The new government is putting its weight behind a $20 million solar project to transform the energy situation of Ebeye and three outer islands. If it gains the anticipated donor support, the solar development will slash fuel costs now shouldered by the RMI government by several million dollars annually. “Building on great work done previously, […]
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 […]
Voters want change and new directions for the RMI, two winning candidates told the Journal this week. “The people have spoken and they want change,” said incumbent Majuro Senator David Kramer, who is being returned to office with 2,477 domestic votes in the Majuro electorate. “They want a new government and that is evidenced by […]
Monday’s smoothly conducted national election moved into the grind of the ongoing hand count in Majuro and Ebeye early Tuesday morning, where ongoing tabulation meant complete results for all “regular” and “absentee” votes in the Majuro electorate would likely not be available until Friday. In addition to early results showing incumbents being shocked by challengers, […]
GIFF JOHNSON Elections here difficult to predict. While we’ve seen community discontent expressed in various ways concerning declining government services over the past few years, this discontent at the national level doesn’t necessarily translate to votes at the atoll level, which are usually according to family ties. Then there is a potentially huge offshore vote […]
