Hilda Heine

RASAR promoters charged in alleged bribery scheme

RASAR promoters charged in alleged bribery scheme

GIFF JOHNSON The United States Justice Department unsealed an indictment September 2 in New York City against two naturalized Marshall Islands citizens that alleges they bribed numerous high-level elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain government support for establishing a controversial semi-autonomous zone for foreign investment activities. Cary Yan and Gina Zhou […]

Women’s fund launches on Ebeye

Women’s fund launches on Ebeye

The Kora Fund issued its first loan to an Ebeye woman as part of its official launch for Kwajalein Atoll last week. A team of Kora (women’s) Fund and Bank of Marshall Islands officials went to Ebeye for the launch and to run a series of informational and training sessions about the new loan program. […]

‘We don’t whisper anymore’

‘We don’t whisper anymore’

A new publication featuring the people behind several women’s crisis centers in Pacific islands was issued this past week to coincide with the “16 Days of Activism.”“We Don’t Whisper Anymore” features the stories of women from Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Kiribati and other parts of the Pacific — though it is primarily focused on the Micronesia […]

New Aur mayor sworn in

New Aur mayor sworn in

Aur Atoll has a new mayor. Fred Bukida took the oath of office Monday afternoon at the Majuro courthouse. His swearing in by TRC Judge Nixon David before a courtroom gallery packed with family and friends ends a period of uncertainty after the special election that ended with a court complaint from his main competitor […]

Kabua’s Cabinet shakeup continues

Kabua’s Cabinet shakeup continues

President David Kabua nominated Ebon Nitijela Member John Silk to Cabinet Tuesday, and Speaker Kenneth Kedi confirmed the nomination late Tuesday afternoon. This is the President’s second appointment of a former opposition Nitijela Member to his Cabinet, a development that largely blurs political lines in Nitijela, giving the President wide latitude to choose from the […]

In the pink of things

In the pink of things

EVE BURNS To say last Thursday’s Pink Tea Party was a success is to be guilty of a gross understatement. The fourth annual Pink Tea Party was a spectacular event organized by the Ministry of Health and Human Services’ National Cancer Prevention Program, Marshall Islands Breast Cancer Society, Cancer Support Group and Women United Together […]

MISAT results spark debate

MISAT results spark debate

GIFF JOHNSON “Eighth graders’ results a bomb” blared the page one headline in the Journal’s August 28, 2020 edition.Fast forward to this week, and the high school entrance results are out with almost exactly the same result as last year. In 2020, only 109 — 12.5 percent — out of 868 taking the test managed […]

Micro ultimatum on Zackios

Micro ultimatum on Zackios

GIFF JOHNSONThe five Micronesian leaders have drawn a line in the sand over their support of the nomination of Marshall Islands Ambassador Gerald Zackios to head the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Palau and the FSM have taken the lead, saying if the Forum does not support the Micronesia area nominee, they will consider pulling out […]

UN expanding RMI program

UN expanding RMI program

A high level dialogue between officials from the Marshall Islands and the United Nations happened in Majuro in mid-October, foreshadowing a major change in UN operations in the north Pacific.The dialogue was attended by members of Cabinet, Heads of Departments (HoD), and Heads and representatives of seven UN agencies. The dialogue opened with a prayer […]

Seawalls going up all over

Seawalls going up all over

The RMI government will spend $4.5 million on 78 new seawall projects over two fiscal years, President Hilda Heine announced. President Heine said the RMI government is continuing to rise to the challenge posed by climate change. “My government remains focused on addressing the negative impact of climate change to the Marshall Islands, both now […]