Giff Johnson

Mayor Ladie back for third term

Mayor Ladie back for third term

GIFF JOHNSON In the still preliminary and unofficial vote tabulation, Majuro Mayor Ladie Jack was outpolling main challenger Margaret Alee Bigler by more than two-to-one and three of the four incumbent Majuro Nitijela members were showing the highest numbers. Incumbent Stephen Phillip and candidates David Kramer and Yolanda Lodge-Ned were locked in a battle for […]

Resurrection week in Majuro

Resurrection week in Majuro

GIFF JOHNSON We don’t use the word “resurrection” lightly. But in the non-religious sphere of the Marshall Islands, we believe it is fitting to use that term for two events that took place largely out of the view of most local residents in Majuro. Twelve-and-a-half-years after the roof collapse halted use of the ECC national […]

Budget clock ticking

Budget clock ticking

GIFF JOHNSONThe lack of a national budget for the fiscal year that starts October 1 is worrying Nitijela leaders, one of whom is calling on RMI leaders to solve the current uncertainty over US Compact funding by introducing a “continuing resolution” that authorizes the same level of funding as presently budgeted to continue after September […]

Cache of bullets found

Cache of bullets found

An unusual discovery was made earlier this month in Majuro: A bag loaded with high-caliber bullets. To be precise, the bag of bullets was found in the small boat channel by the bridge by people swimming in that location. It was turned over to Majuro Atoll Local Police for further investigation. The bag containing hundreds […]

Telling the RMI story

Telling the RMI story

JOANNA OLSSON, EUNICE BORERO, TAMIKO JAJO and TEBOUA TIMEON ERITAIA* The Republic of the Marshall Islands could be more effective in Washington on nuclear legacy, Compact of Free Association and other issues if it had a strategic communications plan, according to the keynote speaker at last week’s summit on Media and Democracy. Andy Winer, Executive […]

Media group in spotlight

Media group in spotlight

WILMER JOELA five-day workshop organized by the Pacific Media Institute on democracy, elections and media started last Friday with an opening ceremony attended by diplomats and more than 40 journalists and public information officers from across the Pacific at the College of the Marshall Islands. Editor of the Marshall Islands and PMI co-founder Giff Johnson […]

People protest money use

People protest money use

GIFF JOHNSON The first demonstration in Majuro in many years happened Monday at the Kili-Bikini-Ejit Town Hall in Uliga. All demonstrations in the Marshall Islands, a country whose people are noted for “speaking under the waves,” are unprecedented in some ways. They are also relatively few and far between. Hospital staff demonstrated and then went […]

Oceania students like Japan

Oceania students like Japan

GIFF JOHNSON A small but active group of students at a university in Japan are putting — and keeping — the Pacific islands on the map. Majuro’s Kelly Lorennij is an active member of the group known as Oceania Students Association at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University. The Journal spoke with Kelly and three of the […]

Micro Games put off to 2024

Micro Games put off to 2024

GIFF JOHNSON The Micronesian Games were postponed last week, the second time in two years for the regional sports competition to be delayed. As the July 22 opening of the Micronesian Games began to loom large — the daily countdown sign in Delap had ticked down into the 120s — it became increasingly clear in […]