GIFF JOHNSON The Marshall Islands is facing hard times — prices of food, fuel and other goods have skyrocketed, while worker salaries have remained stagnant. This was a message delivered repeatedly by President David Kabua during his address to the nation at Monday’s Nitijela opening. Kabua said Covid, climate change and the war in Ukraine […]
GIFF JOHNSON About 8,000 Americans participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll. An additional untold number of Marshallese and people of other nationalities were also involved in the cleanup that ran from January 1, 1977 to April 15, 1980 — after which, the people of Enewetak were allowed to return home to live on the […]
GIFF JOHNSON From the time American administrators of the US Trust Territory government started keeping copra tonnage statistics in 1951, it took 20 years for copra production to break the 7,000-ton mark in one year. That was 1970, when the “stars aligned” with copra making and shipping combining to produce the first-ever banner year for […]
EVE BURNS, GIFF JOHNSON Marshall Islands United World College (UWC) National Committee selected three intelligent and sharp-witted young ladies as recipients of two-year scholarships to three different UWC schools abroad. UWC is made up of a network of 18 schools on four continents. The majority of them focus on high school, with some also catering […]
GIFF JOHNSON The United States Justice Department unsealed an indictment September 2 in New York City against two naturalized Marshall Islands citizens that alleges they bribed numerous high-level elected and other officials in the Marshall Islands to gain government support for establishing a controversial semi-autonomous zone for foreign investment activities. Cary Yan and Gina Zhou […]
GIFF JOHNSON Important facts emerged from the first two weeks of the Covid outbreak, as of Tuesday this week: • 12 of the initial 14 deaths from Covid were dead on arrival (DOA) at Majuro or Ebeye hospitals, meaning the 12 did not seek or receive medical care for their condition. It also means only […]
GIFF JOHNSON This is how the Marshall Islands went from being one of a handful of places in the world to still be Covid-free two-and-a-half-years into the pandemic to joining the rest of the world August 8.Majuro hospital authorities discovered the first “cluster” of Covid positive cases Monday afternoon. Parents brought their 17 and nine […]
GIFF JOHNSON With the border opening looming, there is more talk in the community about the arrival of Covid in RMI. There are more questions than answers: Are we ready, will there be lockdowns, will schools be closed? Neighboring FSM opened its borders officially Monday this week — but Covid slipped into Pohnpei and Kosrae […]
GIFF JOHNSON Thousands of Marshall Islanders converged on Ebeye Island last week for the first coronation ceremony of a paramount chief in half a century. The gala coronation for Iroojlaplap (paramount chief) Michael LaMañiñi Kabua featured dozens of islanders wearing traditional headdress and finely woven mat clothing unique to the Marshall Islands, spear carrying warriors […]
A group of 16 — a combination of people working in non-government media and students — participated in a two-week media training in Majuro called “Telling Your Pacific Story.” It featured the involvement of experienced media professionals — Floyd Takeuchi and Dr. Ann Auman — from Hawaii — and Corinne Podger — from Australia who […]
