John Silk

Nitijela backs RASAR plan

Nitijela backs RASAR plan

The Nitijela adopted a resolution in support of the Rongelap Atoll Special Administrative Region (RASAR) late in the evening March 20, the night it wrapped up the first session of 2020. The resolution declares that “Nitijela views with favor the idea of creating a special administrative region on Rongelap Atoll in order to promote investment […]

Nitijela passes many bills

Nitijela passes many bills

Before wrapping up its final session in late September and dissolving, Nitijela passed a number of bills. These include: • Postal Services Amendment Act. This clarifies roles of the board and Minister responsible, as well as strengthening “the appearance of the independence of the (Postal) Authority,” according to the bill’s summary. • Import Duties Amendment […]

Hilda reels in climate aid

Hilda reels in climate aid

At the margin of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIFS) Leaders meeting last week in Tuvalu, President Hilda Heine met with Jerry Velasquez, Director of the Green Climate Fund’s Division of Mitigation and Adaptation. The meeting was to discuss the on-going GCF program, in particular the Water and Coastal Adaptation Program in the Marshall Islands. President […]

RMI canoes feature in Forum talks

RMI canoes feature in Forum talks

KELLY LORENNIJ The Micronesian region is transitioning to sustainable ocean transport for inter-island services, a move that is spearheaded by the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport that is based in the University of the South Pacific in the Marshall Islands. The Center’s Michael Traut outlined the steps that are being taken to make this transition […]

Talks to extend Compact $$ start

Talks to extend Compact $$ start

GIFF JOHNSON The big news coming from several hours of meetings on Pohnpei Monday between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Hilda Heine and leaders of the FSM and Palau is Pompeo’s announcement that negotiations to extend Compact funding agreements have begun. The post-2023 period, when US grant funding for RMI and FSM […]

RMI back on ‘Watch List’

RMI back on ‘Watch List’

GIFF JOHNSON The Marshall Islands Foreign Minister questioned the accuracy of the latest US State Department trafficking in persons report on the Marshall Islands, which demoted RMI to Tier 2 Watch List, the last step before the so-called blacklist of Tier 3. RMI was ranked Tier 2 in last year’s State Department report. The report, […]

RMI-Japan celebrate 30 years

RMI-Japan celebrate 30 years

At Saturday night’s closing dinner event to mark Japan and RMI’s 30-years of diplomatic relations at the International Conference Center, Jennifer Hawley, granddaughter of founding father and first president Amata Kabua was presented with a commemorative stamp from the government of Japan. President Hilda Heine and Minister John Silk received similar commemorative stamps Read more […]

Neijon joins ambassador ranks

Neijon joins ambassador ranks

For the first time in its history, the Marshall Islands has two women ambassadors serving simultaneously. Last Friday, High Court Chief Justice Carl Ingram conducted the oath of office ceremony for Neijon Edwards, who is the new Marshall Islands Ambassador to the Republic of China/Taiwan. She joins long-serving RMI Ambassador to the UN Amatlain Kabua […]