GIFF JOHNSON
After two years of discussion, arguments and debates, two major funding streams under the Compact of Free Association have been approved for distribution later this year.
The US-RMI Trust Fund Committee has endorsed releasing $27.7 million for the Individual Support Distribution (otherwise known as the Enra program) and $19.9 million for the Extraordinary Needs Distribution program.
Both of these programs are mandated under the Compact, but will actually see money released for the first time at the start of the third Compact year — October 1 — of the new funding agreement in the Compact.
The Trust Fund Committee met August 21 in Washington, DC and endorsed the two funding streams.
Of the $27.7 million for the Enra program, $26,523,395 is to be used for quarterly distributions to Marshallese citizens living here. The balance is for administrative costs for the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration, which is managing the program, and annual audit costs.
The $26.5 million, based on MISSA’s registration of about 33,000 Marshallese, works out as about $800 per person per year, at a quarterly rate of $200.
The END funding that will actually go to 11 atolls and islands is $18,996,689 with nearly a million dollars included for Ministry of Finance administration and audit. All budget proposals submitted by the 11 atolls and islands were reduced by about five percent to fund audit and administration costs.
The four US-acknowledged nuclear test-affected atolls received approval with a “condition.” The other seven atolls and islands — Ailuk, Aur, Likiep, Lib,Mejit, Wotje and Wotho — received approval with no conditions.
The “condition” for the KBE Local Government is for Majuro and Ebeye funding, “prior to funding, source of data and location of individuals noted as eligible for programs will be submitted.”
Both Enewetak and Rongelap received the same condition: “Prior to funding release documentation of legal authority for land is submitted.” This condition relates, in part, to housing renovation work to be funded by END.
The condition for Utrok is: “Prior to funding clarification on land documentation, detailed budget, performance metrics associated to community center.”
The approval by the US-RMI Trust Fund Committee ends years of speculation and debate as to whether or not money will finally be released.The Enra and END distributions are on slightly different schedules, according to press releases issued late last month by the Compact Trust Fund Committee.
Assuming that various administration details are in place by October 1, and that quarterly reports are submitted through the year, the END distribution schedule is: October 1-31, January 1-February 27, April 1-May 29, and July 1-August 31.
Assuming that the Ministry of Finance and MISSA vet the recipient list prior to November 28 and MISSA provides quarterly reports, the Enra quarterly payments will start December 1-15, and continue March 1-15, June 1-15, and September 1-15.