Hundreds of Majuro residents drive by this sign every day at the entrance to Laura Village. We imagine that very few read the words or even look at it.
It’s a “welcome to Laura Village” sign, fading from salt air and the elements, but still standing.
What is interesting to us is this: There are four “wards” or bukon in Laura. They are Jeirok, Iolap, Lomar and Lobat.
The sign tells us that Jeirok houses Laura Elementary and Laura High School and the Taiwan Technical Mission.
The sign also says that Iolap is home to the Ministry of Health and Human Services health clinic and police substations.
Further, Lomar is the location of the ball field and what is described on the sign as “point beach.”
That leaves Lobat Ward. But the sign is silent about what Lobat contains, which makes us want to fill in the blank portion on the sign.
Some suggestions: Future home of major telecom infrastructure. Or: Current home of deportees. Or: Pig farmers central. Or: Home of suggestive winding paths through the jungle.
All we can say is the blank space left for Lobat on this sign makes us feel a pang of concern for the hundreds of Lobat residents who have been neglected by this sign.