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Friday, June 13, 2008
| Ben to US? The appointment of Ben Graham as the RMI ambassador to the United States is facing a hurdle that has held up Graham’s taking up the new post in Washington. The US government is likely to “approve his nomination with the condition that he relinquish his US citizenship,” US Ambassador Clyde Bishop told the Journal. “Barring the relinquishment of his US citizenship, Mr. Graham cannot assume the position of RMI Ambassador to the US.” RMI officials indicated that they are continuing to discuss the appointment issue with US government officials so the appointment can proceed. Stayman raps Abramoff action “Jack Abramoff’s activities and methods were illegal and un-American,” US Senate Energy Committee staff member Allen Stayman told the Journal Wednesday following the release of a US Congressional report confirming that Abramoff used his connections in the Bush White House to get Stayman removed as the State Department’s Compact negotiator in talks with the RMI and FSM in the early 2000s. International suit A Barbados company is suing a Marshall Islands-registered off-shore company in the High Court. World Logistics Services, Inc., through its attorney Davor Pevec, sued Renout Coating Chemie AG, which is registered through the Trust Company of the Marshall Islands, claiming that it did not supply products that were paid for. Kenney Luwa to trial A Majuro man charged with five counts of assault and one for carrying a firearm without a valid identification card will go to trial on July 8. Kenney Luwa was charged last month for an incident on Enemanet Island in which he is alleged to have fired an air rifle at several other young men, injuring one of them. |
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E-mail: |
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Phone: |
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Fax:
(692) 625-3136 |
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Mail:
PO Box 14 Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands |
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In Person:
On the ocean road behind Formosa in Uliga, Majuro |
Photo Suzanne Chutaro.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Tony deBrum and incoming United Nations Ambassador Phillip Muller signed what they say is a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding on June 6 at the first Italy-Pacific Islands Forum meeting held in Milan, Italy. Italy and Austria, in addition to the city of Milan, have joined together with Pacific island nations to create a government-to-government program, including an initial $14 million fund, which will be immediately used by island governments to directly address the region’s energy needs and vulnerability to climate change impacts, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Addressing Pacific foreign ministers together with Italian Secretary of State and Mayor Letizia Moratti of Milan, Minister deBrum discussed the urgent need for international assistance, saying rising energy costs in RMI “are having a crippling impact on our national economy.” He also discussed RMI’s implementation plan for the Micronesia Challenge, calling it “one of the most ambitious biodiversity conservation strategies in the world” and noting its ability to help protect natural areas vulnerable to climate change impacts. RMI is currently finalizing a project proposal for the joint program, which will initially provide approximately $1 million of support for renewable energy projects in RMI’s outer islands, including continuing to fund installation of solar energy systems, as well as possibly funding a small mill, energy generator and “mini-grid,” by utilizing biofuel from copra oil to power an outer island community, Foreign Affairs said.
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By GIFF JOHNSON
Air Marshall Islands cancelled a scheduled flight to Bikini Thursday after a person on Bikini reportedly issued a threat in a long-distance phone call to AMI General Manager Dan Fitzpatrick Wednesday. “We had a threat this afternoon and I reported it (to RMI authorities),” Fitzpatrick told the Journal Wednesday night. “I was told not to operate to Bikini (by the Attorney General’s office and Directorate of Civil Aviation) until a threat assessment can be done.” The development followed AMI cancellation of its regular flight to Bikini Wednesday that stranded a dive group, Bikini Atoll Divers staff and others, forcing them to miss connecting flights out of the country. AMI flew to Kili Wednesday morning to deliver a plane-full of passengers and human remains and to give its new Dash-8 pilot the necessary “line check” flight to enable him to fly, as chief pilot Albon Jelke did not have adequate flight hours left to make the long run to Bikini and back. But heavy rains had turned Kili’s runway into a mud hole — a fact that was not known to the AMI pilots prior to landing. “When the plane returned to Majuro it was covered in mud,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was ingested by the engines, the wheels and brakes were packed. We had to pull off the wheels, repack the bearings, check the engines and thoroughly wash the plane.” That delay ultimately led to cancellation of service to Bikini Wednesday.
Air Marshall Islands cancelled a scheduled flight to Bikini Thursday after a person on Bikini reportedly issued a threat in a long-distance phone call to AMI General Manager Dan Fitzpatrick Wednesday. “We had a threat this afternoon and I reported it (to RMI authorities),” Fitzpatrick told the Journal Wednesday night. “I was told not to operate to Bikini (by the Attorney General’s office and Directorate of Civil Aviation) until a threat assessment can be done.” The development followed AMI cancellation of its regular flight to Bikini Wednesday that stranded a dive group, Bikini Atoll Divers staff and others, forcing them to miss connecting flights out of the country. AMI flew to Kili Wednesday morning to deliver a plane-full of passengers and human remains and to give its new Dash-8 pilot the necessary “line check” flight to enable him to fly, as chief pilot Albon Jelke did not have adequate flight hours left to make the long run to Bikini and back. But heavy rains had turned Kili’s runway into a mud hole — a fact that was not known to the AMI pilots prior to landing. “When the plane returned to Majuro it was covered in mud,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was ingested by the engines, the wheels and brakes were packed. We had to pull off the wheels, repack the bearings, check the engines and thoroughly wash the plane.” That delay ultimately led to cancellation of service to Bikini Wednesday.
Money in the bag
Foundation Jokne, 69, started collecting cans for recycling in 2006. Spotted near DAR earlier this week, the Journal asked him, what is in your bag? “Money!” he replied enthusiastically.
Photo by Douglas Henry.
Photo by Douglas Henry.