GIFF JOHNSON President Hilda Heine on Tuesday this week signed an executive order declaring a “state of emergency for Ebeye,” enabling a fast track RMI government response to last Saturday’s devastating fire on Ebeye. The fire left over 100 homeless and destroyed two major businesses on the island. As it did in the wake of […]
GIFF JOHNSON A new national strategy to reduce non-communicable diseases in the Marshall Islands was recently approved by government. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) — which include diabetes and high blood pressure — arguably account for most of the illness and early deaths facing Marshallese. Health Secretary Francyne Wase-Jacklick underlined the urgency of action to reverse the […]
A partnership between the US Coast Guard and the RMI Environmental Protection Authority is focusing on cleaning up now-closed LORAN stations around the Marshall Islands. The collaboration also confirms the United States recognition of a bilateral priority area for action. RMI leaders expressed interest in future joint efforts, including environmental initiatives like cleaning up highly […]
The RMI Environmental Protection Authority issued a “Notice of Violation” to the Marshalls Energy Company last month for the significant fuel spill on the main road between the tank farm and the power plant April 3. The Notice of Violation includes a $20,000 fine for the incident that resulted in two private vehicles that drove […]
Majuro received almost 50 percent more rain during May than the long-term average, according to the National Weather Service. A total of 15.22 inches of rain were recorded. This compares to the average for May of 10.71 inches. This high volume of rain was caused in part by two heavy deluges on May 13 and […]
Earlier this month, President Hilda Heine and her Cabinet held a one-day summit on drugs and security with local government mayors, traditional leaders and community representatives. Now, there is a regional call for a summit to be held next year to tackle the drug crisis impacting many islands in the Pacific. “The Pacific region is […]
GIFF JOHNSON As Air Marshall Islands new Cessna SkyCourier goes into regular service soon, it will be limited by one major factor: The lack of paved runways on the outer islands. It will be able to service Kwajalein, of course, and Jaluit and likely Wotje. But until more runways are paved, the plane’s service will […]
Just about every major news agency in the US and around the world is reporting on what could be one of the worst-ever El Niño weather conditions later this year. For the Marshall Islands, an El Niño year usually causes an extended drought as well warming ocean water at the equator pushing tuna into RMI […]
The roof support structure has been going up on the Nitijela building since last week. The prefabricated roof, which arrived from the US by ship earlier this month, will be installed by the PII construction crews as soon as the roof support beams are all in place. Construction is under immense time constraints with Pacific […]
Two months after President Hilda Heine joined with the presidents of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia to urge the US government to exempt freely associated state citizens from a new US directive limiting issuance of commercial drivers licenses, the US government last last week issued the exemption. This outcome was the result of […]
