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 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 […]
Kessai Note was elected President for the 2017 Constitutional Convention at the International Conference Center Thursday. Note won by a single vote over Christopher Loeak 22-21. Casten Nemra won the vice presidency from Phillip Muller 25-18, while Yolanda Lodge-Ned got the favor of 41 delegates to win the secretarial seat by secret ballot as she […]
GIFF JOHNSON The ousting Tuesday of President Casten Nemra, only two weeks into his term as President, by a successful vote of no confidence, suggests family ties have trumped customary authority that once dominated Nitijela’s leadership lineup. Dr. Hilda Heine’s election Wednesday — with 24 out of 30 votes — is another unprecedented twist in […]
President Casten Nemra welcomed US Assistant Secretary of Interior Esther Kia’aina, as he held the first Cabinet meeting of his Presidency at the Cabinet conference room late last week. Assistant Secretary Kia’aina congratulated President Nemra and members of his Cabinet and said her visit re-emphasizes the important relationship between the US and the RMI. She pledged […]
New President Casten Nemra highlighted key issues facing the country, focusing on the need to improve services to the public during his inauguration speech following his swearing in ceremony with his Cabinet Monday at Nitijela. He also declared that his first overseas trip will be to Washington, DC, and noted that he has already requested […]
GIFF JOHNSON Marshall Islands political leaders continue to astound and confound the nation as a leadership battle plays out in Nitijela. From last week’s election of the Speaker and Vice Speaker by one faction and the President by another, to Monday’s inauguration of a Cabinet with two key ministerial posts missing, political leaders continue their […]
The Nitijela elected the youngest and only the second commoner as President Monday morning. By a narrow vote, new Senator Casten Nemra (left), 44, defeated seven-term parliament veteran Alvin Jacklick, 17-16, demonstrating how evenly divided the 33-seat chamber is. Nemra’s election reflects brilliant maneuvering in the lead up to Monday’s election by members of the […]
The Marshall Islands parliament elected its youngest President, and only the second commoner to hold the head of state position, Monday morning in Majuro. The narrow vote for newcomer Casten Nemra, 44, who defeated seven-term parliament veteran Alvin Jacklick, 17-16, demonstrates how evenly divided the 33-seat chamber is. Nemra’s election on his first day in the […]
GIFF JOHNSON One fact apparent from the impending shakeup in Nitijela membership — as 14 seats out of 33 will change hands on January 4 — is that with so many new senators, neither the current government nor the opposition KEA group will control a majority of 17 needed to elect a president and form […]