Journal 2/18/1983
P1 AMI doing better financially, may fly south
Good, tight scheduling of Air Marshall Islands planes has proved to be working as the airline has turned a corner from losing money to now, for the first time, revenues exceed expenses, according to Bill Capelle, marketing manager. Last year, AMI was losing money because of poor scheduling, he said. Capelle mentioned also that the Kiribati government has expressed interest in chartering the AMI 748 to fly between Kiribati-Funafuti-Fiji.
P1 US prefers 177 instead of suits
Richard W. Teare is the US Deputy Representative for Micronesian Status Negotiations. He was deposed because the Bikinians, Enewetakese, Rongelapese and Utrikians, and others affected by the nuclear weapons testing program wish to pursue their lawsuits in the US Court of Claims. Throughout the lengthy deposition, Teare argued that the US prefers Section 177 of the Compact of Free Association as the solution to the nuclear legacy and that the lawsuits are a distraction from the larger political question of free association.
P7 BoG opens on Ebeye
The Bank of Guam opened its Ebeye office Tuesday with brief speeches by bank President Jesus Leon Guerrero, Chief Secretary Oscar deBrum, Council of Iroij Chairman Michael Kabua, and Magistrate Yashio Bolkeim. Mineo Mista is the manager. Bank of Guam was invited to go to Ebeye by RepMar after the United States announced its intention last year to cut off banking services to Marshallese at the Kwajalein Missile Range.
Journal 2/21/1992
P1 Nitijela amendments aimed at election law
The Nitijela is considering a bill that would amend the current election law. Bill No. 5 would change the absentee/postal ballot requirements, and procedures for newly registered voters to cast their ballots. If approved, the bill would put the Electoral Administration within the Ministry of Interior and Outer Island Affairs.
P1 Kwaj fishermen top marlin record
Kwajalein fishermen celebrated the atoll’s annual liberation day with record-breaking billfish catches. The record from 1991 was a 259 pound marlin caught by Seagull James “007” boat. The first day of competition, none of the fisherman came in with a fish over 200 pounds. But as the close of the tournament approached on the second day, one of Patrick Bing’s four boats came in with a big one: A marlin weighing 287 pounds. But this record was short-lived. The crew of “MMKO” had just a few minutes to celebrate before the next boat, the “Lady Y” from USAKA, turned up with a bigger marlin, a 297-pounder, setting the tournament’s record.
P3 Water shortage
Majuro’s water situation remains critical with virtually no rain since early January. Water hours were being further reduced this week.
Journal 2/24/2012
P1 Shark attack
RMI law enforcement personnel have stepped up action against shark fishing by boarding dozens of vessels to confiscate shark product with the assistance of the US Coast Guard. Enforcement of the new ban on shark fishing in the RMI resulted in MIMRA levying a $125,000 fine against a Japanese transshipment vessel, the first fine issued under the PL2011-063, Fisheries Amendment Action of 2011 that went into force late last year. “It is illegal to have sharks on board,” said MIMRA Director Glen Joseph.