CANN team meets Hilda

President Hilda Heine met recently with CANN’s Loyd Henion, left, and David Anitok, right, in Majuro.

Representatives of the COFA Alliance National Network (CANN) met with President Hilda Heine late last month during a visit to Majuro to participate in the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) meeting.

Project Coordinator David Anitok and Board Member Loyd Henion, both of whom were founders of the organization, met with the President.

Heine conveyed her appreciation to Anitok and Henion for their visit and the work they are doing for Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens. They exchanged views on recent legislation relating to the FAS introduced by Hawaii Senators Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz; the RMI National Nuclear Commission’s Strategy; and support CANN has received from FAS governments.

CANN was formed in 2014 by Chris Ogo, Kianna and Jesper Angelo, Henion, and Anitok to put a spotlight social and economic injustices experienced by people of the three Pacific countries living in the United States.

The US-based organization was recognized by APIL during its recent meeting in Majuro in the form of a resolution. APIL pointed out that CANN “is dedicated to advocating for the people of the three Pacific Island nations that have a unique Compact with the United States.”

“Even with limited resources, CANN has been successful in its efforts to lobby the passage of state legislation that ensures that COFA citizens have access to affordable education and quality healthcare in the states of Oregon and Washington,” the APIL resolution noted.

APIL expressed is appreciation to CANN for its work on behalf citizens of the three freely associated states living in the US.

Read more about this in the August 9, 2019 edition of the Marshall Islands Journal.