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 […]
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 […]
The Kora Fund issued its first loan to an Ebeye woman as part of its official launch for Kwajalein Atoll last week. A team of Kora (women’s) Fund and Bank of Marshall Islands officials went to Ebeye for the launch and to run a series of informational and training sessions about the new loan program. […]
The northern islands are now facing a looming drought with little to no rain in January.While Majuro was deluged with rain the first couple of days in February, rainfall in Majuro is no indication of wetness in the northern islands. While Majuro received 8.76 inches of rain in December, Wotje saw only 2.55 inches. January […]
Two Oregon-based non-profit organizations are providing education-related donations to community members and outer island schools in need. Dale Nabu, a recent graduate of Eastern Oregon University, was active with the two Oregon groups while living on the west coast. Now back in Majuro, he’s continuing to be a link between the Oregon groups Living Islands […]
The annual Education Week science fair shined again this year at the International Conference Center. With multiple Majuro, Kwajalein, Wotje and Jaluit schools participating in the science fair, it made it more fun for other schools to come and share their knowledge on things they have learned based on science projects. Student showed remarkable talent […]
HILARY HOSIA Marshall Islands Epidemiology and Prevention Initiatives (MIEPI) have been spearheading the Rapid High School Survey to determine the percentage of students who have risk factors for development of diseases like diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease, heart attacks and strokes. The ongoing survey, which started in January this year, is a short questionnaire designed […]
December last year produced the most copra of 2017, the first month of a two-and-a-half-month period during which the price of copra was at an all time high of 50¢ per pound. Copra makers in RMI generated 764.12 tons in December, the highest total since December 2016, when over 1,000 tons were generated. The quarterly […]
The audit for Wotje Atoll Local Government said $60,000 in funding from a Japan grant for the construction of a community center was misappropriated (embezzled) in the 2009-2014 period. Checks for $40,000 and $20,000 were issued to a company for building materials, but “based on our review of the supporting invoices, they appear fictitious as […]
Distribution of drought emergency supplemental food to the outer islands starts this week, with the MV Kwajalein being loaded at Uliga Dock for a Thursday departure to 10 atolls and two single islands. A total of 4,747 people living on remote islands will receive supplemental food supplies paid for by the US Agency for International […]