The Association of Pacific Island Legislatures met last week in Majuro, adopting a series of resolutions many of them focused on environment and renewable energy-related actions APIL wants to encourage. APIL’s membership is made up of US-affiliated islands in the north Pacific, including Hawaii, and Nauru and Kiribati. APIL expressed its support and encouragement for: […]
Nurses’ Week in the RMI kicked off Tuesday at the Ministry of Health in Majuro with a ceremony honoring our important health care providers. Numerous VIPs, including Health Minister Kalani Kaneko, Speaker Kenneth Kedi, elected leaders, US Ambassador Karen Stewart, and Taiwan Ambassador Jeffery Hsiao, joined in the festive occasion. The theme for this week’s […]
HILARY HOSIA Nitijela senators began endorsing a plan to repeal the postal absentee ballot ban Wednesday following the presentation of a petition to restore voting for islanders living off-shore by Evelyn Konou and Biram Stege. Over 800 Marshallese citizens endorsed the petition, for which Parliament Speaker Kenneth Kedi and Maloelap Senator Bruce Bilimon publicly announced […]
KELLY LORENNIJ While Nitijela (Parliament) was split in half during Monday morning’s vote of no confidence, both sides reiterated one common concept: “Kien eo en jerbal ippen armij ro, kon armij ro, im nan armij ro ilo jokkwin wot juon.”* President Hilda Heine’s opening remarks were met with applause from the packed audience, resonating most […]
Flags flew at half mast this week for late Vice Speaker Tomaki Juda, who led the Bikini community for decades as mayor and senator.
HILARY HOSIA Arguments over a reported bribe attempt, the RMI’s “SOV” plan, and the proposed Rongelap investment zone dominated Nitijela’s first session day Monday after a three-week break for committee hearings. You could describe Monday’s session as a rugby scrum, with battling parties locked head to head and kicking the ball back and forth.
President Hilda Heine removed Senator Mike Halferty from her Cabinet last Thursday. The removal of Halferty took the form of a memo from the President titled: “Revocation of appointment and vacation of office by Minister.” The brief memo signed by the President stated that by the power vested in her by the RMI Constitution, “I…do […]
GIFF JOHNSON Nitijela openings other than Presidential elections and votes of no confidence tend to present little drama, accounting for the generally low turnout of members of the public, aside from those attending to sing and government representatives — as was the case at Tuesday’s opening. But behind the scenes Tuesday, drama brewed as a […]
HILARY HOSIA For a school that breeds religious leaders and has its curriculum centered in faith, the opening of the new boys’ dormitory last week at Rongrong lifted Marshalls Christian High School’s religious morale sky high. Funding of $115,361 from Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP) was used to transform a once […]
HILARY HOSIA Republic of China/Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen received a standing ovation at Nitijela Tuesday following her announcement that Taiwan will allow Marshall Islanders visa-free entry to Taiwan in the near future. Tsai is the first foreign head of state to address a session of parliament. Before addressing President Tsai, Parliament Speaker Kenneth Kedi recognized […]
