After five years of preparation, the Marshall Islands officially launched its new ePassport earlier this month at a ceremony at Marshall Islands Resort’s Melele Room. “Today marks a historic milestone in the journey of our young Republic,” said Attorney General Bernard Adiniwin. “As we officially launch the Republic of the Marshall Islands Electronic Passport, we […]
There was also considerable discussion of the Extraordinary Needs Distribution (END) program and concerns about implementation during last Thursday’s Appropriations Committee hearing on the Ministry of Finance’s FY2027 budget. END has been the subject of widespread complaints from many of the 11 local governments receiving funds under the program that started issuing funding at the […]
GIFF JOHNSON The day after last week Tuesday’s fire consumed Nitijela, parliament staff were already setting up the ICC conference hall as a temporary Nitijela meeting space. Monday this week, the Appropriations Committee, with Chairman Jack Ading at the helm, completed the final series of FY2026 budget hearings from the ICC meeting location. Nitijela staff […]
WILMER JOEL A $10.8 million grant agreement was reached between the US and RMI governments last Friday to fix Majuro’s sewage outfall system. The US Department of Agriculture is the lead investor in partnership with the Asian Development Bank for this grant. The US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Lance Posey told President David Kabua, Minister Jack […]
GIFF JOHNSON The Marshall Islands signed off on the Compact of Free Association Monday in Honolulu, the last of the three freely associated states to renew its Compact relationship with the United States. The signing was held at the East-West Center in Honolulu. East-West Center President Suzanne Vares-Lum hailed the signing as an “historic agreement.” […]
Ground was broken for a new Training and Operation Center of Maritime Security and Safety for the RMI Ministry of Justice on April 6. The project is funded by Japan as part of its FY2019 Grant Aid Economic and Social Development Program. The ceremony was attended by Ambassador Kazunari Tanaka, President David Kabua, Ministers Christopher Loeak, […]
Three of the four newly appointed Cabinet ministers were sworn in during a ceremony at the ICC Tuesday morning. Chief Justice of the High Court Carl Ingram with Clerk of Courts Ingrid Kabua officiated at the swearing in. This followed a blessing and then brief remarks from President David Kabua. The President described the Cabinet […]
GIFF JOHNSON At a time when most people’s focus has turned to jeptas, holiday parties, shopping and family gatherings, this December has featured an usual development. Nitijela and the Cabinet are in a dust up over several public hearings scheduled by chairmen last week, one of which the Cabinet cut off from V7AB radio broadcast […]
Prior to Nitijela recessing August 28, Enewetak Member of Parliament Jack Ading asked for an update on the new Majuro jail project. Ading noted that a groundbreaking ceremony had been held for the over $1 million jail improvement project late last year. “It’s been almost a year (since the groundbreaking) and nothing has happened,” he […]
Finance Minister Alfred Alfred, Jr. introduced a $257.7 million FY2021 budget to Nitijela last Thursday. It is nearly $40 million above the $219 million budget for FY2020. The Nitijela Appropriations Committed launched daily hearings on the budget Monday this week. The budget includes money for a new Ministry of Environment, $8.8 million for state owned […]
