GIFF JOHNSON The polio epidemic in the Marshall Islands 57 years ago offers a cautionary note in today’s coronavirus world. A total of 194 Marshallese and two Americans experienced some level of paralysis and 11 Marshallese died on 10 of 22 populated atolls. The polio epidemic here happened eight years after a vaccine for the […]
GIFF JOHNSON Leaders of nuclear test-affected atolls described their first meeting as a group with US Ambassador Roxanne Cabral late last week as “productive and positive.” Coupled with a meeting the nuclear atolls had with President David Kabua earlier last week, they feel there is momentum building for dignified solution to the US nuclear weapons […]
WILMER JOEL Since the launch of Jo Jikum’s two-week Climate Change and Health Arts Seminar July 20, students immersed themselves in four courses led by five professional instructors. Among the creative offerings in this year’s summer program: • Poetry: This course is instructed by none other than climate change activist and world-renown poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner. […]
GIFF JOHNSON The US Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll had its first long-distance brush with coronavirus when one of the 15 base workers scheduled to return this week tested positive for Covid-19 in Honolulu prior to departing for Kwajalein. Contract tracing by Army authorities identified three others in the intending repatriation group to have had contact […]
WILMER JOEL In honor of a young woman who battled cancer until two days before her 18th birthday, the families and friends of Mardiako Akata Matthew Kinere came together in a special memorial event in Majuro. She was a vital member in the good news congregation. “She impacted the lives of all people both young […]
Multiple Zoom meetings between Kwajalein Emergency Operations Center (KEOC) and National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) in Majuro under the National Disaster Management Office has enabled the Kwajalein Disaster Committee (KDC) to engage in several Covid-19 preparedness campaigns on Ebeye. With strong partnership from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ebeye branch and Kwajalein Nitibili Club, […]
Two Majuro businesses received RMI government-provided coronavirus economic relief funds at Cabinet July 10, the first businesses to receive aid since the government approved a $6 million Covid-19 relief fund. More businesses applying for the Covid-19 economic aid are currently under review for possible assistance, said government officials. President David Kabua and members of the […]
EVE BURNS Halston deBrum is the new manager at Majuro Atoll Waste Company (MAWC).Until moving to his new job earlier this month, deBrum had worked at Majuro Water and Sewer Company as an operations manager for 10 years. Debrum, 35, studied at North Tristan Community College in Washington State before returning to Majuro. Asked why […]
After an all-time record low violation rate in the sale of tobacco products to minors in 2017, sales of these products to underage customers increased the past two years.Still, the 2019 “violation rate” by 220 stores surveyed in five islands around the nation was low compared to the first seven years the so-called Synar Survey […]
EVE BURNSThe 2020 Tokyo Olympics were pushed back by a year and the 2021 Pacific Mini-Games in Saipan are considering rescheduling due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While there are concerns regarding the Micronesian Games scheduled for Majuro in 2020, the RMI still has two years before these are scheduled to open. Officials with the RMI […]
