown rice periodically.
It’s been scientifically proven to work!
So try it.
But how about brown rice out in the
open, no subterfuge about it?
We were amazed with a concoction
produced in a local kitchen the other
day. Check this: brown rice mixed with
bits of spinach, raisins and thin slices
of almonds. Wiz-wow. That was pretty
exciting stuff.
So interesting in fact that when it
was out on our table at the Tide Table,
a next table neighbor looked over and
asked the waitresses to change her
order so she could try it, too.
EATING OUT IN MAJURO
We suggest you
try ‘Eating AL’
‘It is a veritable font
of fresh produce and
cookery, resplendant
with “doctor
recommended” antidiabetes
vitamins.’
you can’t exactly talk about this restaurant
in terms of the owner because, you
see, there are many owners involved
in this eating phenomenon. Yet it is
in terms of quality food (fresh beyond
the capability of Payless or Formosa to
import) our eating experience for this
week beats every other restaurant in
town for simple freshness; right out of
mother nature and into your tummy.
And talk about variety! Wow! Giant
clam, bananas (both eating and cooking),
octopus, fresh reef fish, pickled
papaya, ground-baked breadfruit, fresh
prepared likor (grated baby coconut
with sweetened milk), ready to drink
coconuts, bwiro, boiled pandanus,
baked “bao in lal” (locally raised
chicken) and jirol.
The restaurant is spread from about
midway Ajeltake to the end of Laura
and appears in the form of little stands
discreetly located along the road to and
through Laura Village.
It is a veritable font of fresh produce
and cookery, resplendant with
“doctor recommended” anti-diabetes
vitamins.
Enjoy a full, cold glass of freshly
milked “jakaro”, so high in vitamin C
content that it normally scores off any
regular scale designed to compare nutritional
value of different fruits. And
taste? Absolutely invigorating!
Yes, this is all yours at “Al Fresco”,
the magnificent outdoor eating experience
set up each Sunday for visitors
from Rita who hanker for a nice jambo
to the other end of the atoll from town.
The “Al Fresco” experience is a great
way to enjoy Majuro, spread some
moolah around the local community,
and treat your body to a refreshing
bombardment of healthy, tasty food.
It’s truly a worthwhile experience.

Marshall Islands High School’s library was jam packed with students who
showed up to take the US military entrance test that was conducted last week
in Majuro. Tests were also given at Assumption and Laura High School.
ADB: Good
governance
is the key
There is a direct link between
“good governance” and economic
growth in Pacific island countries,
Asian Development Bank officials
told the seventh annual Pacific Region
Investment Conference held in
Manila last month.
Craig Sugden and Rashiel Velarde
of ADB’s Pacific Regional
Department described the Solomon Islands,
Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Palau as
“recent recoveries” — the economies of
which all have projected growth this year
around five percent, which is considered
good. Meanwhile, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu
and Samoa, all of which were at or above
five percent growth in the early 2000s, have
dropped down and are projected to remain in
the two-to-three percent range in 2007-08.
By comparison, the Marshall Islands,
Kiribati and Federated States of Micronesia
saw about two percent growth in 2005-06
and are expected to remain at this same
modest level of growth in 2007-08.
Fiji and Tonga have had numerous internal
problems — a military coup in Fiji, riots
and unrest in Tonga — and their growth is
projected to be negative in 2007-08.
The ADB officials said that “government
effectiveness” has a big influence on making
economic growth possible and increasing
per capita gross domestic product (GDP).
While this is true globally, it also applies
in the Pacific, the said. They tracked island
economies among ADB member nations in
the Pacific, showing that those with better
control of corruption had higher average
levels of growth.
The Marshall Islands was one of eight
islands that had negative growth over the
most recent 10-year period, at an overall
10-year rate of minus one percent per year.
Timor-Leste had the worst economic growth
at minus seven percent per year for the past
10 years, while Nauru was next worst at
minus four percent.
On the positive side are Cook Islands,
with an average growth rate of about six
‘The ADB sees tourism,
remittances, offshore
investments and offshore
fishing as the main areas with
potential for growth.’
percent over 10 years, followed by Tuvalu
at five percent and Samoa at about three
percent. Kiribati, Tonga and Fiji were the
three other islands with positive growth
over 10 years.
The ADB officials said that among the
causes of poor governance in the Pacific
are:
• Poorly developed systems, which result
from a lack of trained workers, weak ability
to make policies, and people who don’t get
behind and support changes or reforms.
• Tension between traditional and modern
systems.
• Weak links between people and their
governments, which is caused by a lack
of information being shared with the community
that translates further into people
not having much of a voice in their government.
“Pacific island economies can grow,” the
ADB officials said. But local economies
need to be led by the private sector and allow
for foreign investment to prosper.
One of the real challenges in the Pacific
“is a deep inertia (unwillingness to move)
in some economies,” they said.
The ADB sees tourism, remittances
(money sent home by islanders living in the
US, Australia and New Zealand), offshore
investments and offshore fishing as the main
areas with potential for growth.
They emphasized the need to improve
governance in the region, with an emphasis
on:
• Physical infrastructure, including developing
human (people) resources.
• Essential social services.
• Private sector friendly environments.
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007 1
TALK of TARAWA
Kiribati goes
for Kiwi, Oz
work schemes
By BATIRI BATAUA
Last month, 30 I-Kiribati
trainee nurses went to Australia
to complete their studies,
and after graduation,
they will be employed there
and can apply for Australian
citizenship.
Meanwhile, before the
end of this year, about 1,000
youths will go to New Zealand
to work on farms as part
of the New Zealand government’s
Pacific scheme to
expand the number of work
opportunities for islanders.
The Kiribati Technical
Institute in Betio is to be
upgraded so its graduates
will obtain a standard skill
recognized in Australia,
New Zealand and elsewhere
so that they can successfully
compete for jobs.
These are part of a longterm
plan outlined by President
Anote Tong, who told
reporters it’s also to respond
to sea rising.
The continuation of I-
Kiribati nurse training in
Australia is a result of a
bilateral talks between Tong
and Australian PM John
Howard.
“I often talked with Mr.
Howard at the Forum and
other meetings, and asked
him why (Australia is) recruiting
Asians to work in
Australia and not Pacific
islanders and in particular,
I-Kiribati.
“Mr. Howard answered
me back and said, our people
don’t have the skills
required.”
The two leaders agreed
to start with nurses, and
Australia has also shown its
interests in the upgrading of
skill standard at the Kiribati
Technical Institute.
New Zealand, Japan,
Taiwan, Canada and other
countries are also interested,
as they have plans to
recruit skilled laborers from
Kiribati.”
Tong, who was just reelected
to his second term,
also told reporters that when
this youth recruitment program
comes to a reality, it
will pave a way for mobi-
Batiri
Bataua
Outer islands men in
Kiribati are against using
condoms when having
sex.
They say it’s unnatural
and interfering. And could
cause a nuisance to both
partners during sex.
Mobile teams from the
Kiribati National HIV/
AIDS and TB Task Force
lizing I-Kiribati to higher
grounds before they get
drowned in 50-100 years
from now, as predicted by
scientists because of global
warming.
“The New Zealand labor
scheme could accept more
than 1,000 people if they
abide by immigration laws
and behave themselves,”
he said. “I-Kiribati are very
much liked in New Zealand,
Australia and elsewhere
because of their obedience
and respect.
“And if the number increased
annually, Kiribati’s
economy could boom in
terms of millions and mil-
‘The New Zealand
labor scheme
could accept more
than 1,000 people
if they abide
by immigration
laws and behave
themselves.’
– Kiribati
President Anote
Tong
outer islands men
oppose condoms
visiting six islands this
year recommended in
their reports that more
emphasis should focus
on condom use and demonstration.
Men on Marakei Island
told the visiting team
they don’t know how to
use condoms, and it was
therefore agreed that in
future visits, more time
will be spend on condom
usage and demonstrations.
The mobile teams included
two HIV/AIDS
patients. The number of
AIDS cases this year has
increased from 32 to 50,
with most of them being
I-Kiribati seafarers.
lions of dollars through remittances.
And many people
would be able to pay to
migrate, which I’m encouraging.”
President Tong explained
before Kiribati drowns, a
lot of its people would have
been already shifted abroad,
and government would be
dealing with a few remaining.
When Tong was asked
about grouping I-Kiribati
in one place, he said the
Reserve Fund, which now
stands at more than $670
million, could be used to
purchase a land for I-Kiribati.

1 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
WUTMI weaves past
lessons into the future
The US Ambassador Clyde
Bishop delivered a strong endorsement
of the work of Women
United Together Marshall Islands
(WUTMI) at its annual executive
board opening last Saturday in
Majuro. Excerpts from his keynote
speech follow:
“The work you are doing in
the Marshall Islands is important
work, and I, the Embassy, and the
United States are proud to support
it, as you should all be proud to be
a part of it.
“I thought about the theme for
this conference (“Iden Mwekun”)
and I liked how poetic and appropriate
the image of the past weaving
the future is to the Marshalls
and to the work WUTMI does.
First, I like the image of weaving
as a description of how the future
comes into being. Threads of past
events come together, combining
and forming a pattern that determines
the shape of the future. But,
by describing this as weaving it
also reminds us that these events
do not come together by themselves.
Just as in weaving, people
choose the pattern and people lock
the threads together. Every person
has the chance to help weave the
pattern of their own lives and the
lives of those around them. More
than this, you can help choose
the pattern for the entire Marshall
Islands. By being here today and
helping WUTMI do its work in
voter education, outreach to young
parents, and so much more you are
all choosing the pattern and weaving
the threads of the future in the
RMI. What you do today can make
a huge difference for the RMI.
“The past weaving the future
The national women’s organization
WUTMI has emphasized
the participation of both
men and women in its conferences
and workshops, and
this week’s executive board
meeting is no different.
During the introductions
also reminds us of the source of
strength that the past provides.
This is especially true of the efforts
of WUTMI to promote good
governance and women’s issues
in the RMI. Marshallese culture
has always had a strong role for
women and women leaders, and
a strong role for consensus-based
governance to the benefit of all.
As WUTMI works towards its
goals, it can take strength from
this tradition, and use the best
from the past to help weave a
Pictured left to right are
Majuro councilwoman Jouban
Kabua, US Ambassador to the
RMI Clyde Bishop, WUTMI
director Daisy Momotaro,
and Chief Secretary Casten
Nemra, who all spoke at the
opening ceremony of the
WUTMI meeting. Photos: Giff
Johnson.
Neiobwe Anjain-Maddison, Leroij Neimed Loeak Boene,
former First Lady Emlain Kabua, and Rongelap incumbent
Abacca Anjain-Maddison at the WUTMI ceremony.
Lakatus welcome
of the participants from the
various outer islands, while
women were, naturally, in
the majority, there were also
a significant number of men
participating as representatives
of their respective
islands.
better future. I believe the future
WUTMI is working for…embraces
inclusiveness and greater
participation in government, both
of which are vital democratic
values.
“From the perspective of the
United States, one of the most
important things this organization
does is its Gender Equality in
Leadership project. Our high regard
for this project can be seen in
the support that USAID provides
to the project. It is the only, I be-
lieve, voter education program in
the RMI and its importance cannot
be understated. For a democratic
government to work, the people
must know how to participate and
what their rights are in shaping the
path their nation will take. Your efforts
to spread this vital knowledge
will help the RMI stay true to the
democratic ideals that can serve it
so well. As this vital project moves
forward you can rest assured that
the Embassy will continue to support
it however we can.
“WUTMI’s other projects show
this same commitment to good
democratic values. Whether the
projects are educating young
children and their parents, working
to improve the living conditions
of outer islanders, or promoting
human rights and equality, they
are all aimed at a better future for
the Marshall Islands through an
educated, prosperous population
committed to keeping a democratic
RMI.”
Members of Youth to Youth in Health entertained
the crowd at the WUTMI conference opening.
Leroij
gather for
opening
WUTMI launched its second
annual executive board meeting
with an opening ceremony
last Saturday that brought out a
large group of leroij (chiefs), a
handful of Nitijela senators, US
and Taiwan ambassadors, and
a large turnout of people in the
community.
Speaking for the RMI government,
Chief Secretary Casten
Nemra said the government
supported non-government organizations
and his office door
was open to assist WUTMI any
time.
Majuro Councilwoman Jouban
Kabua welcomed the WUTMI
executive members on behalf of
Mayor Riley Albertter.
WUTMI executive director
Daisy Momotaro said that three
US government donor programs
helped WUTMI to put on this
year’s event, including the Global
Fund for Women, the Women
Issues Fund and the National
Park Service. Locally, both Bank
of Marshall Islands and Marshall
Islands Development Bank are
supporting WUTMI’s conference.
Momotaro told the group
that the meeting is bringing in
a variety of resource people to
lead training sessions during the
week, including Ben Graham,
Ben Chutaro, Fred Pedro, Pohnpei-based
Willy Kotska who
heads the Micronesian Conservation
Trust, McAnthony Keah,
and resource people from the
KIO Club and Marshall Islands
Conservation Society.
Among those attending included
Minister John Silk and
Senators Abacca Anjain-Maddison,
Jurelang Zedkaia and Kaiboke
Kabua, Ambassadors Clyde
Bishop and Bruce Linghu, Chief
Justice Carl Ingram, and former
First Lady Emlain Kabua.

RMI edreklok wot kin 2%
Ewor juon koba eo ikotaan “kien emman”
im kab edreklok in jerammon nan elon wot
iaan lal ko woj ibelakin Pacific in, ekkar
nan opiija ro an Asian Development Bank
eo ilo kar kwelok eo an kajojo iio im ej kein
kajiljilimjuon ilo Pacific Region Investment
Conference eo im rekar kommani ilo Manila
allon eo lok.
Craig Sugden im kab Rashiel Velarde jen
department eo an Pacific Region ilo ADB
eo rekar kemelele bwe lal ko an Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea im kab
Palau rej einwot “wonmanlok ko ilo raan
kein” – ak bwe jonan mweie im jerammon
ko aer rekar maron in edreklok iloan iio ko
kio kin lalem bojjan, menin rej watoke bwe
ej juon jonak eo emman.
Mekarta, ilo Cook Islands,
Tuvalu im kab Samoa,
aolepen ijokein im kajojo
iaer rekar bed ilon in lalem
bojjan jonan edreklok ko
aer ilo kar jino in lok 2000
jima ko, bwe emoj aer kio
wotlok im rej kio watwate
bwe renaaj loe jonan in ruo
lok nan jilu bojjan edreklok
ilo 2007-08.
Keidri, Marshall Islands,
Kiribati im kab Federated
States ko an Micronesia bwe
rekar maron in loe wot ruo
bojjan edreklok ilo 2005-06
im rej kotmene bwe renaaj bedwot ilo ejja
jonan in wot im ejjab kanuij in lap ilo naaj
2007-08. Fiji im kab Tonga ekar kanuij in
lon jorrean ko ilowaer – an wor juon military
coup ilo Fiji ak an jarin tarinae ko aer
bok maron jen kien eo im an wor imajaj im
tarbuk ko ilo Tonga – innem jonan edreklok
ko aer jen dron rekar watwate bwe rebed ilo
bonbon ko ilal in ejjelok ak bwe rej negative
ilo jonak ko an 2007-08.
Opiija rein jen ADB eo rekar ba bwe
“jonan an kien jejjet an jerbal” ej men eo in
im elap an lap kilan ilo komman wonmanlok
ko im kelaplok jonan jeen eo kajojo armij
rej mour kake ak rej ba per capita gross
domestic product eo (GDP).
Mene menin emol ilo belaak in lalin,
wawein in ej bareinwot maron jerbal ijokein
ilo Pacific in, rekar ba.
Rekar ekatok kake jonan mweie im kab
jerammon ko nan lal ko ibelakin Pacific
in im rej uwaan ADB eo innem rekar loe
bwe lal ko im emman lok aer kejebarok er
make jen jorrean in kemakitkit kien ko aer
ekar laplok jonan eo ekka aer edreklok kake
ikijien mweie kab jerammon.
Marshall Islands ear juon iaan lal ko
rualitok im bonbon ko an rekar bed ilal in
ejjelok ak rej ba negative growth iloan kar
iio ko jonoul im rej jemlok lok, kin jonan eo
ekka ej driklok kin juon bojjan iloan kajojo
kar iio 10 rej jemlok lok. Timor-Leste ear ijo
im ekar kanuij in nana tata jonan edreklok
in mweie im jerammon eo an kin jonan in
ej driklok kin jiljilimjuon bojjan ilo kajojo
iio iloan iio ko jonoul im rej jemlok lok,
im keidri nan lal eo an Nauru ilal in tok
kin driklok kin emen bojjan iloan iio ko
jonoul.
Ro im rebed ilo bonbon ko remmon rej
Cook Islands, jonan eo ej ekka an edreklok
kake ej kin jiljino bojjan iloan kar iio ko
10, elkin tok ej Tuvalu kin lalem bojjan im
Samoa kin jilu bojjan.
Kiribati, Tonga im kab Fiji rekar lal ko
jilu ijelokin im rekar bareinwot bar edreklok
‘Keidri, Marshall Islands,
Kiribati im kab Federated
States ko an Micronesia
bwe rekar maron in loe
wot ruo bojjan edreklok
ilo 2005-06 im rej
kotmene bwe renaaj
bedwot ilo ejja jonan in
wot im ejjab kanuij in lap
ilo naaj 2007-08.’
Jonan
mweie ilo
lal ko an
Pacific in
iloan iio ko jonoul im rej kab jemlok lok.
Opiija rein an ADB rekar ba bwe ibwiljin
wawein ko im rej komman an mojno an
emakitkit kien ko ibelakin Pacific in rej er
kein:
• Jekjek ko rej loori elap aer nana, menin
ej walok tok jen an jabwe ri jerbal ro im ewor
kaminene im kapeel ko ippaer, emojno aer
maron in kommane jibarbar ko aer innem
menin ej komman bwe armij ren jab rie lok
jibarbar im kotobar ko aer nan komman
oktak ko.
• Limotak ko ikotaan manit im kab jekjek
in jerbal ko an raan kein.
• Emojno kwod eo ikotaan armij im kab
kien ko aer, menin ej walok kinke ejabwe an
wor leto letak in melele jen ippen jukjuk in
bed eo im wawein in ej melele in bwe elon
wot armij ejjelok anikieer ilo kien eo aer.
“Jonan mweie im jerammon ilo lal kein ilo
Pacific in remaron in edreklok,” Opiija rein
an ADB rekar ba. Botaap jonan mweie im
jerammon eo ijokein rej aikuij in ijjino jen
ippen raan komman jerbal in business ko aer
im komman bwe jerbal in wonmanlok ko jen
likin ren bareinwot maron in edreklok.
Juon iaan menin jelmae ko rellap ilo Pacific
in “ej juon mejatoto in ejjelok makitkit
ko ak (makoko in komman emakitkit) ilo jet
iaan lal kein,” rekar ba.
ADB eo ej loe bwe jerbal in kanol ri lotok
ro, ijiloktok ko ak (jeen ko ro nukid ilo US,
Austrialia im kab New Zealand rej jilkin
tok), jerbal in wonmanlok ko jen likin ekoba
eonod bwe rej einwot jikin ko im jemaron
in kadrekilok.
Rekar kemlele bwe ej aikuij in emman lok
kilen kotbalbale kien ko ibelakin jokein, ilo
aer kalikare bwe en einwot in:
• Ekkal kein komman wonmanlok ko
ekoba kokajurlok ri jerbal ro.
• Kommani jerbal in jiban ikijien social
services ko nan jukjuk in bed eo.
• En emman wawein im jekjek ko nan
raan komman business ko aer ak nan private
sector ko aer.
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007 1
No decision
yet about
Kwaj layoffs
An internal Kwajalein
Range Services (KRS) memo
of October 10 said that proposed
worker layoffs “must
wait until after RMI national
elections for RMI employees.”
In response to questions
from the Journal as to why
the Army was waiting until
after the elections to announce
layoffs, US Ambassador
Clyde Bishop said this
week, “It would be inappropriate
for US Army Kwajalein
Atoll to speculate on
the fallout that any potential
layoffs might have on the
election.”
He also said that “there
has been no decision to lay
off any RMI employees at
this time. Of course, USAKA does not wish
to interfere with the internal politics of the
RMI and would not want to influence in any
way the outcome of this upcoming election.
Reciprocally, USAKA will not allow politics
to be a driving factor in determining the
best operational course of action for our
installation.”
The KRS memo said that because of
the need to wait until after the election to
announce layoffs, 60-day notice might not
be possible. “USAKA will always follow
the Status of Forces Sub-Agreement to
the Compact,” Bishop said. “Kwajalein
Range Services, our prime contractor, has
US Ambassador
Clyde Bishop
a policy that applies to all
employees — American and
Marshallese — that gives
them 30-day written notice of
layoffs. That is the standard.
The 60-day notice period is
not a standard. It is a courtesy
extended to employees when
the employer determines it to
be appropriate in a particular
case. Again, we have made
no decision to lay off RMI
employees.”
Despite saying that there
has been no decision on laying
off Marshallese workers
ta Kwajalein, Bishop said
that the logistics budget for
KRS is being cut this year.
The logistics contract “has
seen a significant reduction
this year,” he said. “USAKA
is working closely with its contractors to
try to limit the impact of a reduced budget
profile. We are hopeful that we can mitigate
the impacts, especially with regard to our
RMI employees. It is our goal to have no
RMI layoffs if at all possible.
There may be a small number of US
contractor employees that are let go but
that is not clear to us right now. We deeply
regret having to impact anyone but it is
necessary in these times of increasing fiscal
constraint.”
The US population at Kwajalein has reportedly
declined from about 2,500 in the
early 2000s to about 1,700 now.
Ladies learn lots
at night school
A team of teachers under the supervision
of Reverends Gary and Marjorie Bixby
(pictured above right) have been providing a
group of about 50 out-of-school girls with a
chance to get back into the academic world
and improve their future. They are running
the special “school” three nights a week at
Assumption’s library.

1 Friday, November 2, 2007 — The Marshall Islands Journal
‘Four hours on Kwaj was better
Dollars
pour in
at Kwaj
market
A significant number of Majuro’s “local
producers” — of handicrafts, nin juice and
related products — boxed up their goods and
hopped on the Continental flight to Kwajalein
on October 20 for the latest trade fair.
Despite its abbreviated nature, the event
produced a healthy amount of revenue for
the Majuro and Ebeye sellers.
“Four hours on Kwaj was better than three
days on Guam,” said one of the participants
who had also attended the recent Micronesian
fair in Guam to sell crafts.
Some sellers said they hoped that the next
trade fair at Kwaj will be open for a whole
day, instead of the 1:30 pm cutoff for last
week’s fair.
The following day, the group moved over
to Ebeye for a day-long trade fair that was
well-received by Ebeye residents.
Zita Silk and Merina Ring (above) were
busy selling handicrafts at Kwajalein last
month. The fair gave lots of choice to local
residents (below).
It wasn’t only handicrafts
that got Kwajalein
residents to line up, but
also these tasty lobsters
(left). Meanwhile, the
Tobolar table sold lots of
soap and oil (below left),
and Bank of Marshall
Islands president Patrick
Chen joined with BoMI
Kwaj teller Paulina Abija,
who was busy offering
various bank services
and selling phone cards
and other products.
Photos courtesy by
Bank of Marshall
Islands.

than 3 days on Guam’
There was no
“discrimination” against
Ebeye folks last
month, as the trade fair
was held on both Kwaj
and Ebeye, attracting
lots of attention (above
and below). Leroij
Seagull Kabua James
(left in the photo at
right) joined with Mona
Joel at the event on
Ebeye.
Happy customers
were the order of
the day at Kwajalein
(left) as Majuro
vendors (such as
Jeirok Councilman
Bokmej Bokmej,
below left at left)
cashed in on the
high level of interest.
The Marshall Islands Journal — Friday, November 2, 2007 1
Ewor ri mij ilo
lajrak in vote eo
Daniel
Andrew
School leagues
set to start
Elementary and high school basketball for
boys and volleyball for girls will kick off shortly,
with all team registrations due to the Internal Affairs
Sports and Recreation office no later than
November 6.
Sports coordinator Daniel Andrew told the
Journal that registration for the leagues closes
on Tuesday next week.
The competitions will be held at the ECC gym
in Delap.
Juon iaan ri jibadrek ro an Majuro
in ear jiron tok Journal eo ilo wiik
jab in ke driktata ewor jiljilimjuon
armij ro im emoj aer mij rej bed wot
ilo laajrak in ri vote ro an Ajeltake
im ebar lon lok jen 10 armij ro im
emoj aer bar mij ijoke ej elaajrak
etaer ilo laajrak eo an Delap en.
Laajrak eo an Ajeltake edrelon
woran jet armij ro im emoj aer jako,
ekoba ro im elelok jen 10 iio jen ke
rekar jako.
Ibwiljin rein im rekar jako im
ej walok wot etaer ilo laajrak in ri
vote ro an Ajeltake ej kar Mayor
eo mokta an Majuro in, Tarmile
Ishoda.
Electoral Administration eo ear
kadriwoj tok laajrak in ri vote rein
ilo kar July eo.
Ke Journal eo ekar jino an kajjitok
melele jen Electoral ikijien
woran ro im emoj aer register ilo
kar April im May eo in iio jab in,
rekar jiron tok kim bwe rej kar
etale wot laajrak eo kinke rej jolok
etan ro im emoj aer jako ak rejjab
maron in vote.
Ien eo ekar jemlok kadrelon et
nan ekalel ej kar ilo Tijemba 31
raan in iio eo lok.