President Hilda Heine told the nation Monday that despite 2025 being a year of accomplishment, three years after the signing of the Compact of Free Association “implementation of Compact III has not yet been fully realized.” In her state of the nation speech at Monday’s Nitijela opening, the President also said bluntly that accountability was […]
GIFF JOHNSON As the first Extraordinary Needs Distribution payment for 11 atolls and islands looms next month, Nitijela is considering legislation that would make all 24 local government jurisdictions eligible for END payments. Bill No. 56 is titled the “Ejjelok Ad Act 2025” and aims to expand the definition of the END program under the […]
GIFF JOHNSON The day after last week Tuesday’s fire consumed Nitijela, parliament staff were already setting up the ICC conference hall as a temporary Nitijela meeting space. Monday this week, the Appropriations Committee, with Chairman Jack Ading at the helm, completed the final series of FY2026 budget hearings from the ICC meeting location. Nitijela staff […]
Speaker Brenson Wase signed confirmation Wednesday this week that six of seven constitutional amendments were approved by Marshall Islands voters during a national referendum on April 25. He was joined by Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs Jess Gasper, Jr. and RMI and Nitijela officials.
HILARY HOSIA Toasts were exchanged between Acting Foreign Minister David Paul and Japan Ambassador Soma Hirohisa in honor of Emperor Naruhito’s birthday last Friday at the Marshall Islands Resort. Emperor Naruhito turned 65 this year. The Marshall Islands has been celebrating the imperial event since the establishment of the bilateral relationship with Japan in 1988. In […]
GIFF JOHNSON Friendship and a welcoming spirit was on full display Tuesday for the visit of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. The red carpet airport greeting — featuring a hug of welcome between Lai and President Hilda Heine, CMI students singing, Marshallese and Taiwanese holding banners and signs of welcome, and a police honor guard — […]
The new tax law that was approved recently by Nitijela will not go into force for at least four-to-five months from now. Although Public Law 2024-14 Income Tax Amendment was signed and certified by Speaker Brenson Wase and Clerk Moreañ Watak on October 8, the tax change that affects withholding tax isn’t likely to take […]
Journal 10/16/1987 P13 World Council eyes health needsA five-member team representing the World Council of Churches arrived in Majuro earlier this week for meetings and consultations with the Ministry of Health and the religious community. The team, composed mostly of medical doctors with experience in primary health care in developing nations, is representing the Christian […]
HILARY HOSIA The long-awaited “Enra Bwe Jen Lale Rara” universal payment update was shared by President Hilda Heine during the opening of Nitijela Monday. The universal compensation scheme would provide money to Marshallese individuals as announced by President Hilda and her Cabinet early this year. The “Enra” plan, which is know internationally as a universal […]
WILMER JOEL The Marshall Islands Parliament elected Hilda Heine, the first and only woman to hold the office to date, to the presidency for the second time on Tuesday morning in Majuro. With a slim majority of 17 to 16, Heine of Aur became president-elect, unseating outgoing President David Kabua from Wotho. Brenson Wase, the […]
