Atbi Riklon

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 […]

RMI record budget set to pass

RMI record budget set to pass

The Nitijela is expected to return to session this week Thursday to hear the report of the Appropriation Committee on the proposed $297.5 million FY2023 national budget. The committee wrapped up a week of public hearings Monday this week. The hearings were briefer than some past years due to Nitijela opening the third week of […]

‘Enforce law, don’t ban betel nut’

‘Enforce law, don’t ban betel nut’

HILARY HOSIA Irresponsible betel nut chewing and the stains this creates has long been a public health issue in Marshall Islands even before the enactment of the betel nut law in 2010 that prohibits the sale of the stimulant drug. Add Covid-19 and the issue resurfaced in Nitijela — only this time on steroids. So […]

Judiciary impresses Nitijela PAC

Judiciary impresses Nitijela PAC

Had the Nitijela audit public hearings been a basketball championship game, the Judiciary System would’ve been named “MVP” — most valuable player. The Judiciary team, led by Chief Clerk Ingrid Kabua, literally controlled how their audit report played out following a never-before used stunt: Ingrid provided the panel with a drawing that depicts the cash […]

Nitijela likes MIDB taxi scheme

Nitijela likes MIDB taxi scheme

HILARY HOSIA The Nitijela audit panel conducting public hearings for government and state owned enterprises this week is following a new method: they are looking beyond the numbers and zeroing in on how to improve services. The Public Accounts Committee is chaired by Maloelap Senator Bruce Bilimon, a longtime employee at the Ministry of Finance […]

Passports out of action

Passports out of action

The Marshall Islands entered its third week with no ability to produce regular passports this week. It has been issuing temporary travel documents that US Homeland Security approved for use about a week after the initial problem with the RMI Attorney General’s office passport machine developed in mid-February. At Nitijela Monday, Ujae Senator Atbi Riklon […]