Cary Yan

Yun, Kabua agree on Compact money

Yun, Kabua agree on Compact money

GIFF JOHNSON and HILARY HOSIA Last week’s signing of an MOU for the Compact of Free Association was momentous for the Marshall Islands and the United States, coming less than a year since RMI Foreign Minister Kitlang Kabua took up her post and US Special Envoy Joseph Yun was named by President Biden to head […]

Nitijela launches final year

Nitijela launches final year

GIFF JOHNSON The Marshall Islands is facing hard times — prices of food, fuel and other goods have skyrocketed, while worker salaries have remained stagnant. This was a message delivered repeatedly by President David Kabua during his address to the nation at Monday’s Nitijela opening. Kabua said Covid, climate change and the war in Ukraine […]

Yan pleads guilty in NYC

Yan pleads guilty in NYC

Three months after their extradition from Thailand to face bribery and money laundering charges in the United States, two naturalized Marshallese citizens pled guilty Friday in a New York court to conspiring to violate the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a multi-year scheme to bribe government officials in the Marshall Islands […]

RASAR promoters charged in alleged bribery scheme

RASAR promoters charged in alleged bribery scheme

GIFF JOHNSON The United States Justice Department unsealed an indictment September 2 in New York City against two naturalized Marshall Islands citizens that alleges they bribed numerous high-level elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain government support for establishing a controversial semi-autonomous zone for foreign investment activities. Cary Yan and Gina Zhou […]

SOV, RASAR dominate Nitijela

SOV, RASAR dominate Nitijela

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.