Giff Johnson

No blue Monday here

No blue Monday here

Personally, we like Mondays. A lot of people complain about blue Monday and so on, but for us it’s just another day to move around and see what’s happening in town. Further to this blue Monday thing, workers at government offices are often criticized for showing up late to work etc. So there we were, […]

Glen: High seas need action

Glen: High seas need action

GIFF JOHNSON Every December, fisheries officials from the Marshall Islands and Forum Fisheries Agency countries troop off to the annual Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission — often for battles with some distant water fishing nations over policies that impact tuna fishing on the high seas in the region. But this year, said MIMRA Director […]

Enrā week in RMI

Enrā week in RMI

GIFF JOHNSON The conversation in Majuro has been dominated by the word “Enra” for the past week. Everywhere you go, people are talking about Enra. Did you register? Is it really going to happen? How much are we getting? When is the distribution? Did you see the traffic backed up from MISSA with people trying […]

Students’ plea to PIHOA

Students’ plea to PIHOA

GIFF JOHNSON The Pacific Islands Health Officers Association is holding its 77th executive board meeting in Majuro this week. The organization represents all of the US-affiliated islands in the region. The opening Monday was in a well decorated Melele Room at Marshall Islands Resort, with island leis and the iokwe spirit on full display for […]

RMI struggles with infrastructure woes

RMI struggles with infrastructure woes

GIFF JOHNSON The truth is that infrastructure in the RMI is largely in bad condition and everyone in RMI experiences the fallout. Here is a snapshot of an average week in the Marshall Islands. For two Wednesdays in a row, the downtown area experienced unplanned outages — which were centered around faulty lines, above and […]

Technology fix for outer islands

Technology fix for outer islands

GIFF JOHNSON A major new educational program is expected to connect educators and students on every atoll and island in the country to step-up the use of technology in education. The new program, known as the Rebbelib Project, will roll out internet connections, laptops and training and educational programs to all public schools in the […]

Passport people get new home

Passport people get new home

GIFF JOHNSON Marshall Islands Immigration and the RMI Passport Office have a new home that was officially opened Monday this week. And, specifically speaking, the RMI Passport Office actually has two new offices, the second of which will be opened in the coming weeks. The new office is located at the former supermarket/deli between ELM […]

US $ for Nitijela

US $ for Nitijela

GIFF JOHNSON There were three major outcomes of the high-level United States government visit to Majuro last week. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo led a delegation for an overnight visit to Majuro that included talks with President Hilda Heine and her Cabinet, tours of fisheries operations, and an […]

Uplifting student learning

Uplifting student learning

GIFF JOHNSON The Public School System and Delap Elementary School in particular celebrated the opening last week of the first learning resource center for teachers and students. It was officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony that included the presence of Asian Development Bank Vice-President for East and Southeast Asia, and the PacificScott Morris. The […]

END expansion sought

END expansion sought

GIFF JOHNSON As the first Extraordinary Needs Distribution payment for 11 atolls and islands looms next month, Nitijela is considering legislation that would make all 24 local government jurisdictions eligible for END payments. Bill No. 56 is titled the “Ejjelok Ad Act 2025” and aims to expand the definition of the END program under the […]

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