HILARY HOSIA
As Parliament resumed on Monday this week, President Hilda Heine began her state of the nation address with a moment of silence to honor the four people missing at sea following a tragic boat incident that took place between Majuro and Arno last Monday.
The four victims, two males and two females, have yet to be found despite massive joint search and rescue operations by RMI Sea Patrol and the US Coast Guard.
President Hilda declared 2025 to be the year of “hope,” adding that last year was the year of preparation and setting the foundations for the remaining term for the administration. Her statement said 2025 will also bring forth the completion of the temporary Amata Kabua International Airport Terminal, arrival of the two Air Marshall Islands planes, two new engines for Marshalls Energy Company’s Majuro power plant, start of construction of the new capital building and the completion of an agreement between RMI and Starlink, which will bring forth affordable connectivity.
The statement also painted the priority of the Heine administration, which is “putting people first” and developing human capacity.
“The nation is as strong as its weakest citizen,” Hilda quoted, justifying how the government will amass its focus on social developments — the exemption from tax for those with incomes under $8,000, the new support scheme that would disburse $100 month to vulnerable individuals not covered by the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration, which includes people with disabilities.
President Hilda took pride in the nation’s latest achievement where for the first time in history, all eighth graders that graduated last year were enrolled into public high schools. The president has been a long supporter of education. She also announced the Ministry of Education’s push to initiate digital learning.
President Hilda also shared the known fact that people are receiving poor government services stemming from unmotivated individuals. Hilda called for proactive supervisors to step in and for performance audits to be done. She also addressed the need to break away from bureaucracy that stalls the hiring process.
The event invited three choirs to grace the event: Majuro Baptist Christian Academy Choir, King’s Chapel Choir and United Church of Christ Choir.