Subscribe today for just $1 an issue on an annual basis of $52.
Friday, May 9, 2008
| Fish decision Monday The RMI EPA board is expected to make its decision early next week on an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for fish farming in Majuro. Good Fortune Bay (GFB) Marshall Islands has proposed developing fish farming from its current pilot stage to a commercial level of production. Koo's new Majuro home Koo’s Fishing Company opened a new three-story office building in Majuro last Friday, adding a significant improvement to the Delap industrial area. Koo’s President Johnson Chuang said the company invested more than $700,000 in the new building and its investment — as well as employment of Marshallese — will increase when it begins building its cold storage and fish processing facility on the property in the near future. Majuro Mayor Albertter dies Majuro Mayor Riley Albertter died in hospital in the Philippines over the weekend. His remains are expected to return to the capital this Saturday afternoon, after which funeral services will begin. Divers head to Bikini at last The first AMI flight since October taking divers and tourists to Bikini Atoll left Wednesday morning, following repairs made to the Dash-8 on Tuesday. A group of 12 Japanese and six European divers flew to Bikini, according to dive officials. Tobolar bumps copra up to 22¢ Tobolar on Friday announced another price hike for copra, the fourth increase since January. The price was increased effective Monday to 22 cents per pound in the outer islands and 23.5 cents per pound in Majuro. |
|
E-mail: |
|
Phone: |
|
Fax:
(692) 625-3136 |
|
Mail:
PO Box 14 Majuro, MH 96960 Marshall Islands |
|
In Person:
On the ocean road behind Formosa in Uliga, Majuro |
“Respect the reef,” is the message Ben Graham wants the people of the Marshalls to remember. “It’s a no-brainer,” he said when asked whether he thinks
moorings are a good idea. The Mieco Beach Yacht Club’s reef protection mooring project is now moving into full swing, following the installation of the the first mooring — ‘Candice’ — in March. Over the 66 days that ‘Candice’ has sat off Enemanet Island, it has been used on 26 days by various yachts and sports boats. Which means 26 days that boats have not deployed their anchors and chain, both of which put the reef at risk of damage. ‘Ben’, the newest buoy which was painted by John Alefaio, stands for a trio of Bens: Mr Graham (who represents the business end of caring for the environment in RMI), Mr Reimers (the fisherman who knows that healthy reefs mean more fish), and Mr Chutaro (the action man who over the years has worked on a large range of environment projects).
Majuro’s waste company is not in crisis — Majuro Atoll is in crisis. This is the view of the Majuro Atoll Waste Company (MAWC) board, which issued a resolution last week declaring a state of emergency for the waste collection system on Majuro. With nearly all the red bins now broken, MALGov’s pickup service disintegrating, and MAWC lacking funding to fix the bins or take over public garbage collection, the capital’s waste problem is hitting the fan. “Numerous donors are ready to fund Majuro waste needs,” said MAWC manager Roger Cooper. But with funds dwindling, Cooper said he is being forced to start laying off workers this week. “We’re trying to get emergency funding,” Public Works Minister Kejjo Bien told the Journal earlier this week. “We’ll get it resolved.” Both Bien and Minister in Assistance Christopher Loeak said the local government, which collects tax to support waste collection, is “not doing its part.” But, pointed out Loeak, MALGov “can’t (do it) and we can’t ignore it.” MAWC said that only 11 of the original 70 bins are usable, there are no government plans to replace the system and MAWC has less than $5,000 to cover costs through September. “MAWC is not in crisis, Majuro is,” said MAWC board member and Marshall Islands Conservation Society’s Steve Why. “We’re trying to get the national government to declare an emergency before it happens.”
|
To read the full stories, subscribe to the Journal Online. Just $1 an issue on an annual basis of $52.
|
The US Army and its prime contractor, TKC Technology Solutions LLC, could sign an agreement this month to officially launch the multi-million dollar submarine fiber optic cable project to Kwajalein. Although the US Embassy in Majuro told the Journal that the agreement signing could be as early as Thursday this week, National Telecommunications Authority General Manager Tony Muller said he’s doubtful the Army and TKC will sign this quickly “based on the current discussions” between the two parties. Still, dates aside, once the agreement is signed, “it will be a positive and significant milestone indicating the military truly is moving forward,” Muller told the Journal. “It will also enable NTA to finally wrap up everything, in terms of its participation.” Kwajalein Commander Col. Stevenson Reed told the Journal earlier this year that the Army expects the fiber optic cable to be in operation in fiscal year 2010. “NTA will need to finalize arrangements shortly after TKC and the Army conclude their negotiations and execute a contract,” Muller said.