Anderson Jibas

Mayor Ladie back for third term

Mayor Ladie back for third term

GIFF JOHNSON In the still preliminary and unofficial vote tabulation, Majuro Mayor Ladie Jack was outpolling main challenger Margaret Alee Bigler by more than two-to-one and three of the four incumbent Majuro Nitijela members were showing the highest numbers. Incumbent Stephen Phillip and candidates David Kramer and Yolanda Lodge-Ned were locked in a battle for […]

Kili goes dark for a week

Kili goes dark for a week

Kili has gone seven days without electricity since early last week when the power plant ran out of fuel. Kili has been experiencing electricity rationing since January due to depletion of the Bikini Resettlement Trust Fund, which has funded local government operations at Kili for decades. Bikini Mayor Anderson Jibas said fuel finally reached Kili […]

People protest money use

People protest money use

GIFF JOHNSON The first demonstration in Majuro in many years happened Monday at the Kili-Bikini-Ejit Town Hall in Uliga. All demonstrations in the Marshall Islands, a country whose people are noted for “speaking under the waves,” are unprecedented in some ways. They are also relatively few and far between. Hospital staff demonstrated and then went […]

Urantha, 67, a great grad

Urantha, 67, a great grad

Determination has no limits and Urantha Jibas is proof.The 67-year-old graduated this week from the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program, formerly known as GED, under the College of Marshall Islands. Urantha was one of 12 graduates from the CMI Distant Learning Center in Kili Island.The group held their ceremony this past Tuesday. Dean of Workforce, […]

Lots of fish at All Mike

Lots of fish at All Mike

No really big fish were caught at last weekend’s two-day Budweiser All Micronesia Fishing Tournament — “big” according to Marshall Islands angling history. The winning marlin was caught by Team KBE weighing in at 198 pounds. Overall, plenty of qualifying fish, including 12 marlin, lots of tuna and a nearly record breaking barracuda were caught […]

Air Bikini Dash-8 arrives

Air Bikini Dash-8 arrives

The KBE Local Government’s “Air Bikini” airplane arrived last Friday to much fanfare and celebration at Amata Kabua International Airport. A big group of local VIPs was on hand to welcome the plane next to the AMI hangar. The event included a blessing from UCC Rev. Palukne Johnny, speeches by Acting President Brenson Wase, KBE […]

Friendly Nitijela hearing on KBE

Friendly Nitijela hearing on KBE

Despite expectation that the Kili-Bikini-Ejit session with the Nitijela Public Accounts Committee would offer some drama — fueled by repeated rescheduling from Public Accounts to allow KBE more time to go through its audit reports — the dialogue went smoothly compared to a majority of the PAC hearings. The hearing, in short, can be described […]

RMI sees big and small graduations

RMI sees big and small graduations

HILARY HOSIA Following a speech that melted Marshallese hearts on Majuro and on social media, College of Marshall Islands Valedictorian Kelly Lorennij has been named keynote speaker for her alma mater Laura High School’s graduation Wednesday — where she previously spoke as the class valedictorian. LHS and Marshall Islands High School are the last two […]

DC showdown for KBE money

DC showdown for KBE money

US Senator Lisa Murkowski from Alaska followed through on her promise late last year to introduce legislation to mandate US Interior Department control over the Bikini Resettlement Trust Fund. A hearing on Senate Bill 2182 is set for next month in Washington, DC. Murkowski was angered by the Interior Department’s decision last November to give […]

KBE wants control of spending

KBE wants control of spending

The Kili-Bikini-Ejit (KBE) Local Council wants to end US government oversight of its Resettlement Trust Fund. KBE Mayor Anderson Jibas recently wrote to Isaac Edwards, the senior majority counsel for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, informing him that “the time has come to end the Federal oversight of the Resettlement Trust Fund.” The […]