Journal 6/25/1982
P1 Protest grows
A group of some 250 landowners of Kwajalein Atoll launched a protest invasion and occupation of several islands in the atoll on Saturday June 19. Marshall Islands President Amata Kabua was traveling in the Far East when the protest began, and he immediately cut short his journey and returned to Majuro June 21. President Kabua flew to Kwajalein June 22 for consultation with Marshallese leaders. The protest is staged by Kwajalein Atoll Corporation, whose chief officers are Senators Ataji Balos and Imada Kabua in opposition to the recently signed Compact of Free Association.
The number of landowners occupying their land used by the Kwajalein Missile Range has increased from 500 to 800 and more islands have been occupied, KAC attorney George Allen reported after talking with Senator Imada Kabua by radio.
To further complicate the already difficult political situation, the US now wants to postpone the August 17 vote on the Compact. According to a letter from Undersecretary of State James Buckley, the time before August 17 is too short to permit an adequate voter education program to be conducted and such a program is necessary to explain the Compact and the alternative of full independence to Marshallese voters.
Journal 6/28/1991
P8 DeBrum delivers challenge to outer islanders
Senator Tony deBrum addressed an overflowing crowd of outer island youth at the Uliga Protestant Church June 20. He stressed that young people had a responsibility to both themselves and their respective communities to not blindly accept the current government but to elect the representatives they feel will provide the best future for themselves and their children. “Your future is in your hands,” he said. “If you are not satisfied with your island’s school or dispensary, then complain!” DeBrum ended by giving the youth a simple rule for stimulating positive change in their communities. “If you feel everything is the way you want it, then go ahead and reelect your senator. But if you are not satisfied with the current situation of your community, then vote for a change of government.”
Journal 7/1/2011
P3 PW closes ECC doors
The ECC gym has been declared off limits by engineers at Public Works until a thorough investigation of the safety of the facility is concluded. This follows last week’s collapse of a portion of its lagoon side roof from termite damage. In the meantime, the summer basketball league for 18-and-under age players that started before the collapse has been called off pending a decision on the safety of the gym, according to ECC program manager Sailass Kotton.
P4 Weekend of fabulous fishing
Captain Wally Milne is the fisherman to beat this weekend as he’s going into the Marshalls Billfish Club’s 29th Annual Tournament with a whopping 4,776 points gathered over a year of fabulous fishing. His closest contender is XXXX captain Ben Reimers with 2,911 points. Club officials are expecting that 15 trolling boats and 30 bottom fishing boats will register. For the first time, the Billfish Club is joining forces with the Urok Club, which will see boats fishing all day Friday, which is National Fisherman’s Day, and Saturday with the weigh-in at Uliga Dock.