GIFF JOHNSON Over 20 million cans and bottles have been recycled since container deposit legislation was adopted by Nitijela two years ago, and implemented by Majuro Atoll Waste Company and the Ministry of Finance. This has injected nearly $800,000 into community recyclers who bring bottles and cans to the MAWC recycling facility in Delap. The […]
GIFF JOHNSON The Marshall Islands on February 7 issued an indefinite ban on all international travel by government employees and elected leaders to reduce risk of importing the coronavirus now affecting tens of thousands of people in more than two dozen countries and territories. Marshall Islands President David Kabua signed a proclamation late Friday night […]
The Ministry of Health called for cooperation among port-related staff after two inbound vessels, with the aid of Ports Authority officials, violated established screening procedures for measles and coronavirus. In a memo Monday, Health Secretary Jack Niedenthal reminded Ministry of T&C, Ports Authority, RMI shipping agents and pilots who captain vessels into port that “we […]
GIFF JOHNSON The Ribuuk Ae field trip vessel is likely a total loss. After running aground on the reef at Ujae Atoll shortly before New Year’s Eve, the vessel developed a large hole in the hull under the engine room. That allowed the engine room to flood, and by the time a Pacific International Inc. […]
GIFF JOHNSON Nearly four years after the 2015 election, the RMI Supreme Court recently issued its opinion in former Mayor Mudge Samuel’s lawsuit attempting to overturn Ladie Jack’s election victory. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision, which confirmed the correctness of Jack’s election. The Supreme Court panel said the High Court’s ruling “leaves […]
GIFF JOHNSON Unofficial election results released this week show that the balance of power has shifted from President Hilda Heine’s government to the opposition. The opposition now appears to have an outright majority of 17, and possibly more as the country awaits the announcement of the complete unofficial vote tabulation results that start a two-week […]
GIFF JOHNSON Three rental generators have stabilized Ebeye Island’s power situation as the island waits for four new generators to be installed over the next several months. Two new generators arrived last month and their installation is waiting on the arrival of two new alternators. In the meantime, two additional complete generator sets — including […]
Voter turnout Monday varied around Majuro. While many of the outer island absentee voting locations showed heavy turnout and long lines, some Majuro regular voting stations saw relatively few voters. The Rita ward voting station at Rita Elementary School was prepared for 1,200 voters, the number registered. To accommodate the anticipated large number of voters, […]
GIFF JOHNSON The November 18 national election is arguably the most significant in the RMI’s history. The vote will elect national leadership that will be responsible to oversee negotiations with the US for post-2023 Compact funding and to guide the RMI through a period of increasingly contentious relations between China and the US, which has […]
GIFF JOHNSON Shorelines around Majuro Atoll were repeatedly inundated this past week during high tides that approached all-time records. Flooding began early morning Sunday September 29 and continued at each high tide through Tuesday, when the tide levels began dropping with the new moon phase. “Water level was 20cm (7.8 inches) higher than predicted at […]
