Accreditation teams from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) visited Assumption Schools (both elementary and high school) and Majuro Cooperative School recently, as well as public schools, as part of ongoing accreditation review. Assumption received praise for their continuing efforts to improve the school from visiting WASC representatives Evelyn Managa and Doug Baumgart […]
A 260-foot purse seiner ran aground oceanside on the northern reef of Majuro last Thursday, and initial efforts to pull the boat off the reef were unsuccessful. Rescue work was planned for Wednesday, but representatives of the ship company that owns the vessel requested delay until Thursday so a company official from Taiwan could fly […]
No cases of the Zika virus have been detected in Majuro for two months, prompting the Ministry of Health to announce this week that Zika appears to no longer be present in RMI. At the same time, Interim Health Secretary Dr. Kennar Briand cautioned that the virus is still active in Kosrae and others islands […]
GIFF JOHNSON Two of seven Koo’s Fishing Company purse seiners recently reflagged in the Federated States of Micronesia. Does this indicate that Koo’s is moving out of RMI and that the high-level of tuna transshipment featured in Port Majuro for the past several years is moving to Pohnpei? “No” on both counts, though RMI’s fisheries […]
Ailuk Mayor Rufina Jack is always on the lookout for projects that will benefit the atoll. In 2014, she approached on-island grant writer Bonny Taggart about seeking funding to initiate a sewing training project on Ailuk – using machines that don’t need electricity. Bonny found a vendor in the US for the machines and treadle […]
The Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System (PacIOOS) redeployed its wave buoy outside of Majuro last week. Located about a half nautical mile off Delap Point, the yellow wave buoy measures wave height, direction, period, and sea surface temperature in 30 minute intervals. The reinstalled buoy joins the existing PacIOOS network of 13 real-time wave buoys […]
World Tuna Day was celebrated in New York City earlier this week, with dozens of Pacific island leaders, industry and others gathered for the event. This is the sixth year of tuna day that was launched by Parties to the Nauru Agreement in 2011. “This was our first time to celebrate World Tuna Day in […]
HILARY HOSIA Laura High School’s team was named 37th Constitution Day Debate champions following an intense battle of wits with visiting Kwajalein High School Tuesday at the International Conference Center. The schools argued whether the government should ban the importation and selling of plastic bags, Styrofoam plates and cups. Using real life experience and the […]
President Barack Obama’s Presidential Disaster Declaration (PDD) late last week has opened the doors to additional US federal aid for drought relief in the Marshall Islands. “The PDD allows us to tap into FEMA resources,” said USAID Office for Disaster Assistance Regional Advisor Dan Dieckhaus, who is based at the US Embassy in Majuro. Earlier […]
Despite ongoing concern about spread of the Zika virus, the initial emergency declaration by President Heine was allowed to expire and authorities were attempting to get it extended late last week. The expiration of the President’s declaration was noted as a problem area for ongoing Zika prevention work, said weekly Zika update reports issued by […]
