GIFF JOHNSON Pacific islanders living in the United States have an infection rate two to three times the average in at least four American states, according to data released April 26 by the Pacific Islander Center of Primary Care Excellence, a California-based group. The organization cited the “alarming disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on Native Hawaiian […]
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 […]
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 […]
HILARY HOSIA Nitijela senators began endorsing a plan to repeal the postal absentee ballot ban Wednesday following the presentation of a petition to restore voting for islanders living off-shore by Evelyn Konou and Biram Stege. Over 800 Marshallese citizens endorsed the petition, for which Parliament Speaker Kenneth Kedi and Maloelap Senator Bruce Bilimon publicly announced […]
KELLY LORENNIJ While Nitijela (Parliament) was split in half during Monday morning’s vote of no confidence, both sides reiterated one common concept: “Kien eo en jerbal ippen armij ro, kon armij ro, im nan armij ro ilo jokkwin wot juon.”* President Hilda Heine’s opening remarks were met with applause from the packed audience, resonating most […]
HILARY HOSIA Arguments over a reported bribe attempt, the RMI’s “SOV” plan, and the proposed Rongelap investment zone dominated Nitijela’s first session day Monday after a three-week break for committee hearings. You could describe Monday’s session as a rugby scrum, with battling parties locked head to head and kicking the ball back and forth.
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 […]
HILARY HOSIA The Marshall Islands Judiciary System and Marshall Islands Resort sit at the top of the audit pyramid for their exemplary unqualified audit reports a week into the Public Accounts Committee’s annual oversight hearings at the Nitijela Conference Room. Following testimony from judiciary staff members, PAC Chairman Senator Bruce Bilimon of Maloelap was effusive […]
HILARY HOSIA Six senators are backing a move to resurrect postal ballots through Nitijela Bill 91, which was scrutinized during a public hearing broadcast live on national radio V7AB Tuesday from the Nitijela Conference Room. Last year, Nitijela voted to eliminate postal ballots. The termination of postal ballots has caused a ruckus among Marshallese living […]
A series of new bills have been introduced into Nitijela by different Nitijela members. Among the new legislation: • Jabot Senator Kessai Note is proposing a constitutional amendment to change the opening day of Nitijela from the first Monday of January to the second Monday of the month each year. The purpose for the changed […]
