Peterson JIbas

Vote 2023: 4 women in Nitijela

Vote 2023: 4 women in Nitijela

GIFF JOHNSON The final unofficial election results were issued by the Electoral Administration Tuesday December 12 this week, confirming that 13 Nitijela seats will change hands. Most postal absentee votes either didn’t arrive in time or were rejected for technical reasons, muting their impact. It appeared that only one Nitijela race — Likiep — was […]

Mayor Ladie back for third term

Mayor Ladie back for third term

GIFF JOHNSON In the still preliminary and unofficial vote tabulation, Majuro Mayor Ladie Jack was outpolling main challenger Margaret Alee Bigler by more than two-to-one and three of the four incumbent Majuro Nitijela members were showing the highest numbers. Incumbent Stephen Phillip and candidates David Kramer and Yolanda Lodge-Ned were locked in a battle for […]

Yun, Kabua agree on Compact money

Yun, Kabua agree on Compact money

GIFF JOHNSON and HILARY HOSIA Last week’s signing of an MOU for the Compact of Free Association was momentous for the Marshall Islands and the United States, coming less than a year since RMI Foreign Minister Kitlang Kabua took up her post and US Special Envoy Joseph Yun was named by President Biden to head […]

Urantha, 67, a great grad

Urantha, 67, a great grad

Determination has no limits and Urantha Jibas is proof.The 67-year-old graduated this week from the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program, formerly known as GED, under the College of Marshall Islands. Urantha was one of 12 graduates from the CMI Distant Learning Center in Kili Island.The group held their ceremony this past Tuesday. Dean of Workforce, […]

Beach Lodge opens doors

Beach Lodge opens doors

WILMER JOEL The word luxury was evident at the blessing ceremony and open house last Saturday for the new Beach Lodge Suites in Majuro. Seven of the eight rooms were already reserved for use while one of the rooms was on display and featured quality furniture, utensils, and other room accessories. Father and son duo […]

Nuclear atolls: Momentum building

Nuclear atolls: Momentum building

GIFF JOHNSON Leaders of nuclear test-affected atolls described their first meeting as a group with US Ambassador Roxanne Cabral late last week as “productive and positive.” Coupled with a meeting the nuclear atolls had with President David Kabua earlier last week, they feel there is momentum building for dignified solution to the US nuclear weapons […]

Close call on Covid

Close call on Covid

GIFF JOHNSON The US Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll had its first long-distance brush with coronavirus when one of the 15 base workers scheduled to return this week tested positive for Covid-19 in Honolulu prior to departing for Kwajalein. Contract tracing by Army authorities identified three others in the intending repatriation group to have had contact […]

RMI: Not time for travel

RMI: Not time for travel

“Stay where you are — refrain from traveling to the RMI,” was Health Secretary Jack Niedenthal’s message to people thinking of traveling to the Marshall Islands. He and other health officials spoke to the public about the coronavirus COVID-19 during a media conference in Majuro Wednesday March 11. Majuro hospital chief of staff Dr. Robert […]

David Kabua takes the helm

David Kabua takes the helm

GIFF JOHNSON New RMI President David Kabua was elected Monday by a comfortable Nitijela majority, 20-12.The Nitijela chamber was jam-packed with a standing room-only crowd for the election as the drama of the post-November 18 election came to a conclusion with Monday’s vote. The voting itself lacked the drama of the 2016 Nitijela election that […]