Marshall Islands Journal 2-28-2014

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CMI bus gets a jump start
The
The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014
See page 2
Marshall Islands
$1 on
Majuro
ISSN: 0892 2096
The
Nitijelas
showdown on
el-Sayed
College
of the
Marshall
Islands
blessed
its new
bus last
week,
and as
you can
plainly
see, the
students
are
ecstatic.
Photo:
Hilary
Hosia.
Friday, February 28, 2014 Volume 45, Number 9
Bravo link brings

Japanese to RMI
GIFF JOHNSON
A group of students from Fukushima, Japan is in the Marshall Islands
this week sharing their concerns about
nuclear contamination from the Daiichi
nuclear power plant as the Marshall
Islands marks the 60th anniversary of
radioactive fallout contamination from
the Bravo hydrogen bomb test at Bikini
Atoll on March 1, 1954.
As Marshall Islanders launched a
week-long commemoration Tuesday
of the 15-megaton nuclear test that
caused widespread nuclear exposure,
severe health problems for islanders,
and evacuations of populations from
contaminated islands, the student
group from Japan said Japanese are
facing similar problems of radiation
exposure, forced evacuation from areas
nearby the beleaguered Daiichi nuclear

plant in Fukushima, and uncertainties
about the future.
The government says dont worry
(about radiation exposure) but recently
weve seen many cases of thyroid
problems confirmed in the Fukushima
area, said Kai Sato, a Fukushima
University student.
The government says it is safe (to
live in the Fukushima area), but I dont
believe it, Sato said. There is uncertainty among Fukushima City residents
and people dont what is the correct
information to believe.
Keiko Takahashi lived in Okuma
Town, just 3.5 miles from the Daiichi
nuclear plant. She was fortunate to
live on a hill, so her home was not
damaged by the devastating tsunami
that followed the earthquake. But the

entire town, including Takahashi and
her family, was ordered to leave the
area the day after the March 11, 2011
earthquake and tsunami damaged the
Daiichi power plant, causing a meltdown and ongoing radiation exposure.
Three years later, Okuma is a ghost
town, Takahashi said. It remains
off-limits to residents, with fences
blocking roads into the former town of
11,000. No one can live in this town
because of the radiation, Takahashi
said. She is worried about the safety
of the area and despite her family roots
in Okuma extending four generations
back, she says We shouldnt go back,
even if 100 years passes.
The concerns of the Japanese stuContinued page 2
Fukushima residents Kaede Nagashima

(left) and Keiko Takahashi in Majuro.
Photo: Hilary Hosia.
Talk to us at journal@ntamar.net Subscribe to the Journal Online at www.marshallislandsjournal.com
Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal
El-Sayed issue takes

over Nitijela session
Former Marshall Islands President
Litokwa Tomeing called for the resignation
of the Loeak Administration Wednesday
for nominating Jamil el-Sayed to become
an RMI representative to UNESCO. But
in an extended debate at Nitijela, President
Christopher Loeak and Foreign Minister
Phillip Muller both dismissed the issue as
no big deal.
Tomeing said the failure to follow proper
procedures in the nomination by the Foreign
Minister of el-Sayed was a clear violation of
the Marshall Islands Constitution.
Argument about Mullers nomination of
el-Sayed, who is reported to have ties to the
terrorist organization Hezbollah, dominated
Nitijelas three-hour session Wednesday.
The world is shocked by our governments action, said Tomeing. Our constitution has been violated and if we dont
do anything about this now then we may
never (recover). Step down now those of
you who are not doing whats right for our
country. I am asking you to step down for
your mistakes and stop wasting our time.
Let others who really want to work for the
people of the Marshall Islands step up to
do the job.
Loeak interrupted Tomeing, saying there
are more important issues the government
Foreign Minister
Phillip Muller.
needs to address like climate change and the

Compact. He said the issue about el-Sayed
had already been corrected. Foreign Minister Muller responded to all questions and
complaints related to el-Sayeds nomination as just a start of our vetting process.
Muller said he never met El-Sayed and that
he came recommended by friends as someone who understands UNESCO processes.
We sent a request to UNESCO first
because we in the RMI do not have means
to do background checks and our staff do
not have the capability, said Muller. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs was consulting and vetting the nomination first with
UNESCO and once we got the okay from
them we were going to bring this to Cabinet
and the President. This was just the start of
the vetting process.
Muller said hes thankful UNESCO
checked and notified the government
through its UN Embassy and that he was
able to quickly correct the mistake.
But senators in Nitijela challenged
Mullers it-was-just-the-start-of-thevetting-process response.
Senator after senator highlighted normal
government procedures for nominating
an ambassador procedures, which they
said are clearly spelled out in the Marshall
Islands Constitution. Ebon Senator John
Silk said the Constitution requires that all
ambassadorial nominees be Marshallese
citizens, be of good character and be approved by a Nitijela resolution.
Knowing all this how could you sign
an appointment letter? asked Silk. The
Constitution has been violated so now what
are we going to do about it?
President Loeak attempted to downplay
the severity of the issue saying that the
mistake has been corrected and as far as
the rest of the world is concerned they are
satisfied. He then classified the nomination of el-Sayed as that of an honorary
counsel post. Majuro Senator Brenson Wase
objected to the Presidents characterization, saying in fact the post was that of an
ambassador.
The Minister sent to UNESCO an ambassadorial appointment letter, said Wase.
He added: It was a French newspaper that
alerted the RMI government of the appointment, not UNESCO.
Namdrik Senator Matt Zackhras said
that he personally contacted the RMIs UN
Embassy on the issue and they told him
they knew nothing about the UNESCO
nomination. Had el-Sayeds appointment
gone through he would have had 10 years
of diplomatic immunity, said Zackhras.
Earlier in the month, Minister of Education Dr. Hilda Heine, who is chairman of
the UNESCO National Commission for the
RMI, said she was unaware of the el-Sayed
nomination.
Fishing
tournament
March 1 is not only the 60th anniversary
of the Bravo hydrogen bomb test, it is also
the day of a Marshalls Billfish Club mini
Total Points tournament.
Registration for the tourney starts at
6:30pm at RRE shoreline on Thursday.
The tournament will start and end at RRE
shoreline.
Anyone wanting to see the weigh in of
fish caught, lines must be out of the water
by 5pm, so after that is a good time to appear
at RRE shoreline.
Fukushima
students
visit with
local nuke
survivors
From page 1
dents about radiation safety issues mirror
those of Rongelap Islanders in the Marshall Islands who have been told one of
their islands is safe for return. Most of
the elders who were on Rongelap when it
was engulfed in a snowstorm of radioactive fallout from the Bravo test in 1954
have openly expressed fear of returning
to their former home atoll, which they
evacuated in 1985.
Despite being forced to evacuate the
town where four generations of her family have lived, Takahashi said, Ive lost
my life but not my soul. Her long family ties to the town have prompted her
to begin researching the towns cultural
history so she can preserve it for future
generations even if Okuma is never
habitable again.
Sato said he was concerned that some
people in Japan believe that the nuclear
accident at Fukushima is a thing of
the past and has been resolved. The
nuclear plant accident hasnt stopped,
he said. In addition to ongoing radiation
leakage at the Daiichi plant, he says the
governments official health checks that
recently confirmed 75 cases of thyroid
tumors and cancers among people living
in the vicinity of the plant shows that
health problems are continuing to be felt
by the population as a result of radiation
exposure.
It is a human rights issue for people
in the Marshall Islands and people in
Fukushima, he said of the radiation
exposures in both countries.
Kaede Nagashima was born in Fukushima City. She said the area is famous
for its agriculture products. But today,
I dont want to eat fruits from Fukushima, she said.
I think they are dangerous (due to
radiation contamination). She has been
involved in a project of sharing high
school student-written poetry and stories
expressing concerns about the nuclear
plant accident to audiences in Japan and
will share these in the Marshall Islands
this week.
We need to tell the truth about the
radiation situation in Fukushima, Nagashima said.
I tell people that the Fukushima
nuclear issue is related to them and is
still an issue. Three years after the accident, some people say it is past. But
its not over.
The nuclear testing (in the Marshall
Islands) resulted in both immediate and
continuing effects on the human rights of
the Marshallese, said a United Nations
Special Rapporteur following a visit to
the Marshall Islands in 2012.
Japanese aboard the PeaceBoats 81st global voyage sent this photo to show
solidarity with Marshallese marking the 60th anniversary of the Bravo test.
Arms boss here for Bravo

US official
flies in this
Saturday
Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under

Secretary of State for Arms Control
and International Security, will
deliver this years US government
message during the Nuclear Remembrance Day ceremony in Majuro
Saturday.
She will visit the RMI from March
1-3 for various events and meetings.
On March 1, she will participate in a
series of Nuclear Remembrance Day
activities in Majuro. She will also
tour the Department of Energy Body
Counter Facility and speak with
students at the College of Marshall
Islands Nuclear Institute.
On March 3, the Acting Under
Secretary will join RMI President
Christopher Loeak on a visit to Kili
Island for Bikini Day ceremonies.
She will participate in a ceremony
honoring those residents who originally lived on Bikini prior to the start
of nuclear tests in 1946.
MALGovs Jasper Lanki, left, and Mayor

Mudge Samuel, second from right, with athletes.
Majuro Day fun

Majuro Atoll Local Government executives joined sport
officials in recognizing Majuro Day winning teams Monday
night at the crowded Delap Park.
Majuro Day Battle of the Band winners Bunin Non
Likiej provided a lively atmosphere with their upbeat performance. Athletes were seen rushing to the sandy dance
floor while others bust a move from where they stood.
The fireworks, $1,000 to $100 winning envelopes, the
live music and the chaotic fun contributed to a night to
remember.
Amenta heads up Alele

ISAAC MARTY
The RMI national archive
and museum Alele has a new
director at the helm. Amenta
Matthew Tibon, former Utrik
Senator, is happy to give her
service in Alele. She started on
January 16.
At the moment she has four
staff members. She is taking
over from Bonny Taggart who
was the interim director. Tibon
said her plans are to continue
Aleles goals such as seeking
the improvement of the building and also its services. Im
grateful for Bonny, Secretary
Daisy Alik-Momotaro, Minis-
New Director of the Alele Museum

and Library Amenta Matthew.
ter Wilbur Heine, Alele board

and others that have given
great support to preserving
Alele which holds our culture
and history. Im proud to serve
and also to show people our
culture, said Tibon. Education Week had a lot of students
visiting the museum and it
gives me an idea to do a childrens exhibit that would make
it easier for kids to learn when
they visit.
Currently the museum is
located at the ground floor
after its original location in the
second floor experienced roof
problems with leakage. Tibon
said the roof problem has been
fixed but the room needs renovating and shes looking for
funding to fix it. The museum
was put onto the ground floor
by Alele board of trustees. His
makes it easily accessible to
everyone, especially to people

who are unable to go up the
stairs.
Aleles library is open for the
public and it also has a basic
computer training program
that is open for interested individuals to sign up. Participants
are separated into morning
and afternoon groups that will
have a one-hour session learning computer. Alele is also
partnering with the Retirees
Center (next to Alele) in doing
the same computer program
for senior citizens and is being
funded through a grant from
the Institute of Museum and
Library Services.
Tibon said Alele is aiming to
promote culture and tradition
in local events and especially
gearing up for its upcoming annual Lutok Kobban Alele (Cultural Day) event in September.
Fiddler opens next week

Dartmouth out
GIFF JOHNSON
Eight weeks of rehearsals will
see the ICC stage explode in song
and dance from Tuesday through
Saturday next week.
The musical Fiddler on the
Roof has been in preparation with
several dozen students practicing
daily to be ready to perform the
show that is being directed by Prof.
Andrew Garrod of Dartmouth.
It is the 10th play Garrod has
directed in Majuro since 2004
eight have been Shakespeare
plays and last years and this years
musicals and possibly the last
as the Dartmouth program is wrapping up a 15-year relationship with
the Ministry of Education this year.
The shift to musicals has been a
big hit with local audiences. Last
year, 900 people packed the ICC
for the final night of West Side
Story more than double the
largest crowd that ever appeared
for the earlier Shakespeare shows.
Garrod recalled the first year
he and the Dartmouth students
worked to stage a play. The students had never seen or been in a
play, he said. They didnt have a
clue what it took to make it happen
and this meant Garrod was challenged to keep their attention at the
daily practices. I had to station a
A dance
sequence
in
Fiddler
on the
Roof.
Dartmouth football player at the

door to prevent the students from
leaving the rehearsals.
How times have changed. The
last few years, often more than
double the number of students
than can be used audition for the
plays. This year, 70 turned out
for the auditions, he said. It was
way more than could participate,
but Garrod found ways to include
a number of those who did not get
selected for parts in the play to as-
The Dartmouth teaching program in the Marshall Islands will

officially end with the close of
the school year in June this year.
Professor Andrew Garrod said
the program brought the first
undergraduate students to the
RMI i n 2000, and the following
year launched the beginning of
the graduate program that has
placed teachers in schools for
an entire year.
The undergraduate program
provides a 10-week teaching experience for a group of students
sist the play in other ways.
This years play includes some
veteran performers with first timers. CMI student John Riklon is
playing a lead role for the fourth
year and USPs Jennifer Alik is
also an experienced actress playing the lead female role. They
are role models for the rest of
the cast, said Garrod. They are
focused, learn their lines quickly,
and help others. John frequently
models parts for others.
who get experience working

with veteran teachers here in local high schools and elementary
schools.
Garrod said Dartmouth has
decided to end the program
largely over concerns about
possible liability issues with
Dartmouth students in the Marshall Islands. Garrod said that
he would consider continuing
to do the plays in the January-to
March period if the Ministry of
Education is interested to keep
it going.
It takes a good deal of work to
turn normally shy Marshallese
young people into expressive stage
actors. The ICC is a big room, he
said. The students are learning that
they have to be expressive enough
so their emotions transmit from
the stage all the way to the back
of the room. They held their first
rehearsal at the ICC last week and
are continuing this week.
Involving students in a process
of working as a group, building
their self-confidence, and raising

their aspirations about what is
possible is what motivates Garrod.
Its about personal development, he said. I encourage (the
students) to take themselves seriously.
Garrod believes the work the
students put into preparing for
the play has an impact on their
learning in school. Teachers have
mentioned to him seeing positive
changes in classroom engagement
of students involved in these plays.
Garrod also likes the mix of
students involved this year,
students from Marshall Islands
High School, Assumption, Majuro
Coop, CMI and USP are participating.
Garrod said this years play
could not be put on without many
helping hands from the community.
Tickets can be purchased in
advance this Saturday at Payless (9:30am-12noon), EZ Price
(1:30-4pm), and K&K Island Pride
(9:30am-12noon and 1:30-4pm),
and also at the door each evening
at ICC Tuesday through Saturday
nights. The play starts at 8pm, and
based on last years large crowds,
best advice is to arrive well before
8pm to get a good seat.
Workers
install new
lining in a
reservoir.
Team fixes
leaks at
reservoirs
ISAAC MARTY
Water leakage in three of Majuros airport reservoirs is
now being addressed. According to Majuro Water and Sewage Company (MWSC) General Manager Joseph Batol, the
problem occurred because the tarps holding the water were
old and it was found last year that reservoirs numbers three,
four, and five were not able to store up to their maximum
capacity of five millions gallons each. This resulted in a
drop from total maximum capacity of 36.4 million gallons
to an average 24 million gallons.
The improvement project is funded by the Pacific Adaptation to Climate Change. It hired Australia based company
Fabtech to do the job.
Fabtech supervisor Dean Warner and colleagues Enrique
Baltan (deputy) and Antonio Pel (installer), along with a
team of MWSC staff, are busy installing new fabric liner
or tarp sheets at the reservoirs. Warner has 11 years experience doing this type of work while Baltan and Pel are four
years into it. The strategy is to install the new layer upon
the old layer of sheets.
Warner said the old layer would be a protection layer
underneath to prevent future leaks. He said the work started
January 21 and completion is expected next month. The
reservoir work is happening from 6pm to 6am due to the
heat of the day. When the sun reflects from the new sheets
it gets hot on the reservoir.
Warner said Fabtech was the company that installed tarp
sheets for reservoirs one and two about 14 years ago with
the leadership of his current boss.
How old are the reservoirs? MWSC Supervisor Fred
Billy, who is a long time employee, said of reservoir number
three that its about 22 years old.
Batol emphasized that water security is of critical importance to the RMI as a whole and Majuro where the
majority of potable water is produced from treated rainwater
harvested from the large Majuro airport runway catchment
area. Installation of a new floating cover on reservoir number three is yet to be done. The cover is aimed at eliminating
evaporation to prevent losses and its another strategy to
ensure water security despite changes in climate.
The covering, compared to reservoir number one and
two, is a newly designed and stronger material. Reservoir
number three will support reservoir number two as a storage
for treated water that is ready to supply the public, said
Batol. Our main goal is to provide better water service
to the public. When we have more water well be able to
extend water hours.
The RMI Riddle No. 493: Sponsored by CopyMasters

ACROSS
1. Energy, bomb, or fallout.
5. Nervous.
10. Skipper.
11. Reef resident.
12. Kwaj spot.
14. Museum.
15. Away.
17. Joint.
19. Command.
21. Cry.
22. Fuel.
23. K&K village.
24. British historian A.J.
Toynbee said: America is a
-----, friendly dog in a very
small room. Every time it
wags its tail, it knocks over
a chair.
25. Plaything.
26. Mistake.
28. Uncooked toast.
30. Bubu.
31. Western atoll.
33. Dad says yes to fruit!
34. Divers dress.
DOWN
2. School. (abb.)
3. Rent.
4. Our neighbor. (4,5)
6. Big church.
7. School. (abb.)
8. Pain.
Komol to
Australia
The Australian government is providing a new
grant to the College of
the Marshall Islands for
computers for student use.
The Australian grant is
for US$21,988.57, said
CMI President Carl Hacker in congratulating CMI
staff for their work in producing the grant request.
Photo: Hilary Hosia
9. Ebons drifter.
13. Diplomatic mission.
15. Watch.
16. Chairs mate.
17. Less than nine.
18. Day four.
20. Going away.
27. Street.
28. Bud and XXXX.
29. Hounds.
30. Opening.
32. Our airline. (abb.)
Need a pen to do the puzzle?

Buy your stationery needs at:
Answers to Riddle No. 492
Note: (abb.) = abbreviation

(3,4) = indicates the number
of letters in words.
USP-led financial
seminar a success
USP Marshall Islands Campus ran a
two-day financial seminar for non-finance
managers recently that brought together a
total of 51 people from local NGOs, private
and government organizations. The seminar
was implemented by Mesake Nawari who is
a Senior Fellow at USPs Graduate School
of Business at the Laucala Campus in Fiji.
The workshop was centered on: understanding financial statements and their interrelationships; working capital management;
and planning and budgeting. Attendance
was good 96 percent throughout the
two days. It showed a great interest from
the general public about financial management issues.

At the end of the two-day seminar, an
evaluation of the seminar was conducted
and it showed that all of the 42 participants
who took part in the survey are interested
in further short courses offered by USP not
just in finances but also in other areas.
Another workshop on investment
analysis of utility company projects was
conducted last month with 12 employees
of Marshalls Energy Company and Majuro
Water and Sewage Company who are in the
managerial level.
10
11
12
AROUND TOWN
Kite boarders
windy adventure
THOMAS ATWELL
Desperate to do some kite boarding, Mark and I set off from the
beach at the Long Island Hotel and
kited downwind to Anjeltake about
six miles or so away. We were going
to Glenn Martinishouse to meet
up with him and then kite at some
shipwreck/break about six miles
from there. Our instructions were to
look for the orange buoy hanging off
the black hammock in the coconut
tree. We may have been silly for
going as the weather was rainy
and squalls were coming through,
but we felt it wasnt too severe so
off we went.
When we were just past the airport (about three or four miles) a rain
squall came through. The wind was
quite strong and then suddenly it
died. Marks kite was already down
and I was doing all I could to keep
my kite in the air. No such luck.
My kite fell through my lines and
when the wind picked back up I tried
to relaunch. Each time I relaunched
my kite looped. Eventually it just
started looping by itself and I was
being dragged through the water. I
decided I needed to flag the kite out
and re-rig my lines or self rescue. I
unhooked and when I did my kite
leash broke and the kite went byebye. I quickly realized I couldnt
catch it so I paddled in to shore. I
wasnt worried since the wind would
eventually bring it in; maybe a few
miles away but Hey, were in a
lagoon,right? Perhaps a big lagoon
but its still a lagoon.
Mark had relaunched his kite and
even got to my kite but couldnt do
anything as it was taking everything
to keep his kite in the air. But no
worries; everything and everyone
is drifting west where eventually it
will all wash up around the village
of Laura.
So after swimming/paddling in the
pouring rain for about 45 minutes
I made it to a beach and started
walking. Mark had put his kite in
the water again and eventually got
going. I was keeping an eye on my
kite and it seemed to be about a
mile off shore drifting east. All good.
I walked the beach with a bunch
of local kids and asked about a
boat. They didnt understand English and I have a very limited ability
of Marshallese (yokwe) so I drew
them a picture of a boat. Oh, boat!
Boat! No, no boat. I ventured back
to the road in spots and eventually made it to Glenns house. By
that time I couldnt see my kite any
more as the wind had shifted and it
had disappeared in the veil of rain.
Mark had relaunched and was past
Kite boarders Tom Atwell

(above) and Mark at the Hangar
Bar at Majuro airport.
Photos: Karen Earnshaw
me but seemed okay and headed

toward Laura.
No-one was home at Glenns.
Hmm. After leaving my board and
harness in a conspicuous spot i
scrounged around for something
to leave a note with. The best I
could come up with was a bunch of
clothespins, so i spelled out LOST
KITE on their porch.
I grabbed a windsurfing board
and some swim fins and paddled
about a mile out in the lagoon. Still
no kite. Im shocked I cant see it,
but its raining quite hard reducing
visibility. Im sitting on the board and
a boat comes by. I flag him down
and they picked me up to go look
for the kite. There were four men in
the boat and they were involved in
a fishing tournament. We looked for
the kite for 45 minutes or so, but no
kite. The captains name was Alan. I
told him my name and my hotel and
that if someone finds the kit to give
me a call. I think that at this point
someone else must have picked

up the kite. I handed him 100 bucks
and he dropped me back off stating
he will find my kite.
After paddling back in I speak
briefly with the guy across the street
who turns out to be a Senator from
Rongelap. I decline an offer for a
ride, thinking I may unintentionally pass Glenn and decide to walk
down to Laura, 15 miles away. After
45 minutes a fellow named Doug
stopsand says Glenn is looking for
me and that Mark is okay. He gives
me a ride back to Glenns where I
am to wait.
I wait. Eventually Glenn and Sofie
van Gunsteren get there and tells
me Mark is on Rongrong island
about 16 miles away. I asked them
how they knew this and they said
Mark had borrowed some a cell
phone and had called them to say
he was trying to find a boat to get
off the island.
As we are waiting for Marks status Glenns boss, Joseph Batol,
calls and says Alan, his nephew
picked some kitesurfer up and was
out looking for his kite. Everyone
knows everyone and everything
thats happening on Majuro. Joseph calls back and Alan has found
my kite and its in Delap, 15 miles
distant. Mark has made his way to
Continued page 13
AROUND TOWN
Why teachers got their pay raise recently and

dont come to work? Im fed up with covering
for all these BS RMI teachers in government.
Elae
Batman
ar riMajol
Comment received by newspaper reader in Majuro.
Caller eo: OMG

Batman rej trouble ilo
City Hall!
Batman: Itok im bok
na emaat ao gas.
Caller: OMG Batman theres trouble at
City Hall!
Batman: Come and
get me Im out of
gas.
Thanks to Ben
Wakefield on Facebook, Marshallese Be
Like.
Mass exodus
on United flight
Heres an item of interest. Marshall
Islands has been averaging about 1,000
people per year leaving to the United
States for the past many years.
That works out at an average of 20
per week.
That average was kaboomed Monday when a reported 100 people bearing one-way tickets showed up for the
United flight to Honolulu. Most made it
out the door.
We had a small heads up that this

was about to happen when Tourist Trap,
which handles passport photo needs
here, reported over 100 people coming
in to get photos over a two-day period
last week.
Why late February? Word is that Marshallese living in the US collect their IRS
tax refunds around this time, so have
moolah to front tickets for their relatives
back home.
Tom Atwell
couldnt find
a pen to tell
Glenn Martini
that his kite
was lost, so
he used some
clothes pins
he found on
his porch and
wrote LOST
KITE (except he
ran out of pins
so he couldnt
finish the last
E. Photo: Sofie
van Gunsteren.
Alan retrieves kite

From page 12
Laura by this time, meets Glenns friend,
Tyler, has a shower and some food and
is working out a ride back to the hotel.
After a bit Glenn and Sofie take me
to Uliga across from Momotaro where
we meet Alan and I retrieve my kite. By
this time, Im pretty stoked by the whole
adventure.
Mark makes it back to the hotel where
we meet up again. As a bonus when I pull
out my kite a banana and hat falls out.
13
I had spent quite a bit of time shopping

for the right hat and couldnt find one.
Problem solved..
So I kited six miles, walked five and
paddled/swam for two. Kind of a triathlon.
Mark sailed for 24 miles, begged a ride
to Laura of 8 miles and taxied it back to
the Long Island Hotel for 20 miles.
We have to thank everyone involved
in this whole adventure. To be honest it
made the whole trip! The Marshallese
and Ri-belle are simply the best.
14
Opinion page
Send letters to PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960 or email journal@ntamar.net
Certification
of port pilots
essential
Michael VredenbErg,
Maritime Training Center, CMI
It is generally accepted in admiralty that pilots aboard
vessels are acting as servants of the vessel and are
under the authority of the master, even if the master is
compelled by local laws to take aboard a pilot. Most
jurisdictions severely limit the liability of pilots so legal
actions against them are exceedingly rare. Generally the
ship owner is responsible for the negligence of a pilot.
In almost all port areas pilots are completely independent
in order to avoid conflicts of interest with commercial port
authorities and marine safety agencies. For example, Houston, Galveston, New Orleans, and the Columbia River bar
pilots are formed as mutual associations with limited liability much as law firms, accountants and doctors partnerships
are organized. Most, if not all, pilots associations forbid
their members from holding any other maritime-related
employment specifically to avoid conflicts. Marine safety
organizations likewise forbid their officers and employees
Continued page 18
Bravo legacy lingers in RMI

March 1 is a national holiday in the Marshall
Islands marking the day the Bravo hydrogen bomb
was exploded at Bikini Atoll, spewing radioactive
fallout on islands around the Marshall Islands. This
years 60th anniversary is being marked in Majuro
and other locations around the world. For most
Marshall Islanders, it will be a time to reflect on the
fact that the US nuclear weapons test legacy has left
numerous unresolved issues for their nation. One
of the most important outstanding issues is the US
Congress lack of official response to a petition for
more compensation submitted over 13 years ago to
Washington by the Marshall Islands government. The
point of the petition, which was submitted pursuant
to provisions of the Compact of Free Association, is
to get the US government to pay the awards adjudicated by the Nuclear Claims Tribunal, which was established by the Compact. The Tribunals awards for
personal injuries and only four of the most seriously
A United Nations Special

Rapporteur urged the US
government to pay the awards
issued by the Tribunal.
affected atolls is over $2 billion. These have not been
paid because US funding provided under the 1983
agreement proved to be far short of the awards made
by the Tribunal during its period of operations from
the early 1990s to the late 2000s.
A United Nations Special Rapporteur, in a report
to the UN Human Rights Council in late 2012, urged
the US government to pay the awards issued by the
Tribunal, as well as making numerous other recommendations to address ongoing problems caused
by the nuclear test legacy. His Special Rapporteur
The Marshall Islands Journal
Phone: (692) 625-8143/6 Fax: (692) 625-3136 email: journal@ntamar.net www.marshallislandsjournal.com

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found that: The nuclear testing resulted in both immediate and continuing effects on the human rights
of the MarshalleseThe effects of radiation have
been exacerbated by near-irreversible environmental
contamination, leading to the loss of livelihoods and
lands. Moreover, many people continue to experience
indefinite displacement.
The US government maintains that the Compacts
$150 million compensation fund was full and final
and that no further compensation is needed despite the fact that the US government withheld from
Marshall Islands Compact negotiators secret reports
that showed the widespread extent of fallout contamination that was not limited to the four atolls as
claimed (to this day) by US officials. The US continues to fund limited health care and medical programs
for people affected by the testing, as well as conducting ongoing scientific research and monitoring.
A series of events and workshops in Majuro for
Nuclear Survivors Day will feature exchanges among
people with nuclear experiences from Japan, Australia, the Marshall Islands and elsewhere, as well as
talking about shortcomings in the compensation and
cleanup programs.
Whether these events push action on outstanding nuclear clean up, compensation and health
care needs, they will connect people to issues that
60 years after Americans largest hydrogen bomb
detonation are still a concern of significance in the
Marshall Islands. Truly what is needed to advance
Marshall Islands interests is on this important issue
is for the government to establish by law a nuclear
agency with the mandate to pursue independent
radiation-related environmental and health studies,
gather information and resources, and pursue nuclear
compensation, clean up and health funding and
programs.
15
MOE im
MOH rejjab
kejerbale
jaan ko jen
Compact eo
Scientists validate Jose

drift across the Pacific
Although fisherman Jose Salvador
Alvarengas more than one-year voyage from Mexico to Ebon sparked
skepticism worldwide when he first
arrived here last month, a new piece
of evidence is adding weight to the
drifters story.
His westward drift across the Pacific to the Marshall Islands agrees
with simulations of a computer
model developed at the University
of Hawaii at Manoas International
Pacific Research Center.
UH Manoa scientist Nikolai Maximenko and scientific programmer
Jan Hafner placed 16 tracers into
their ocean model 200 nautical
miles southwest of the coastal fishing village Chiapas, Mexico around
the time that Alvarenga says he was
blown off shore.
While some of the tracers used in
the simulation move faster and overshoot the Marshall Islands over the
period, others have not yet reached
the islands.
Overall, however, the 16 tracers show a remarkably narrow path
over this long period of time, given
the satellite daily wind and current

variability that drove the model,
said the UH researchers. The paths
of the tracers passing by, or nearing,
Ebon Atoll span not more than two
degrees latitude or about 120 miles.
Alvarengas claim that he had
been adrift for 13 months and that
he came from Mexico, therefore,
falls well within the models limits
and is consistent with the prevailing
pattern of wind and ocean currents
during his ordeal.
The mathematical computer model
was originally developed by Maximenko and Hafner from paths of
actual drifters with 15 meter deep
drogues. The initial purpose had been
to chart the varying ocean surface
circulation.
When the devastating tsunami
happened in 2011 in Japan, our
model was adapted to track different
types of tsunami driftage by adding
different strengths of direct windforce to the model, Maximenko
recalls. Details of our model are
on our IPRC Marine and Tsunami
Debris website.
Drifter Jose Salvador Alvarenga

was loaded up with gifts on his
departure from Majuro. He is pictured with President Christopher
Loeak in the airport VIP lounge.
Ilo nuuj eo an wiik eo lok ilo

Journal eo, kimar ripoote bwe
Ministry of Education ear jab
kejerbale jonan in $442,000
iloan fiscal year 2013. Menin ej
tarrin in $609,093 laplok, ilo an
kobatok jonan in $167,093.50,
jonan jaan rekar jab kejerbale
nan Education Supplement
Education Grant eo (SEG) nan
FY2012.
Kotobar ko ijoke, rej wonmanlok nan kejerbal jonan jaan
eo ear jab jerbal nan FY2012
SEG money eo, eo im elane
enaaj tobrak, emaron jiban bwe
en jab jako jonan in $167,093.50,
ekkar nan US Embassy eo.
Ijelokin Compact grant ko,
SEG money eo ej itok im bedbed
ion menin kejerbale ak luuji,
ilo kejekjek in.
Jonan eo Ministry of Health
ear jab kejerbale ear bareinwot kelon lok wot ilo wiik in,
ilo an driwoj tok melele ko
ikijien Ebeye Special Needs
Health account eo. Ministry of
Health ear jab kejerbale tarrin
in $89,891.80 nan aikuij ko
an Ebeye ikijien ejmour, ilo
FY2013 eo.
Jonan jaan kein raar jab jerbal jen Ebeye Special Needs,
eboktok tarlep in nan Ministry
of Health Compact funding
ear jab kejerbale ilo 2013, nan
$355,441.
Jonan tarlep eo nan aolepen
ministry kein ruo enanin tobar
$964,000, raar jab kejerbali nan
FY2013. Jonan in ekebaak jilu
katten laplok, in jonan eo raar
jab kejerbali ilo FY2012, nan
Health im Education ilo drettan
in $339,000.
16
the brav
files
Its really horrible what they did to us
Lani calls for justice now

SUZANNE CHUTARO
We are a community that has
lost so much as a result of the US
nuclear testing on our islands,
said Bikini Councilwoman Lani
Kramer.
She views the nuclear legacy
and the compensation money the
people receive as a curse.
Its not just land weve lost,
said Kramer. As a result of being
displaced, weve lost our culture
heritage our traditional customs
and skills, which for thousands
of years were passed down from
generation to generation. My communitys heritage is an endangered
species.
A majority of the people of Bikini are now scattered, living on
Kili Island, Ejit Island on Majuro
and in the United States.
Growing up I did not really
understand the issues, admits
Kramer. It was not until her teens
that her interest began and she
began to learn about the issues for
herself.
Its really horrible what they did
to us and till this day no one has
stood up for us, said Kramer. Our
grandparents were taken advantage
No one, not my
local government
or the national
government, is
engaged with the
US Congress
on this issue
right now.
Lani Kramer
of. This thought always makes
me feel sad and angry knowing
now that my grandmother and the
community left not knowing or
understanding the full extent of
what they were agreeing to and that
they would never return.
In the early 1970s, after US government scientists declared Bikini
safe for rehabitation, a group of
Bikinians were returned to Bikini
only to be removed again in 1978
because of the extent of the radioactive contamination on the island.
After they were exposed like

that I can never trust what the US
tells us (about our island), said
Kramer.
Kramer is a third generation
displaced Bikinian, born on Kili
Island and raised on Majuro and
in the US.
Returning to the Marshall Islands in 1995 after spending her
teen years studying in the US,
Kramer recalls returning to see
my community struggling economically.
Today, Bikinians struggle with

diabetes and many other noncommunicable diseases as a result
of losing their way of life. As part
of their compensation package for
decades Bikinians have received
rations of diabetes-inducing processed foods USDA canned
chicken, candied yams, green
beans, corned beef and the likes.
More recently, instead of sending
USDA canned foods, the US has
agreed to give the Bikini Atoll Local Government the money to buy
the food rations for the community
and manage the distribution.
Every quarter we are given
bags of rice and cases of chicken,
explains Kramer.
The rations will depend on the
number of persons in the family.
They also receive about $40 per
person per month this too is
doled out quarterly. Is this what
you call just compensation? asks
Kramer as she contrasted this to
how the Downwinders living
near the Nevada Test Site were
treated by the US government after
being exposed to nuclear fallout.
People living on Kili are fed up
with the harsh environment on the
island. Many of us live in the US

because there are no opportunities
on Kili or Majuro.
But even those who have moved
to the US are financially struggling,
she explains. Disadvantaged by
a poor educational foundation
received in the islands and the
limited nuclear compensation
funds now available, most people
of Bikini are burdened by the
mundane daily struggle of making
ends meet. She adds that infighting
within the local government over
depleting nuclear compensation
trust funds and declining operating
budget has preoccupied the people
of Bikini for far too long.
I want justice now for the
people (of my grandmothers generation) who went through being
displaced, left ignored for months
starving on other atolls while the
tests were taking place, and then
were returned to a contaminated
atoll to live, said Kramer. We
need to go to the US Congress.
But no one, not my local government or the national government,
is engaged with the US Congress
on this issue right now. This should
be everyones fight.
the brav
files
17
We were constantly starving on the island.
Fight for next generation

SUZANNE CHUTARO
Thirty-three-year-old Evelyn
Ralpho-Jeadrik was born on Arno
Atoll and raised on Ebeye. During
the Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior
evacuation of Rongelap in 1985,
Ralpho-Jeadrik was on Rongelap.
She was five-years-old.
She doesnt remember much
from that time but what she does
remember about growing up is
being ridiculed and teased like
many of her fellow children from
Rongelap.
Wed be called names like
ri-bomb (people of the bomb)
or ri-paijin (poisoned people) or
they would just say bokalak (explosion), said Ralpho-Jeadrik. If
we had pets with deformities, they
say its because were ri-bomb.
This stigma remains today and
now the community of Rongelap is
being told by the US that a portion
of their atoll is safe and progress
has been made to rebuild their
community homes have been
built, development projects created and the US Department of Interior is insisting the people return.
I wont move there, Ralpho-
I will be forever
fearful. The US
told my mother it
was safe and they
returned only to
be contaminated.
Eveyln
Ralpho Jeadrik
Jeadrik told the Journal in an interview. I dont know if it is safe and
I dont want to put my children at
risk. I do not believe its safe.
Well, ask yourself: would you
go live in a place that is contaminated?
Ralpho-Jeadrik says she has
seen many people get sick as a
result of living on Rongelap so her
answer is a definite no!
I dont trust what the US government says, she said. I will
be forever fearful. The US told
my mother it was safe and they

returned only to be contaminated.
Ralpho-Jeadrik is the daughter
of Lijohn Eknilang who was one
of the 82 people on Rongelap and
Ailinginae when the 1954 Bravo
test at Bikini dumped high-level
fallout on them. Eknilang, who
died recently, was an outspoken
member of the Rongelap community who told the story of the
Bravo test to people around the
world.
Ralpho-Jeadrik grew up watch-
ing her mother and other elders

in the community surviving on a
medley of pills they had to take
daily to support their thyroid
function.
Taking these pills was her normal daily routine, said RalphoJeadrik. Now we learn about
Project 4.1. They provided medical treatment to collect data on
the bomb effects, not to care for
them. Now they want us to return
to Rongelap again to live. Are they
returning us so that they can do
more tests on us and collect data?
According to Ralpho-Jeadrik, as
a child she remembers being collected with all the other children
of Rongelap to overnight on US
medical ships that were operated
by Brookhaven National Laboratory.
They would put us in white
shirts and had us sit in some sort
of machine while someone was
at a computer monitor, recalls
Ralpho-Jeadrik.
On those trips she says she
recalls being given treats of ice
cream and chocolate and they
would watch movies.
It was fun and we all felt special, she said. But now, knowing
what I know, I feel like a fool I
had no idea what was going on.
The greatest regret RalphoJeadrik has over the nuclear legacy
of her community is the inability
to fulfill her mothers wishes. My
mother always wanted to return
to Rongelap, she said. But she
told us she didnt want us to go
there because she didnt want to
put us at risk. But because she
had already been exposed and was
older she wasnt scared to return.
She wanted to die on her island and
be laid to rest there.
Lijohn died in 2012 and was
buried on Majuro.
Our wish now is, at the very
least, to fulfill the wishes our all
our parents generation who have
passed and that is to take them
home to Rongelap and lay them
to rest.
I dont want anything but justice, she said. My mother is gone
now. All her life she struggled. To
me, the way I see it, because she
was one of the originals exposed
Continued page 18
18
the bravo files
Human Radiation Experiments report, Japanese host N-workshop
Irene: Im not giving up

SUZANNE CHUTARO
Irene Abon was born on
Rongelap and at the age of seven
she was forced to leave her home
because of radiation contamination
deposited by all six nuclear tests in
the 1954 Castle series.
Despite her love for Rongelap,
Abon, 35, says she does not have
hope of ever being able to safely
return.
My parents moved off the
island for our safety, the safety
of future generations, explains
Abon. To return now would be
to give up on their fight against
the injustice done to our parents
generation. What if we moved
back and children and future
generations end up with genetic
defects then what?
Abon recalls the move from
Rongelap in 1985.
I was on trip number three
of the Rainbow Warrior, said
Abon. I didnt understand what
was going on. They moved us to
Mejatto and the memories I have
from that time are some of my
worst. We were constantly starving on the island there were no
My local
government is
too busy dealing
with business
plans and they
are losing sight of
the bigger issue.
Maybe Rongelap
can be like a
getaway Ill
visit it but I dont
believe it is safe
to live there. The
Rongelap people
have mixed feelings
on resettlement.
food crops and the canned foods
they provided ran out fast. I was
extremely homesick. The whole
community was housed under one
roof. We struggled on Mejatto for
many years.
I see my generation as a lost
generation of Rongelap Marshallese, she said. There was no food
crop on Mejatto so I never had the
opportunity to learn traditional
skills and how to make Marshallese food.
Irene Abon
Today after living on Majuro,

Ebeye and Mejatto Abon considers herself a nomad. I can move
anywhere in the world now and
Ill adapt, she said. But moving
her family back to Rongelap is not
an option.
Maybe Rongelap can be like a
getaway Ill visit it but I dont
believe it is safe to live there, she
said. The Rongelap community
has mixed feelings on resettlement.
There are those who say were

already contaminated just never
mind lets return, its our home.
Some just want to stay on Mejatto
but others want to keep fighting for
justice, she said.
Abon says she is of the group
that wants to keep fighting and
is disheartened that her local
government is heavily focused on
business development plans as opposed to going to the US Congress
and beating down their doors.
To return to Rongelap is to give

up on the fight our parents generation sacrificed their lives for,
said Abon. My local government
is too busy dealing with business
plans and they are losing sight of
the bigger issue our nuclear
legacy. Those of the first generation that were affected are few now
and their issues are being ignored
by our leaders.
For a population that was unwilling participants in the nuclear
arms race, the people of Rongelap
have paid been forced to pay with
their lives.
According to Abon, Rongelap
people receive nuclear compensation quarterly that amounts to
$75 per quarter per person ($25 a
month per person).
This amount decreases regularly nowadays, she said. Having
the Nuclear Claims Tribunal was
good but there is no money there.
Meanwhile the originals who
were directly exposed to Bravo
in 1954 receive an addition $500
quarterly for food. She believes it
is far from adequate compensation
for the suffering islanders have
experienced.
I want to fight for justice

From page 17
to radiation fallout and nuclear contamination she should have been treated as a
queen and be a priority to the US government.
I want to fight for justice for what
happened to my mothers generation and

for future generations. Though I may not
reach the end of this fight, I hope the future generation will continue to fight for
justice. (The US) took our lives so they
should care for us forever.
Young N-survivors
gather in Majuro
Youth representatives from communities affected by cold war atomic testing
will gather in Majuro later this week to
commemorate Nuclear Survivors Day.
March 1 is the 60th anniversary of the
Bravo thermonuclear explosion, which
contaminated islands downwind of the
test. The local populations, many of whom
suffered prolonged illness from their exposure to fallout, were evacuated to other
atolls and some have been unable to return
home for decades.
Third generation hibakusha (nuclear
survivor) youth from Hiroshima and
Kazakhstan, representing families who
directly experienced the effects of atmospheric nuclear explosions, will join their
Marshallese peers in Majuro.
They will assemble in the Marshall Islands to share their histories and explore
different types of cultural representation
using digital media and how their communities survived displacement, irradiation,
illness and discrimination.
We hope this is to be the first of several,
ongoing digital storytelling workshops
developed from our Global Hibakusha
project, said co-convener Associate
Professor Mick Broderick of Murdoch
University, Australia.
We plan to expand these in scope and
size over successive years.
While the Japanese hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain the only
people in the world directly attacked with
nuclear weapons, the Marshall Islands
history, along with the people near the former Soviet test site in Kazakhstan, share
similar experiences of cold war nuclear
colonialism.
The workshop runs from 28 February to
March 2 at RRE.
19
20
Opinion page
Certificates a
must for pilots
From page 14
from holding other shipping-related employment, especially as pilots. I do not know how pilotage is structured
in the RMI but I assume steps have been taken to avoid
these types of conflicts.
In most areas of the world members of these organizations of pilots are subject to strict qualifications
and examination by their state and national maritime
safety authorities.
They must possess certificates of competency (generally Class 1 Unlimited Master) and meet other rigorous
standards such as medical fitness (especially eyesight),
STCW requirements, navigation knowledge and bridge
resource management. The International Maritime
Organization (IMO) in 2003 adopted Resolution
A960(23) on Training, Qualifications and Operational
Procedures for Maritime Pilots other than Deep Sea
Pilots as a measure to standardize pilotage activities
and requirements among its member states. Because it
is not an amendment to a Convention, this Resolution
serves as a recommendation only and consequently
does not have legal force.
Problems arise in settling damages if the ships P&I
club (insurance) discovers that the pilot has not been
duly examined and properly licensed by the relevant
maritime authority (in the RMI this would be the
Ministry of Transportation and Communications and
not Ports Authority, which is not a marine safety or
enforcement agency) or has otherwise been found to be
technically incompetent and/or medically unfit. Coverage may be denied to the vessel owners in this instance
and they would have to cover damages themselves.
If P&I cover is cancelled or suspended when the
ship has that particular pilot or another member of
the association aboard, the ship owner may decline
a charterers instructions to proceed to that particular
port. Or, because owners are required to maintain cover
under the terms of a charter party the charterer may
then repudiate the contract if the owner cannot meet
the terms. It can be a very vicious circle.
Send letters to PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960 or email journal@ntamar.net
RMI following example

of regional tax systems
I thought this might be
good stories to share with
your readers especially
on value added tax (VAT)
movement in the Pacific and
our views on the Mayors
Association consideration
of an absolute rejection of
the RMI governments tax
reform bills.
First, on the region level:
Kiribati is making progress
with tax reform in implementing a new computer
system to help with the
administration of VAT. The
Kiribati Parliament passed
VAT legislation in December 2013 and it is due to
come into effect for the
first time on April 1, 2014.
Kiribati also passed a new
Excise Tax Act and a new
Revenue Administration
Act, which both start on the
same day. These are new tax
laws and are almost identical to the corresponding tax
reform bills we currently
have before the Nitijela.
In the same footsteps as
Kiribati, Palau is looking
seriously to implement the
VAT or consumption tax.
The expectation, according
to our International Monetary Fund PFTAC colleagues, is that Palau will
By Bruce
Bilimon,
Assistant
Secretary,
Customs,
Treasury,
Revenue
and
Taxation,
Ministry
of Finance
most likely enact its VAT
legislation this April with
an implementation date 12
months later in April 2015.
Even though RMI started
the reform process earlier
than Kiribati and Palau it
would seem we take one
step forward two steps backward. For all intents and
purposes, the tax reform
ought to be debated at the
highest level of our governing structure, and if it is the
decision or judgment of our
elected leaders to enact, defer or defeat the bills, then
that will be the decision we
all will need to respect and
live with.
I wish to emphasize that it
is the intention and foresight
of the RMI government
through its proposed tax
reform policies to modernize and simplify our tax
system to benefit RMI citizens and the private sector.
Same as with 14 out of 18
Pacific island countries that
are currently using or in the
process of implementing
the same tax structure RMI
is now considering. The
RMIs proposed 10 percent
consumption tax rate is
quite low in comparison to
most other countries in the
region. Moreover, the 10
percent rate was the consensus reached by the Tax
and Revenue Reform and
Modernization (TRAM)
members representing both
the interests of the private
and public sectors.
Well performing countries
in the region (Fiji, Samoa,
Tonga and Vanuatu, Cook

Islands) in terms of implementing and administering
tax regime have undergone
in recent years the same
modernization and reform
efforts RMI is currently
undertaking.
As for our local governments, the only impact or
change will be in the way tax
is collected. If enacted, existing local government tax
collections on sales tax, hotel fees and existing excise
taxes will be consolidated
into the proposed national
consumption and excise
taxes tax collection and
payment processes are simplified and comparable taxes
at the national and local
levels are harmonized. All
other local government fees,
business regulations and
ordinances associated with
Finance will still remain
with the local governments.
In other words, the National
Government or if enacted
by the Parliament, the new
Marshall Islands Customs
and Revenue Authority (MICRA) collects the consumption and excise taxes and
then remits to the Local
governments their fair share
of revenues.
In this connection, the
statement in the article that
the new tax legislations will
take the ability of the local
governments to generate
income from sales tax is
incorrect and inaccurate.
Fact is, the income from
sales tax collected by a
centralized authority and re-
mitted to local governments

(through a Revenue Sharing
Agreement between the two
governments) will likely be
higher or at least remain in
the same budgetary level. As
such, it is a winning proposition for local governments
because instead of expending or exerting additional
efforts (or costs) to collect
taxes, the function, task and
responsibility of collecting
taxes becomes concentrated
and administered by a centralized authority.
Under the current design,
the new tax collection authority will be independent
of the National Government with its own governing
board of directors (including
the Mayors of Majuro and
Kwajalein), tax revenues
to be collected will be disbursed on a monthly basis
into both treasuries of the
National and local governments, and finally, the
upgraded and modernized
administrative, transparency and accountability
mechanisms built into the
new system will give RMI
taxpayers absolute confidence on the enforcement,
compliance and collection
of taxes.
Obviously, given the size
of our country and waves
of challenges looming in
the coming years, now is
the best and prime time to
simplify and unify our tax
system thus eliminating
duplication of efforts but
more so enabling our local
governments to focus and
provide essential services
to their respective communities.
In looking ahead and beyond 2023, the RMI Revenue Tax and Customs Office (Ministry of Finance)
yields to the wisdom of our
National Government that
modernizing and simplifying our tax and customs
arrangements is the best
policy to adopt for our small
country. Frankly, aside from
foreign grant assistance,
revenue potentials from our
developing fisheries and
ship registry programs, we
do not have many choices
to sustain the countrys revenue stream.
21
22
23
Drive results in
13 pints of blood
Five Marshallese are in this
2012 Xavier graduation
photo. Father Rich
McAuliff, SJ, is at center.
Xavier teams up
with Japan school
Xavier High School in
to sign a Memorandum of
the Federated States of MiUnderstanding with Sophia
cronesia has established
Universitys President Prof.
a formal partnership with
Takashi Hayashita and APIC
Sophia University in ToPresident Sato. I want to
kyo, Japan. The partnership,
thank, in particular, former
which will be formalized in
Ambassador Peter Sato and
a ceremony at Sophia Uniformer Japan Ambassador to
versity on April 3 provides
the FSM Shoji Sato, and the
for a qualified Xavier High
Association For Promotion
School graduate to attend
of International Cooperathe noted Jesuit university
tion, who were instrumental
on a full scholarship each
in establishing our partnerFather. Rich
academic year.
ship with Sophia UniverMcAuliff, SJ.
The unique partnership,
sity, Fr. McAuliff added.
the first of its kind for SoSophia University has acphia University in Oceania,
tively pursued academic and
is supported by the Tokyo-based Association student exchange activities with over 180
for Promotion of International Cooperation partner schools and other academic institu(APIC), which, together with Sofia, will tions in 40 countries around the world. Also,
fund each Xavier High School students Sophia has entered into memorandums of
four-year program of studies at the Japa- understanding with local high schools in
nese university in commemoration of APIC Indonesia, China and Korea, establishing
founder Nobuhiko Ushiba, the former State an overseas affiliated schools system
Minister and former Japanese Ambassador to accept international students and build
to the USA. APIC is now headed by Peter a solid relationship with countries of the
Yoshiyasu Sato, former Japanese Ambas- Asia-Pacific region. Xavier High School
sador to China.
will be part of Sophias overseas affiliated
The entire Xavier High School com- schools system.
munity is thrilled with our relationship with
The Society of Jesus established Sophia
Sophia University. Having the opportunity University in 1913. Since then, the univerto send one of our best students, each year, to sity has grown to one of Japans premier
this outstanding Jesuit university will open universities. It conducts classes in Japanese
new opportunities for our graduates, and for and English. Sophia University has aptheir home nations, said Fr. Rich McAuliff, proximately 11,500 undergraduates, 1,200
SJ, the director of Xavier High School. Fr. graduate students and nearly 300 students
McAuliff will travel to Tokyo in early April are from nations other than Japan.
Bill 56 nan ukot income tax

Elmakwot in kakien nan ukot RMI
income tax law eo, emoj an jede imaan
Nitijela jen ippen Finance Minister Dennis
Momotaro.
Elmakwot in, Bill 56, enaaj jolok aolep
income tax eowoj nan armij ro im jonan
wonaer ekij $4,160 ak driklok, ilo juon year,
im kakobaik juon eowoj kaal kin 16 bojjan
nan aolep ro im wonaer elle ilon in $20,800,
ekoba nan binej lok ettel ko im rej kio kotlok
bwe jikin jerbal ko kab ri jerbal ro ren jab
kolla income tax, jen kolla ko jet einwot
allowance ko, kab kolla ko jen jikin ko jet.
Elmakwot in nan komman oktak, ej ka-
likare bwe allowance ko kab kolla ko jen

in-kind, rej drelon einwot wonen ri jerbal
nan un ko rejelet kolla eowoj. Enbwinnin
kakien in, elane enaaj weppen, eban jolok
jekjek ko jet kio ikijien jab kolla eowoj,
botaap ejamin bar wor kon in jerbal kaal ko
renaaj melim elkin wot an naaj elle kakien
kaal jab in. Kojebwebweik income tax enaaj
bed iumin juon Marshall Islands Customs
and Revenue Administration kaal.
Oktak kein ikijien income tax rej mottan
wot jet bill ko im rej kio ejerwawa wot ippen
Nitijela nan ukot aolepen tax system eo ilo
Aelon Kein.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in

conjunction with the College of Marshall
Islands and Ministry of Health held a blood
drive earlier in February. It was the first of
many that are expected for the year for the
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
The blood drive collected 13 pints of
blood, with CMI Dean Ruth Abbott being
the first to donate. Following her was the
Imam of Uliga Mosque, Imam Kauser.
Both had donated blood in previous drives,
and were very happy to give back to the
community.
Giving blood is a way to give back to
the community and it helps save lives,
said Imam Ahmad, Missionary and Imam
of Uliga Mosque. And according to the

Islamic teachings, saving one life is as if
you have saved the whole of humanity. So,
us Muslims are always looking for a way to
continue to help humanity and we are here
for their service.
Imam Kauser observed: Local people
are not used to going to donating blood.
However, holding these kinds of events
gives a chance for the locals to open up
and see that, this is actually for a good
cause. We are looking forward to increase
the participation in these kinds of community events, so that more and more people
become aware of the benefits of giving
blood.
Stardom for Wisdom

Crossword puzzlers in the RMI are getting
smarter. Five individuals and teams submitted completed crosswords this week and five
won. Wow! Thats pretty great.
Its given the editor the idea that he needs
to find a new chief riddler or perhaps
the chief assistant needs an assistant chief.
But were getting distracted with the main
point of this story which is the successful
crossword puzzle people.

Getting an A+ this week are: Becky
Lathrop, Dyna Reimers, Herman Lee-Enos,
Helbe Namna and the team of Neri Wase and
Sharla deBrum.
All of these names are being tossed into
the hat for next weeks drawing to see who
will win the March pizza from the famous
and world-renown Flame Tree.
24
Aussie aid cutback

wont impact on RMI
Despite a major cutback
by the Australian government to its overseas aid
program, the Australian
Embassy in Pohnpei said
the reductions will have
minimal impact in the
RMI, FSM and Palau
though whether a major
Ebeye water improvement
project will gain funding for
implementation next year
remains a question mark.
We have identified savings which will cause minimal disruption to the overall
Ebeye residents
effectiveness of our aid
haul water in jugs.
delivery, said the Australian Embassy in response to
questions from the Journal.
Overall savings totals
AUD550,000 (US$496,000)
We have identified
across the North Pacific. We
savings which will cause
are pleased to report that in
the North Pacific aid prominimal disruption to
gram for this financial year
the overall effectiveness
expected impacts are likely
to be minimal in terms of
of our aid delivery.
financial commitment and
importantly development
outcomes. Australian officials are still aid program will not affect ongoing
discussing the areas for the reductions design phase of this project. While
with the three governments. Overall, implementation of the program reAustralia is providing up to $17.4 mil- mains a priority for Australias North
lion in official development assistance Pacific Aid program, funding to implethis fiscal year for sustainable eco- ment the Ebeye water and sanitation
nomic development, the Embassy said. improvement depends on:
Australia, through the Asian De Outcomes and recommendations
velopment Bank, is currently funding of the design phase.
the design phase for the Ebeye Water
The ongoing commitment of the
Supply and Sanitation program. The RMI government to a reform agenda
Australian Embassy said funds for to improve service delivery.
the design phase have already been
Future Australian Aid budget altransferred to ADB so changes in the locations.
Energy
advisor a
big bonus
Australian officials highlighted
the effectiveness of an energy
technical advisor provided to
RMI.
The work of Australian energy
advisor, Nick Wardrop, in collaboration with the government
of RMI led to savings of approximately U$4 million through
reforms in the petroleum sector,
the Australian Embassy said.
This is a significant saving to
the government of RMI, and in
January 2014 Marshalls Energy
Company (MEC) announced a
$3.2 million profit.
The Embassy said the sustainability of our investments is a top
priority.
The savings and profit will
enable the government of RMI
to implement further reforms
allowing long term improvements
in service delivery, the Embassy
said. The Australian government
is focused on effectiveness and
the rigorous administration of the
aid program to achieve results,
the Embassy said. The governments policy is to more closely
align aid, trade and diplomacy
and to focus on the Asia-Pacific/
Indian Ocean region.
Won eo ej eddoik wa ko
Jirilok eo ikijien waan kaan eo im
ear driboje wa eo waan RMI, MV
Kwajalein ilo oop en Delap, ekomman bwe en wonlontak juon unin
kenono kin an won eddo eo nan kollaiki jorrean jab in.
Wa in ilo tore eo ear bed iumin kejebarok eo an juon iaan port pilot ro.
Kakien ko an RMI rej kemlet bwe
juon wa eo im ej mwelik mweear jen
Port Majuro ej aikuij kejerbale port
pilot ro.
Jen tore eo ear jino kakien in, elle
lok jen 10 year ko remotlok, innem
jekjek in ekomman bwe en kanuij
in lap wonen pilot ro ewor aer lijen,
ekoba jaan nan Marshall Islands
Ports Authority eo bareinwot.
Enin ej kajjitok eo kin won eo
enaaj kollaik wonen jorrean eo
ewalok: Keidri nan year ko lok,
enanin aolepen pilot ro rej kio private
contractor, im rejjab jerbal nan Ports
Authority, elane kenono kin 40 awa
juon wiik.
Innem elane juon wa ej bed iumin
kejebarok eo aer enaaj jirilok im
driboj bar juon wa, ak er ion wod,
ak walok juon bar kain jorrean nane
im jujen jorrean wa eo makmake im
armij ro ion, innem enaaj an won
eddo eo nan kollaiki wonen jorrean
ko?
Company eo im waan tima eo
enaaj ba, tima eo ej jerakrok kin
wonake eo an juon port pilot, innem
jekdron ta eo enaaj walok, eban am
eddo. Ej an pilot eo eddo.
Ak ilo ien eo pilot enaaj ba ej
jerbal nan RMI Ports Authority, ak
Ports Authority eba ej an pilot eo

eddo.
Juon men emool ej bwe port pilot
ro ebwe an lap jonan jaan eo rej loe
jen aer katartar im mweliki jibuki
jima wa im rej mwelik mweear ilo
Port Majuro. Botap ewor ke aer
maron kolla wonen jorrean ikijien
jortokliki jirilok ko rej walok jen
maan peier?
Menin ej aikuij in alikkar jen
RMI Ports Authority kinke eddo eo
im won ej bok eddo in kollaiki ren
alikkar, elane eddo nan kollaiki ebed
ippen pilot ro, innem emoj aer jela
kadede.
25
26
DIVING
business directory
radio
construction
Presidents meet
at bank briefing
Bank of Guam hosted an all-day briefing at its Hagatna, Guam headquarters for
President Christopher Loeak and the other
Presidents of the Freely Associated States
last Wednesday. The briefing emphasized
banking, community relationships and future
opportunities.
Among issues discussed were building
relationships, banking opportunities, regional
economic outlook, remittance and foreign deposits and FDIC insurance, financial products
and services, investment strategies and trust
services, and financial growth, said Presidents Chief of Staff Chris deBrum. President
Loeak, Foreign Minister Phillip Muller, and
their delegation arrived Guam from Japan on
Tuesday last week. On Thursday they flew
to Honolulu, and we expected to return to
Majuro earlier this week. Presidents office
officials also confirmed that Bank of Guam
briefed them about a change affecting wire
transfers from the freely associated states,
a service that is being halted in response to
new US banking regulations.
Watch out
for bad
$100 bills
Beware, counterfeit money
is floating around Majuro.
Last week, a Do It Best
cashier was given the $100
bill that is shown in these
photos.
Although it appears to
be a fairly obvious fake,
counterfeit bills often are
accepted by cashiers.
Printing
Pictured at the Bank

of Guam briefing,
from left: Anthony
Babauta, Former
Assistant Secretary
of the United States
Department of
Interior; President
Emanuel (Manny)
Mori, Federated
States of Micronesia;
Lou Leon Guerrero,
Bank of Guam
President, Board
Chair and Chief
Executive Officer;
Lorin Robert,
Secretary of Foreign
Affairs, FSM; Eddie
Calvo, Governor
of Guam; Phillip
Muller, Foreign
Minister, Republic of
the Marshall Islands;
President
Christopher Loeak,
RMI; Delegate
Swenny Ongidobel,
Chairman of the
Banking and
Financial Matters,
House of Delegates,
Republic of Palau;
President Tommy
E. Remengesau,
Republic of Palau;
and Senator Philip
Reklai, Senate Vice
President, Republic
of Palau.
Income tax law bill introduced

New legislation to revamp the RMIs
income tax law has been introduced to
Nitijela by Finance Minister Dennis
Momotaro.
The proposed amendment, Bill 56,
would eliminate all income tax for
people earning $4,160 or less, adds
a new tax of 16 percent on income
above $20,800, and closes loopholes
that currently allow employers and
employees to avoid income tax through
provision of allowances and other payment systems.
The proposed amendment makes it
clear that allowances and benefits-inkind are included in wages and salaries
for the purposes of paying taxes. The
legislation, if adopted, will not eliminate currently existing tax exemptions,
but no new contracts of exemption will
be allowed once the bill becomes law.
Administration of income tax will
come under a new Marshall Islands
Customs and Revenue Administration.
The income tax amendment is part of
a series of bills pending with Nitijela
to change the entire tax system in the
Marshall Islands.
Proposed new
income tax
Wage $
% tax
0-4,160...............0%
4,161-10,400......8% of excess

over 4,160
10,401-20,800....12% of excess

over 10,400
20,801+..............16% of excess

over 20,800
business directory
PNA faces tough

decisions in Honiara
GIFF JOHNSON
We should all be so lucky as the Parties to the Nauru Agreement to have

problems like this what to do with
$93 million. How to distribute this pot
of money resulting from last years
successful conclusion of negotiations
with the US government and its tuna
industry is just one of several pivotal
decisions facing the PNA when island
fisheries officials meet in Honiara
March 5-14.
Over the past four years, PNA has
forced a paradigm shift in the commercial fishing industry in the region,
giving islands the greatest control
theyve ever enjoyed over the $7 billion
business. By requiring foreign fishing
companies to adhere to a vessel day
scheme (VDS) and setting a minimum
fishing day fee now at $6,000
while setting limits on days, PNA has
more than tripled revenue accruing to
its eight member nations. The Marshall
Islands Marine Resources Authority
and the RMI government has been the
beneficiary of this windfall in fisheries
revenue.
But success has its downside. The
challenging issues before PNA reflects the success of PNA members,
says PNA CEO Dr. Transform Aqorau,
who is based at the organizations
Majuro headquarters. The solidarity
of the eight nations Papua New
Guinea, Solomon Islands, Nauru,
Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati and
Tuvalu has been the key ingredient
to PNAs early success. In addition to
the tripling of revenues, PNA at the end
of 2013 began successfully marketing
internationally certified sustainably
caught skipjack in Europe, generating
a premium price for the product. More
distant water fishing fleets are flagging
domestically and more fish processing
facilities than ever before are operating in the islands, offering significant
employment opportunities.
Still, cracks in PNA unity were
evident in 2012, when Kiribati kept
selling fishing days to foreign fishing
fleets over its agreed-to limit instead
trading with other PNA countries for
unused days. This resulted in a modest
reprimand at PNAs annual meeting
last year and a promise by Kiribati not
to do it again. The year just past saw
different interpretations of non-fishing
days, which has turned into a prominent loophole in PNAs VDS.
Pressure on the region for fishing
days will only increase as the European
Union has joined the lineup of foreign
fishing fleets beating a path to the lucrative fishing zones of the PNA. What
we do as a group is contingent on what
we do individually, said Marshall
Marshall
Islands
fisheries
Director
Glen Joseph.
Pressure on the
region for fishing
days will only
increase as the
European Union
has joined the
lineup of foreign
fishing fleets
beating a path
to the lucrative
fishing zones of
the PNA
Islands fisheries Director Glen Joseph
in the lead up to the March meeting.
In Honiara, PNA officials will attempt to resolve these issues:
Distribution of US$93 million
from the US fisheries treaty. Key to
this is deciding which countries will
provide days for the 8,000 promised
under the new treaty. In part because
the US treaty includes provisions for 15
percent of the funding to be distributed
equally among all Forum Fisheries
Agency members as well as a percentage for administration costs, the actual
per day rate of US payments to islands
in whose waters tuna is caught will be
below the new US$6,000 daily benchmark fee, making it less attractive for
PNA members to offer days.
We have to decide once and for
all where we get the days (for the US
fleet), said Joseph.
We have an agreement with the US

we need to honor. We have to come up
with an internal agreement in order to
move forward.
Defining non-fishing days: Differing definitions of non-fishing days is
causing leakage in the VDS that is
intended to cap fishing days to create
scarcity and maintain the price. Aqorau
said allowance for non-fishing days
need to be tightened so it is not abused
by distant water fishing nations. The
terms transit and non-fishing days
need to be standardized, said Joseph.
How we are using days is creating
loopholes, he said. It needs to be
defined once and for all and enforced.
Domestic fisheries development:
PNA members are benefiting by foreign
vessels gaining domestic designation
by accessing licenses through the FSM
Arrangement, which allows vessels to
fish multiple exclusive economic zones
on a single license. The number of
foreign vessels seeking licenses under
the FSM Arrangement jumped last year,
and Joseph worries that it is being used
as a vehicle for cheap licenses at the
expense of domestic fleet development
and access to the region. We need to
address it with our domestic interests at
the forefront, said Joseph. The islands
want to attract distant water fishing
nation partners but our domestic industry needs to be developed by us, not
dictated by others, he said.
Synchronizing fishing rules at the
national level with those at the regional
level is crucial to ongoing success of
PNA, said Joseph.
One key issue that doesnt fit easily
into a bullet point issue for resolution
is the hurdle that fisheries access agreements between islands and distant water fishing nations pose to PNA nations
maximizing the value of a fishing day.
As conceived, the VDS aims to create a
sellers market, allowing PNA members
to auction their days to the highest bidders. But bilateral agreements where
fisheries and foreign ministry officials
from Asian or other nations come to
town every year or two to negotiate
deals with their island counterparts
has been a mainstay of Pacific fisheries
for more than a generation. Aqorau is
encouraging fisheries officials to move
away from bilateral fisheries access
negotiations to selling days through the
VDS, allowing the market to dictate the
price which he believes will punch
the price well above the current $,6000
a day benchmark.
The question is how many of these
critical issues can PNA solve in Honiara. Maintaining unity will, no doubt, be
a continuing challenge but also the key
to PNAs ability to drive the industry as
it has the past four years.
27
beautician
education
retail
computer repairs
gas station
28
29
30
Two boys
with
their birds
There was a fighting

atmosphere between these
Batkan boys when the
Journal arrived at the scene.
Bojack Timothys (pictured
left) rooster Lo-kotubtub
(challenger) went against
Oliver Timothys domestic
fowl La-lej (Brave). The
match was a tough one to
call. Photo: Isaac Marty.
Muller presents
Forum report
A two-page report showing income and spending for
the Pacific Islands Forum was
submitted to Nitijela earlier
last month by Foreign Minister
Phillip Muller.
Since the last session of
Nitijela, senators have been
requesting a report on this account, which was set up outside
of normal Ministry of Finance
accounting system.
In a brief cover letter to
Speaker Donald Capelle, Muller
said: The works related to the
Forum were quite extensive
and so many activities were involved, however, for your ease
of reference the following table
should give you the picture of
what transpired.
The table referred to reports that the RMI government received $2,108,870.99
for the Forum while spending
$2,167,631.40. This left a deficit
of $58,760.41 (the report lists
the deficit as $58,000). It also
notes the Forum account is waiting on $100,000 from Marshall
Islands Development Bank and
the ROC. The two-page report
offers line-item amounts for the
spending, but no detail.
For example, under the heading contractuals services,
the Forum account is said to
have spent $638,573.50. It
lists vehicle spending at
$363,409.60. Meanwhile, miscellaneous expenses are listed
as $118,407.56. There is no
breakdown of these and other
spending items.
Marshall Islands Auditor
General Junior Patrick told the
Nitijela in his 60th semi-annual
report submitted earlier this
month that auditors are in the
planning phase for a financial
and compliance audit of the
Forum account.
Who gave us $$
for the Forum
Income
Account
Amount
4070 Miscellaneous Other.......................... 4,442.58
4055 United Arab Emirates (UAE).......... 59,940.00
4005 Local Contributions......................... 73,450.00
4010 Kazakstan Contributions................. 99,785.70
4075 MOFA.............................................. 25,000.00
4060 Turkey Contributions..................... 100,000.00
4040 Russia Contribution....................... 125,000.00
4000 RMI Finance.................................. 300,000.00
4035 India Contribution......................... 162,833.10
4030 New Zealand Contribution............ 164,014.61
4045 Japan Contribution........................ 179,175.00
4065 China Contributions...................... 200,000.00
4025 Australian Contributions............... 207,700.00
4050 ROC Contributions........................ 407,530.00
Total Income.............................................2,108,870.99
Expense
5035 Bank Service Charges BOG................. 338.60
5065 Tax Payable Exp................................... 753.93
5100 Charter Boat...................................... 1,850.00
5050 Communications................................ 1,424.95
5030 Auto Rental Expense....................... 14,066.80
6001 Vehicle Repair & Maintenance.......... 5,611.25
5055 Per Diem............................................ 7,230.00
6015 SPCL Contractor Workers............... 17,733.61
5080 Insurance Expense........................... 13,584.59
5095 Handicrafts...................................... 28,122.50
6010 Uniforms/Materials......................... 19,933.39
5000 Travel Domestic.............................. 23,316.00
5005 Travel International......................... 24,850.93
5070 Miscellaneous Expenses................ 118,407.56
5015 Fuel.................................................. 72,295.83
5020 Supplies........................................... 66,884.30
5045 Rental Hotel/Housing...................... 65,923.16
5085 Repair & Maintenance..................... 96,354.16
5025 Food............................................... 128,386.73
6005 Transfer Out................................... 159,323.38
5060 Equipments.................................... 299,256.63
6000 Vehicle........................................... 363,409.60
5010 Contractuals Services.................... 638,573.50
Total...........................................................2,167,631.40
Balance......................................................(58,760.41)
31
Participants in the Junior State

of Americas 23rd annual Winter
Congress Convention.
Regional group
visits US capital
Coop Kids give

CuPid a breAk
Students from Marshall Islands, Guam, American

Samoa, Palau, FSM, and the Northern Marianas were
in Washington, DC for five days this past week to join
in the Junior State of Americas 23rd annual Winter
Congress Convention.
The two-day simulation of the US Congress allowed
students to meet as members of a simulated US House
of Representatives and US Senate.
The program is part of a special scholarship offered
by the Junior Statesmen Foundation and funded by
the US department of Interiors Office of Insular Affairs.
Students were selected following an essay contest
that required a 500-to-700 essay on the topic, What
are the major issues facing the second session of the
113th US Congress. As part of the program, students
involved in the mock US Congress were given the
opportunity to submit legislation. In addition to the 12
students from US affiliated islands in the Pacific, five
joined from the US Virgin Islands to combine with over
1,200 students from the US. In addition to the Winter
Congress Convention, the students visited Washington landmarks including the White House and the US
capitol as well as meeting with officials at various US
federal government departments.
The two RMI representatives were Drago Dujmovic
and Caleb Joseph, both from Majuro Baptist Christian
Academy.
Majuro Co-op high

school students were
at it again. This time
we waited to the week
after Valentines Day
to visit the hospital,
said teacher David
Appelbaum. We figured
that people always get
attention on Valentines
Day, but then are
neglected the week after.
The students donated $1
each and we distributed
colorful baskets of
apples, oranges and
toothbrushes.
This time the mission
was called Obvious
Cupid because it was
not Secret Cupid.
Photos: Cathrine Cheng
The United World College National Selections Committee in

the RMI held its 3rd Selections
Day at USP on Friday.
Nine shortlisted candidates
spent the day interviewing, playing educational games and making friends.
In the end, only two scholarships could be awarded one
went to Eve Burns of Laura High
School who will attend Lester B.
Pearson UWC in Victoria, Canada and the other to Selina Leem
of Marshall Islands High School
who will attend the Robert Borsch
UWC in Freiberg, Germany.
In 2012, Kami Mackphie of
Northern Islands High School
was awarded the first UWC
Scholarship to attend Lester B.
Pearson in Canada and in 2013,
Sage deBrum of Majuro Coop
School was awarded the scholar-
ship to Armand Hammer UWC in

New Mexico.
Each scholarship is worth
about $80,000. UWC Schools
offer the International Baccalaureate high school program as well
as creating an environment of
peace, intercultural understanding and leadership.
UWC
The United World

College National
Selections
Committee
with this years
candidates.
Photo: Tamara
Greenstone
Alefaio.
Sudoku
Eve and Selina
Last weeks answer
32
Mike adds a
college class
Mike Trevor
A brief correction to Dean Jacobsons letter to the

editor in last weeks edition was provided by CMI
instructor Karl Fellenius:
Deans environmental science class is now being
taught by Mike Trevor, who was already teaching
one section and now has two. Deans introduction to
marine science class is being team-taught by three
people at MIMRA Candice Guavis, Melba White,
and Benedict Yamamura. Karl Fellenius is jumping
in as needed to assist with lectures and labs, and Don
Hess is doing the overall coordination of the joint
effort as well as assisting on some labs. All of whom
are Deans friends.
Gregs search for parents

My name is Greg Michael Lederer. I
live in Northern California. I was born in
Ebeye, Marshall Islands. I was adopted
and Im trying to reach out to my birth
parents John Erakdrik and Neibed Lautej.
They were the age of 34 and 33 when I
was born December 2, 1987 and I had
eight siblings. I know the sibling before

me was born August, 26 1986. If you
know of a way I can reach them please
let me know.
I would like to thank them for the life
they have given me. My email is: glederer1268@hotmail.com.
The Dash-8 in Jaluit.
Runways the big

problem for AMI
Among the myriad problems facing Air
Marshall Islands as it attempts to stabilize
its outer islands service is the poor condition
of many outer island runways.
Fixing airport in the outer islands needs
to be a top priority for the government,
AMI General Manager Jefferson Barton said
last week. The runways are like a terrorist
(to our planes). Rocks, mud, dirt and coral
hit the planes when they land.
It is not necessary to pave runways, but
at minimum they need to be scraped and
compacted, he said. The government can
do this at minimal cost and it will save
everyone millions of dollars in damages,
Barton said. Fixing the runways will reduce
by 90 percent the damage and breakdown
of the planes.
Everyone is frustrated over the repeated
down time of the planes, he said. A lot of
things are intertwined that make air service
a challenge, he said.
AMI pilots do a great job in dealing
with runways that have holes, large bushes
nearby, and high grass. Our guys know how
to fly, he said. They are the best of the best.
But the airports are so bad.
Barton would like to see the government
begin working on one outer atoll runway at
a time. It will only take about two weeks
to fix one runway, he said. In half a year,

all the airport will be in order.
While the Dornier, which is the workhorse
plane for all the smaller runways, has been
grounded repeatedly in recent months with
a variety of problems, the Dash-8 has not
been immune to these problems. Despite its
recent $4 million fix during a major overhaul in Australia last year, were already
experiencing similar problems with the
Dash, he said.
AMI has no choice but to fly to these outer
islands because it has to provide the service
and generate revenue, but the cost of doing it
hurts the airline and the government, which
has to assist the airline to pay for spare parts.
We need drastic action for the success of
the airline, he added. Then we will have a
more reliable service and public confidence
will improve.
The government airline simply cant keep
functioning in this environment, he said.
Its a burden on AMI, he added. More
than once a month, we have an aircraft on
the ground, which shouldnt be happening
more than once in six months.
The government needs to fix the airports
so AMI can concentrate on providing service. Instead, were busy trying to fix our
aircrafts.
33
34
Amenta ebok eddron Alele

ISAAC MARTY
RMI national archive im museum Alele, ewor juon an director

kaal ilo unjen jila eo. Amenta Matthew Tibon, former Utirik Senator,
ej monono in jerbal ilo Alele. Kora
in ear jinoe jen January 16 raan eo.
Ilo tore in, ewor wot an emen ri
jerbal. Kora in ej bok eddo eo jen
kar Bonny Taggart, eo im ear jerbal
enwot interim director eo. Tibon
ear ba bwe jibarbar ko an renaaj
nan wonmanlok wot kin jibarbar
im kottobar ko an Alele eo, einwot
kokmanmanelok imoko ekoba jerbal ko. Elap ao kamolol Bonny,
Secretary Daisy Alik-Momotaro,
Minister Wilbur Heine, Alele
board eo, kab ro jet im raar maron
jiban im lelok ijoko kunaer nan
kejebarok wot Alele eo, eo im ej ijo
in ej kokni manit im bwebwenato
ko ad. Elap an utiej buruwo nan
jerbal im kwalok nan armij kin
manit in ad, Tibon ear ba.
Ilo Education Week eo, ear
kanuij lon ri jikuul ro raar lotok
museum eo, innem menin ear maron letok jet melele nan na, bwe
in komman jikin an aijri ro maron
aluje im ekatok jen ien ko rej
lotok. Ilo torein, museum eo ebed
ilo ground floor eo, elkin aer kar
kemakiti jen ijo jikin ilo kar jinoin,
ilo second floor, itok wot jen an kar
ettel eon mweo. Tibon ear ba bwe
Museum eo
eppelok non
am alwoj kiio
Ilo Education Week eo,
ear kanuij lon ri jikuul
ro raar lotok museum eo,
innem menin ear maron
letok jet melele nan na,
bwe in komman jikin
an aijri ro maron aluje
im ekatok jen ien ko rej
lotok.
Amenta Matthew Tibon.
Director kaal eo an Alele

Amenta Matthew Tibon.
ettel ko emoj aer kommani kio, im
room eo rej aikuij kokaale lowan,
im ej wonmanlok wot im kabbok
jaan nan kokmanmane.
Museum eo raar drore ilo ground
floor eo, jen kelet an Alele board
of trustees eo. Menin ebareinwot
komman bwe en bidodo an armij
drelone, elaptata nan ro im eaban

aer maron jikin uwe lonlok.
Alele eo ej bellok nan public,
im ebareinwot wor juon jikin basic
computer training program ie, im
ebellok nan aolep ro reitok limo
ie. Ro rej bok kunaer rej kejenolok
ruo ien ko, juon ilo jibbon, im juon
ilo elkin raelep, enaaj wor juon aer

kilaaj in ekatok kin kilen kejerbal
computer. Alele ej bareinwot wor
an kon ilo Retiree Center en,
(iturin Alele) im rej kommane ejja
computer brokraam kein wot nan
ritto ro, im jaan nan kommane ej
etal jen Institute of Museum im
Library Services eo. Tibon ear ba

bwe Alele ij jibarbar nan kelaplok
kelwetak eo kin manit im kapeel
ko ad ilo ien ko ewor brokraam
an public, im kio elap aer jino
bebojakjak nan Lutok Kobban
Alele (raan eo an manit) ilo naaj
September in.
Chee trial over,

CJ to make ruling
The criminal trial of Catapayment after RMI checks
lina Chee on charges that she
were cashed.
was part of a conspiracy to deDefense attorney Masek
fraud the Ministry of Health
challenged the evidence.
in 2009 wrapped up Tuesday
Masek said the alleged conthis week.
spirators invented a role
Chief Justice Carl Ingram
to get Chee involved. Chee
did not issue a ruling from
was asked to print out fake
the bench, saying he would
PRs from a computer that
take the case under adviseconspirator Danny Andrike
ment and issue a ruling in
couldve easily done in two
due course.
minutes.
The trial before Ingram
The real criminal here is
wrapped up with closing arCandy Leon, Masek said.
guments by Acting Attorney
Candy Leon got away with
General Jack Jorbon and
her crime. How did she get
defense attorney John Masek.
away with thousands of
Jack Jorbon
On September 9, 2009,
RMIs money? The govChee knowingly and willingly
ernment gave her the sweet
conspired against the RMI
deal. All Candy Leon had
government when she prepared two fake to do to elude jail time is to come up with
purchase requisitions to obtain RMI pay- a name and she came up with my client.
ments for non-existent services, said Jorbon.
While Jorbon contends that Chee was
The prosecutor emphasized the evidence he part of ring of conspirators who included
had presented during the trial. According to Danny Andrike, Candy Leon, Steve Samuel
testimony by Candy Leon, Chee was fully and Nella Nashion, Masek countered that
aware of the fake documents she prepared, the prosecution had offered mismatched
Jorbon told the Chief Justice. Chee took conflicting evidence from the main goverfake purchase requisitions to co-conspirator ment witnesses telling different versions
Steve Samuel at Procurement and Supply, while under oath.
Jorbon said, adding that Chee received her
I ask that the court dismiss the case,
end of the bargain in the form of a cash Masek concluded.
35
36
Jaki-ed found in San Francisco

Special mat
made by
Namdriks
Matlina
KAREN EARNSHAW
Four historic Marshallese jakied have been discovered in the
California Academy of Sciences
in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. Three date from a century
ago, while the fourth was made by
weaver Matlina Swain of Namdrik
in 1977.
The discoveries were made by
long-time friend of the Marshalls
Caroline Yacoe, who often travels from her home in Hawaii to
attend the annual exhibition and
auction of jaki-ed at the Marshall
Islands Resort. She was recently
in San Francisco and heard from
a colleague that the Academy had
some Marshallese mats. She subsequently met with the Academys
Senior Collections Manager Russell Hartman and was shown the
mats, which she identified as being
jaki-ed.
More jaki-ed have also recently
been discovered in museum collections in Geneva, Switzerland,
and Oakland, California, with the
University of the South Pacifics
Majuro campus team working on
accessing photographs of these
clothing mats. USPs Director, Dr.
Irene Taafaki, along with Maria
Fowler, have been key to reviving knowledge about jaki-ed and
the revival of the skill of weaving
jaki-ed.
Taafaki was also the mastermind
behind the creation of a virtual
museum for jaki-ed, which can be
found at www.clothingmatsofthemarshalls.com, and was sponsored
by the Australian Government.
Each week, hundreds of people
around the globe have been checking into the site to learn about the
history of jaki-ed, the ongoing revival program of weaving jaki-ed,
and visit the various museums that
have jaki-ed in their collections.
These include the British Museum,
the Linden Museum in Stuttgart,
Germany, and the Te Papa Museum
in Wellington, New Zealand.
Left, weaver Matlina Swains gradson Wamoj Hisaiah with

Namdrik Senator Matt Zackhras. Above, the jaki-ed in the
California musuems collection. Below left, Matlina.
I remember
watching
her weaving
when I was a
young boy on
Namdrik. She
had a big box
in the house
where she kept
all her weaving
materials.
Elenu says kommol tata

Many Marshallese regularly visit clothingmatsofthemarshalls.com, including, in late 2013,
Elenu Patrick, who lives in Tucson, Arizona. She
emailed the web master:
Hi! You have no idea how deeply I appreciate
your accomplishment in this kind of work and
thought of creating this kind of program to help
revive a part of our culture that was actually dying
out not too long ago.
I had tears I my eyes when I found out about
this program and then to see it online as a Virtual

Museum. The last time I saw my Great-GreatGrandmother she was weaving a jaki-ed. May
she rest in peace.
Well, many years later I found out that I was
one of only few young people at that time who
have witnessed the weaving of an actual jaki-ed
when at that time the knowledge or at the edge of
going extinct. Komol tata for all you good peoples hard work in creating this kind of program.
Hisaiah on
his bubu
Senator Matt Zackhras was thrilled to
hear of the existence of Matlina Swains
jaki-ed in the California Academy of Sciences: Let me see what I can find out
about her, he said. A short time later he
called with the news that hed found a
relative in Majuro, saying that Swains
grandson is Wamoj Hisaiah, who is a
security guard at the National Telecommunications Authority.
I remember watching her weaving
when I was a young boy on Namdrik, Hisaiah said. She had a big box in the house
where she kept all her weaving materials.
He added that his bubu would not sell the
jaki-ed: She gave them away as gifts.
According to Hisaiah, during the time
that Japan held power in the Marshall
Islands, Swain lived on Jaluit Atoll, where
she helped care for a sick man called Roja.
She took care of him using traditional
Marshallese medicines and when he was
well he took her as his mother.
She later came to Majuro and lived with
his family and gave him a jaki-ed. She died
about 10 years ago, and Roja has also now
passed on, but I will ask the family if they
still have the jaki, Hisaiah said.
Collecting pieces of culture in the 70s

The jaki-ed woven by Matlina Swain was
collected in 1977 by a staff member of the
California Academy of Sciences. The Senior
Collections Manager for the Department of
Anthropology, Russell Hartman wrote: At
that time, the Academy had just recently
re-instituted its Department of Anthropology (after a hiatus of some 70 years). The
installation of a new permanent Anthropol-
ogy Hall, which featured life-sized dioramas

of about 10 cultural groups from around the
world was proceeding, with the overall theme
being how different cultures adapted to their
environments. One of the dioramas dealt
with Micronesia, specifically the Caroline
Islands, so a staff member was sent on a collecting expedition, as we didnt really have
much from that region.
Our accession record for this mat records

it as a sleeping mat for a chiefs baby (based
on the designs) and gives its native term as
arelung.
The notes on the jaki-ed also state it was
made specifically for the Academy and was
purchased from Matlina Swain on Majuro
for $20. Other Marshallese items were purchased at Mary Lanwis Handicraft Co-op on
Majuro, Hartman said, so perhaps someone

at the co-op introduced Matlina to our staff
person. Hartman said the mat is woven of
pandanus and the black and reddish-brown
dyed fibers are hibiscus. Im not sure what
the blue fibers are, although Caroline Yacoe
said the blue dye was likely from carbon paper, something that is noted for another object,
but not for this particular mat.
37
38
UWC ej letok
2 scholarship
Burns im kab
Leem rej etal
im jikuul ilo
United World
College
United World College National Selections Committee eo ilo RMI, ear kommane
Selections Day eo an kein kajilu ilo USP
ilo Friday eo.
Ri jikuul in
Rutimjuon ri jikuul raar jolok aolepen
Laura High
raan eo im interview, kommane jetSchool
ikkure Eve Burns
kin jikuul, ekoba ione armij im bwebwenato
im ri jikuul in
ippaer.
Marshall Islands
Ilo jemlokin, ruo wot scholarships High
raar School
kommani juon ear etal nan Eve Burns
jen Leem.
Selina
Laura High School, eo im enaaj iten jikuul
ilo Lester B. Pearson UWC ilo Victoria,
Canada, im eo juon ear etal nan Selina
Leem, jen Marshall Islands High School, im
Kajojo iaan scholarship kein jonan auenaaj etal in jikuul ilo Robert Borsch UWC rokier remaron kij $80,000. UWC Schools
ilo Freiberg, Germany.
ko rej lelok International Baccalaureate high
Ilo 2012, Kami Mackphie, jen Northern school program eo, ekoba ejake jet jikin
Islands High School raar lelok nane UWC ko rej lorlorjake aenomman, im ekatok kin
Scholarship eo kein kajuon, nan an kar etal manit ko reoktak jen dron, im katakin kin
in jikuul ilo Lester B. Pearson ilo Canada, jerbal in tel bareinwot.
im ilo 2013, Sage deBrum jen Majuro Coop
School raar lelok nane scholarship nan
Armand Hammer UWC ilo New Mexico.
Ricky teaches
martial arts series
The Brazilian martial art known as Capoeira is in
session at the College of the Marshall Islands (CMI).
It started early this month under the direction of
martial artist Ricardo Ricky Ribeiro, who is
currently an English instructor at CMI. The hourlong program is open to the public starting at 5pm on
Mondays and Wednesdays at the old library room.
So far a few CMI students are learning the basics
with Ricky. According to Ricky, hes been practicing
Capoeira since he was 16 years old. Whats interesting
about the art is its got music that adds fun to learning.
Photo: Isaac Marty
39
Good news! Atoll

is growing bigger
A Marshall Islands atoll that grew 23 per
cent in 65 years shows islands can form and
grow much more rapidly than previously
thought. Scientists say the research may
be significant as sea levels continue to rise
thanks to climate change, threatening lowlying atolls, reported MSN New Zealand
this week.
In 1905, Nadikdik Atoll in the Marshall
Islands (near Mili) was hit by a devastating
typhoon, which destroyed large sections of
the reef island, and killed the entire population except two survivors. Scientists from
the University of Auckland compared aerial
photographs from 1945 with pictures from
2010, and found the vegetated area of the
islands grew by 23 percent.
The research puts this down to sediments
generated from the atolls surrounding
reef system, which was likely in a healthy
condition as the atoll had been uninhabited
since 1905.The scientists also noticed a new
island grew from a sediment deposit to a
fully vegetated and stable island in 61 years,
and a number of separate islands formed a
New report on
Nadikdik isle
single larger island.
These changes were rapid and indicate
that reef island formation can occur quickly, the report said.
Sea levels are expected to continue rising
thanks to climate change, with the levels
around Marshall Islands rising at about 2.2
millimeters a year since 1946.
The report said there was considerable
global interest about the future stability of
the landforms given the projected sea level
increases.
Past studies have focused on the immediate impacts of extreme weather events on
islands, but comparatively few studies have
documented how islands have changed after
the impact.
The report was the first to note the development of new islands.
Popular snacks YumYum (noodle) and Cool-C (drinking mix) from Kiribati
found their way to Majuro earlier this month and have created some happy
faces. Pictured from left are CMI students Salome Torejak, Annie Tabuanaba,
and Hideo Tokeak. Annies older brother flew in on Our Airline with these on
hand for them. This is something to remember home, said Salome.
Photo: Isaac Marty.
40
What we were saying way back when
Bikini elders
lay wreaths
Journal March 1, 1968
P3 Marshall Islands Journal motto
These are the things you shall do:

Speak the truth to one another; Render
in your gate judgments that are true and
make for Peace. Zechariah
P4 Letter to the editor
Last week at noon, I saw at the intersection of Reimers warehouse and

KITCO employees homes, four teenage
boys with poles in their hands. At the end
of the pole was a ring of wire and two
others carried a rope basket. I looked
to see what dog they were after and
saw them trying to corner a dog. I, immediately, yelled at them and told them
to leave that dog alone to not harm
that dog because it belongs to Judge
Kabua. The dog wore no license tag.
Upon a later date, in talking to Judge
Kabua, I learned his dogs have their
licenses but if they wear them, people
steal them. Mrs. Yoshimi Jetnil had a
fine collar on their dog together with a
license, but someone has stolen so he
is naked of license.
Question: What use is a license when
someone steals it, and the dog is killed
because of no license? Suggestion: Let
all owners of dogs register their dogs under their names and when the New Year
arrives, send out notices to each owner
to come in and pay their tax. Each home
needs one watchdog due to Peeping
Toms, drunkard nuisance, thievery and
a general alarm and children need a
pet. Nyoma Mikkelsen.
P5 Medical supplies arrive
It has been said that it is either feast

or famine. After an extended period of
famine, the Armer Ishoda Memorial Hospital is now feasting on a large amount
of drugs and medical supplies, which
arrived Monday. The hospital had been
out of many commonly used drugs such
as aspirin.
P5 Social Security may begin
Harry Brown, the Trust Territorys

Social Security Administration, announced that operations are under way
to implement the Social Security Act
for citizens of the Trust Territory of the
Pacific Islands. The system will go into
effect on July 1, 1968.
Journal March 3, 1989

P2 It never was the Pearl of the
Pacific
Its a tough thing to find out that
something youve believed in for years
isnt true after all. Yessiree, The Pearl
of the Pacific never was. In virtually
every tourist publication and even in the
Marshall Islands Journal, reference has
been made to Robert Louis Stevensons
oft-quoted description of Majuro as the
Pearl of the Pacific. Fortunately, the
Journal was tipped off to this fraud by
an alert historian resident of Majuro.
We now wish to set the record straight.
Stevenson never uttered those words,
nor did anyone, except in recent years,
when would-be experts attributed the
time worn Pearl of the Pacific comment
that never was to Stevenson. In fact, a
similar remark came not from Stevenson
but from his wife, Fanny Stevenson, who
wrote of Majuro in 1890 as a pearl of
atolls.
Journal February 28, 1997

P1 For our children
The exhilaration for Bikini elders of

returning to their home island for the
first time in 51 years was tempered by
a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the
old and unkempt cemetery on the island.
It reminded Emso Leviticus that she will
likely not return to be buried here when
she dies. This is our final trip here, said
Leviticus this week on Bikini. She was a
young woman when the US Navy took
her and her family from Bikini in 1946
to make way for Operation Crossroads.
lead a healthy life.

get out and exercise!
41
Demon town Village

Police on the speaker: Parents ,keep your kids off the road. If you cant handle
them, then stop making babies. Kid on roof: Im not afraid of the police.
ta eo ad walok elikin new iio eo

Drunk man: Ah, geez! I should have listened, kio itten kalibuuj.
Policeman: Emonono ilo iio in.
kejbarok kilen am kejerbal jaan rainin bwe koank

ta enaj walok iliju
MOKTA. Kid: Leio ilukkin eno ice cream ippa. tokelik. Kid: Leio ilukkin
kwole. Oh, enwot ewor tokjen ninin pa.
emakutkut ko an policemen in majol

Policeman 1: Jab emakutkut! Policeman 2: Do you see this stick!
Policeman 3: Umaiki lal! Person: Oh my!
life is hard nowadays

Family member: You need to think of the needs of others! Unemployed man
enjoying a free meal provided by others in the family: Ouch!
february is the month of love

Man: Sorry in advance ... but Happy Valentines Day. Woman blindly in love: I
will die in your name.
42
Coconut replanting
The Social Protection of the Vulnerable in the Pacific project is already in full
swing, Project Manager Dwight Heine said this week of ongoing coconut replanting projects in Mili, Ailinglaplap, Namdrik, Ebon and Arno. Heine said people on
the local atolls are generating income through the project. Funds from the Asian
Development Banks Japan Fund for Poverty Alleviation are supporting coconut
replanting schemes in RMI, Tonga and Cook Islands. Photo: Hilary Hosia
MIHS students argue

the points and win
Sixteen teams from Marshall Islands High
School (MIHS), Assumption, GED, Coop,
and Majuro Baptist Christian Academy
(MBCA) went head to head in debates during education week. According to Ministry
of Education Assistant Secretary Kanchi
Hosia, the topic focused on whether the RMI
should provide vocational training to all students. He said all teams were well prepared
and had displayed good performance.
In the end, MIHS was the victor, led by
team members Selina Leem (pictured) and
Erina Terry. Second place went to MBCA
with Caleb Joseph and Hugo Nimoto. Hosia said Leem and Joseph received highest
honor in the debate for earning perfect scores
upon completing the debate. He said he appreciated all schools, students, and everyone
else who participated and those who were
involved in making the debate successful.
The second round debate will be on May
Day and in Marshallese. The topic for the
debate is pending, he said.
Law enforcement teams

do some target practice
HILARY HOSIA
A contingent of 19 law enforcement officers from

Sea Patrol, National Police and Airport Security
conducted a live-fire shooting exercise near Amata
Kabua International Airport last Friday following a
three-day weapons familiarization.
Instructors Sergeant First Class Warren Bias and
civilian police contractor James Edwards from
United States Army Garrison, Kwajalein Atoll,
walked the officers step-by-step through the exercise.
Armed with nine-millimeter Beretta and Smith and
Wesson .38 caliber, the boys shot at still silhouette

targets placed 25 meters away. The deafening sound
followed by the jingly sound of brass hitting the
ground and a hint of gunpowder provided the needed
adrenaline rush to empty the clips onto the targets.
Behind the scenes coordinator Australian Royal
Navy Commander Peter Metcalf orchestrated the
event and is hopeful for future developments.
US Ambassador Tom Armbruster and top-level police members took advantage of the training exercise.
They proved to be quite skillful in marksmanship.
43
Tom Armbruster with the

Australian Navys Gary Bithell.
44
Moriana
moves to
OEPPC
HILARY HOSIA
The Journal has been scoping out potential leaders
young scholars returning
from overseas with prestigious educational backgrounds securing needed
government positions as part
of our Future Leaders segment.
New to the list is Moriana
Phillip (pictured), the new
talent at the Office of Environmental Planning and
Policy Coordination. Other
than her local job, Moriana
recently acquired the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program
(SPREP)s post as North
Pacifics technical expert in
the water sector.
She holds a masters degree in integrated water resource from the University
of Queensland, Australia and
bachelor of science in environmental science from
the University of the South
Pacific in Fiji.
Moriana is no stranger in
her field of work. She has
prior engagements with the
International Water Center,
Secretariat of the Pacific
Community Water Division,
United Nations Environmental Program and Marshall
Islands Marine Resources
Authority.
Aikuij
emman lok
airport ko
ilo outer
Ibwiljin jorrean ellap ko rej jelmae Air
Marshall Islands, ilo
an kajjeon kokmanmanelok service ko an
nan aelon ko likin, ej
kin kejekjek in an jab
emman elon wot iaan
jikin jok im kelok ko
ilo aelon ko likin.
Kokmanmanelok
airport ko ilo aelon ko
likin ej aikuij in bed
ilon tata ilo jerbal ko
an kien, AMI General Manija Jefferson
Barton (pija) ear ba ilo
wiik eo lok. Jikin jok
im kelok ko rej einwot
ri komman jorrean ak
(terrorist) nan baluun
ko waam). Dreka, bedkat, bwirej rej jekare
baluun ko ilo tore ko
rej jok.
Ejjab aikuij in biij runway ko, botaap men eo edrik tata
kameoeoiki im kakijnene eoer, lein ear ba. kien eo emaron
kommane wawein in ilo an jolok jidrik wot jaan, innem enaaj
maron kejebarok million jima tala ko ikijien jorrean, Barton
ear ba. Kokmanmanelok runway ko enaaj maron kadrikdrik
lok jorrean kin 90 bojjan, ekoba an bobrae jorrean ko nan
baluun ko bareinwot.
Aolep armij ebwe aer illu kin an ikutkut an jorrean baluun
ko, lein ear ba. Ekadrik in lon men ko rej puuk ippen dron
nan komman bwe air service en lukkun bin im aban, lein
ear ba.
Pilot ro an AMI ekadrik in emman aer jerbale elane rej jok
ilo runway ko elon ron, mar, kab aetok wujoj ko ie. Loma
ran relukkun in jela ek kake, lein ear ba. Rej mokade iaan
ri mokade otemjej. Botaap airport ko relukkun in nana.
Barton ekonan loe an kien jino komadmode juon iaan outer
island runway kane ilo juon ien. Emaron bok tarrin in ruo
wiik ko nan kokmanmane juon runway, lein ear ba. Iloan
wot jimettan year ak aolep airport ko renaaj dredrelok.
Ilo an Dornier jab maron in ek kake kin elon kain jorrean
ko iloan allon ko kio, eo im baluun in ej bareinwot kein jerbal
eo elaptata kejerbale nan runway jiddrik ko, eokwe Dash-8
eo einwot ej bar enjake jorrean kein. Mene jerbal in kokkaal eo an kio kin kar $4 million ilo Australia ear komman
ilo year eo lok, kimij kio loe ejja kain jorrean rot kein wot
rebareinwot walok nan Dash-8 eo, lein ear ba.
AMI ejjelok an bar kelet ak bwe en kelok nan ene kein
kinke ej aikuij in komman service im komman jaan, botaap
wonen kommane ekemetak baluun in im kab kien, eo im
jen ien nan ien ej jiban airline eo wiaiki part ko an. Kimij
aikuiji bwe en lap jonan jerbal ko rej aikuij in komman elane
en emman an airline in jerbal, lein ear kakobaba. Innem
enaaj emman lok service eo im jujen emman lok jonan liki
eo ippen armij.
Baluun in waan kien eban wonmanlok wot im jerbal ilo
jekjek rot kein, lein ear ba. Ej juon men eo eddo nan AMI,
ear kakobaba. Elon lok jen juon katten ilo juon allon, baluun
eo ejjab kelok, eo im ejjab aikuij in kar eindrein elle lok jen
juon alen ilo jiljino allon. Kien ej aikuij in kokmanmanelok
airport ko bwe en emman an AMI jerbale wot service eo. Ak
ijelokin, elap ad boup kin an kajjeon kokkaali baluun ko.
45
46
Tide Chart
Date Time
Ft.
27
2:54 AM.................3.8
Thursday 8:47...................... -0.0

3:07 PM.................5.0
9:31...................... -0.6
28
3:35 AM.................4.3
Friday 9:32...................... -0.5

3:49 PM.................5.3
10:08.................... -0.9
4
5:58 AM.................5.0
Tuesday
12:03 PM..............-0.6
6:11........................4.8
.
1
4:13 AM.................4.7
Saturday 10:13.................... -0.8

4:28 PM.................5.5
10:43.................... -1.1
5
12:18 AM..............-0.6
Wednesday 6:30........................4.7

12:38 PM..............-0.3
6:42........................4.3
2
4:49 AM.................4.6
Sunday 10:51.................... -1.0

5:04 PM.................5.4
11:16.................... -1.1
6
12:47 AM..............-0.2
Thursday 7:02........................4.3

1:13 PM.................0.2
7:12........................3.7
3
5:24 AM.................5.0
Monday 11:28......................0.9

5:38 PM.................5.2
11:48.................... -0.9
7
1:14 AM.................0.3
Friday 7:36........................3.9

1:50 PM.................0.7
7:42........................3.1
General
Manager
of Majuro
Water
and Sewer
Company
Joseph
Batol.
MWSC puts in
grant request
ISAAC MARTY
The need for water on Majuro is high on the list for Majuro Water and Sewer Company (MWSC).
General Manager Joseph Batol said the current water
capacity is still not enough for the capital. He said a grant
application has been submitted to the Cabinet for approval.
It is a grant requesting $30,000,000 to upgrade the current
water supply and sanitation systems. He explained that it
had three phases:
Installation of a new 12 inch pipeline
Increasing water reservoir capacity
Replacement of the current sewer outfall with a new one.
The improved water supply and sanitation systems will
provide a healthy environment for the city of Majuro,
said Batol.
Batol explained that people in the west side of Majuro,
mainly from Ajeltake to Laura, get their supply of water
from the 30,000 gallons reservoir in Laura. He said there
were cases where people at the end of the supply line from
Laura hardly get water.
We proposed a one million gallon reservoir for the Laura
area to improve water supply. It would be a great benefit
for the people in the area, he said.
ATTENTION!
Carlson Elcar please stop by Micronitor and see Rose Murphy concerning item #11353.
ATTENTION!
Claudia Velma Heine please stop

by Micronitor and see Rose Murphy
concerning item #972.
ATTENTION!
Joseph Tibon please stop by Micronitor and see Rose Murphy concerning item #130.
ATTENTION!
Ailinglaplap Local Government

please stop by Micronitor and see Rose
Murphy concerning item #1178.
Program to
help students
move forward
ISAAC MARTY
Students Bercy Mealson

and Veronica Kiluwe play
a motivational game.
College of the Marshall Islands (CMI) is not

going to stop looking for ways to improve student academic performance. This is the case
with its new program Learning Community.
The program started last semester and its
now targeting 57 new students enrolled this
semester who are in developmental level one.
According to Learning Community Coordinator and Developmental Education Instructor Andrea S.D. Hazzard, the goal is to help
students succeed and advance to higher levels.
The program aims to create community
among students in social and academic aspects, she said.
We also dont want students to drop out. In
the past there were students who did because
they were discouraged.
Hazzard said the program encourages students to move forward.
It introduces topics and majors to give students a feel for different career paths and in
time they would be able to determine where
they want to go before they advance to credit
level.
The program has eight CMI faculty and
two tutors. Hazzard said they are aiming to
provide many activities and ways to teach
students.
The hope is to keep students in school
and to promote academic success, she said.
47
48

Send your hysterical and insightful Are
You Awares? to journal@ntamar.net
THAT following Jose,
the El Salvadoran drifter,
another visitor recently
showed up at Delap
Dock area in the form
of this toad, held here
by MALGov Sanitation
Departments Abo Mea?
THAT a trial of Catalina Chee over allegations

that she was involved in
defrauding the Ministry of
Health in 2009 finished in
the High Court this week?
THAT an amendment
to RMIs shark ban legislation has been introduced
to Nitijela that would allow shark fins and carcasses caught outside of
RMI waters to be transported through the RMI?
THAT the Hawaiian
community in Majuro will
for the first time join in International Womens Day
Photo: Hilary Hosia
on Saturday March 8?
T H AT U t r i k
Atoll Local Government will inaugurate its new
Community Hall
on Utrik next
Wednesday?
THAT a Florida
mansion once belonging to crime of people in Greece believe it is
kingpin Al Capone, purportedly widespread, only 20 percent
where he planned the Valentines see the problem in Denmark,
Day massacre, is up for sale with and the question wasnt asked in
a price tag of over $8 million?
the RMI?
THAT a five-foot jellyfish
THAT the Nitijelas Ways and
washed ashore earlier this month Means Committee aims to hold
in Tasmania, one of the biggest public hearings on three new tax
ever beached?
bills this Thursday afternoon at
THAT 83 percent of French 2:30, 3 and 4:30pm?
Catholics surveyed think women
THAT about 70 Marshall
should be allowed to join the Islands High School students
priesthood, while only 21 percent have received new Bank of
agreed in the Philippines?
Marshall Islands savings books
THAT famous Hollywood as a result of community service
actress Shirley Temple, known and support of BOMI, Marshall
as the biggest little star, died Islands Basketball Federation,
earlier this month at 85?
Coach Tom Newell and the US
THAT the International Space Embassy?
Station has 600 ants aboard for
THAT the RMI Auditor Gena behavioral monitoring experi- erals office now posts audits to
ment?
its website, http://www.rmioag.
THAT if you think Marshallese com/, making it easy for the
are borrowed up to the hilt, how public to inform itself about the
about the US government that accountability or lack thereof
expects to borrow $284 billion in in government agencies?
the first quarter of 2014?
THAT the play Fiddler on the
THAT a survey about cor- Roof premieres this coming Tuesruption found that 99 percent day at 8pm at the ICC?
ARE YOU
AWARE?

Marshall Islands Journal 2-28-2014

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Subscriptions to the Journal Online are $57 a year using PayPal.

CMI bus gets a jump start

Friday, February 28, 2014 Volume 45, Number 9

Bravo link brings

nearby the beleaguered Daiichi nuclear

that followed the earthquake. But the

Fukushima residents Kaede Nagashima

Talk to us at journal@ntamar.net Subscribe to the Journal Online at www.marshallislandsjournal.com

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

El-Sayed issue takes

needs to address like climate change and the

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Arms boss here for Bravo

Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under

MALGovs Jasper Lanki, left, and Mayor

Majuro Day fun

Amenta heads up Alele

New Director of the Alele Museum

ter Wilbur Heine, Alele board

everyone, especially to people

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

Fiddler opens next week

Dartmouth football player at the

The Dartmouth teaching program in the Marshall Islands will

who get experience working

their self-confidence, and raising

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

The RMI Riddle No. 493: Sponsored by CopyMasters

Need a pen to do the puzzle?

Answers to Riddle No. 492

Note: (abb.) = abbreviation

the general public about financial management issues.

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

Kite boarders Tom Atwell

me but seemed okay and headed

someone else must have picked

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Why teachers got their pay raise recently and

Comment received by newspaper reader in Majuro.

Caller eo: OMG

We had a small heads up that this

Alan retrieves kite

I had spent quite a bit of time shopping

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

Send letters to PO Box 14, Majuro, MH 96960 or email journal@ntamar.net

Bravo legacy lingers in RMI

A United Nations Special

The Marshall Islands Journal

Phone: (692) 625-8143/6 Fax: (692) 625-3136 email: journal@ntamar.net www.marshallislandsjournal.com

received after deadline are subject to

The Marshall Islands Journal Friday, February 28, 2014

Scientists validate Jose

the satellite daily wind and current

Drifter Jose Salvador Alvarenga

Ilo nuuj eo an wiik eo lok ilo

Friday, February 28, 2014 The Marshall Islands Journal

Its really horrible what they did to us