GIFF JOHNSON The big news coming from several hours of meetings on Pohnpei Monday between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Hilda Heine and leaders of the FSM and Palau is Pompeo’s announcement that negotiations to extend Compact funding agreements have begun. The post-2023 period, when US grant funding for RMI and FSM […]
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 […]
A Marshall Islands government team, led by Finance Minister Brenson Wase and Minister in Assistance David Paul, attended the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group last month in Indonesia. The delegation included Secretary of Finance Maybelline Bing, Assistant Secretary Ywao Elanzo, Acting Assistant Secretary for Division of International Development Assistance […]
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.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and a team of parliamentarians from Australia wrapped up a whirlwind five-day visit to three north Pacific nations with a final stop in the Marshall Islands last Wednesday and Thursday. The Marshall Islands visit included a meeting with President Hilda Heine, a reception with government, private sector and non-government representatives Wednesday […]
Ebeye Calvary High School seniors stopped by the Alele Musuem in Uliga as part of their weeklong educational tour in Majuro last week. The students also visited the President’s Office, Japan Embassy and various agencies in the tour. All 26 members of the senior class made the tour, making Calvary High the third Ebeye student […]
Palau received close to half a million dollars earlier this month from an investment fund established 10 years ago to support conservation work in US-affiliated islands. The Micronesian Challenge Endowment Fund will also be available to support protected areas in the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia once these nations adopt required legislation and […]
Japan Emperor Akihito turns 84 this week. Every year, Japanese citizens and their political allies spread across 230 embassies and consulates globally observe the imperial birthday this month, while an official birthday will be hosted for the 123rd ruler in the imperial palace in Japan. Acting Foreign Minister and Minister in Assistance to the President […]
Kwajalein Senator David Paul became President Hilda Heine’s right hand man following his appointment Monday as Minister in Assistance to the President and Environment. Chief Justice Carl Ingram presided over the swearing-in ceremony at the Cabinet conference room at the ICC, which was witnessed by David’s wife Dr. Marie Paul, and younger brother Tony and […]
GIFF JOHNSON A large number of construction projects in progress and in planning at the US Army Garrison—Kwajalein Atoll (USAG-KA) suggest Marshallese employment opportunities will remain steady. Local business hopes for new business opportunities at the Army base, however, were disappointed when the new base operations contract did not go out to bid as was […]
