Topic: LetterstoLeaders

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: What Caused the Marshall Islands Postal Ballot Debacle?

In the last national election of 2003, around 2,500 overseas postal ballots were received for the Nitijela races in all 24 jurisdictions. Marshallese Consultant Ben Graham says 2007 postal ballot numbers should be even more significant considering there more Marshallese living outside of the Marshalls today.

Why was the postal ballot process made more difficult for this election, and why were so many ballots, for "postal" voters, sent from Majuro too late? These are just two of the questions which follow in this special Yokwe Online Virtual Town Hall:

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: What are the Responsibilities and Services of the RMI Embassy?

A recent press release from the Republic of the Marshall Islands Embassy has initiated a request of our leaders for more information about the work of the RMI Mission in Washington DC. The article tells about the 13 Marshall Islands students and 3 chaperones who visited with Ambassador Banny deBrum during their participation in the Close-up Program.

"I and others would like to know more about these lines in the article -- roles and responsibilities that follow with working at the Mission...many challenges that Marshallese face when they come to the United States...how the Embassy is able to assist them..."

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: How can the Marshalls Improve the "Social Climate" toward Tourism?

The budding tourism industry in the Republic of the Marshall Islands will get a major inplant with the beginning of Japan Airlines charter tours next month. Across the Marshalls, businesses and non-profit groups have led clean-up efforts and a community awareness campaign to prepare for the coming Japanese tourists - about 200 per flight.

Majuro is being readied for the influx of tourists, but is Marshallese society ready? One Majuro expatriate resident asks what can be done about the way some recent tourists have been mistreated, including his own mother. "If it strikes midnight and these problems are not resolved, the Marshall Islands’s tourism industry could turn into a pumpkin after two charter flights," said Richard Li.

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: Why are debts to Air Marshall Islands Not Being Paid?

In light of the recent suit by the Marshall Islands Social Security Administration (MISSA) against the government-controlled Air Marshall Islands (AIM) for more than 600,000 US dollars on unpaid SS payments, Ben Graham, a consultant in the Marshall Islands, believes that citizens and taxpayers should be concerned as to why some debts to the Airlines are not being paid.

"With this type of situation, it is no wonder that AMI continues to struggle," said Graham. >>more>>

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL: How to Improve Education in the Marshall Islands

"The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) has an educational disaster taking place in K-12," stated the review of Ministry of Educations' performance for FY 2004 Compact Funding. Issues with civil service and management undermine MOE efficiency and effectiveness and result in poor education outcomes for the children of the RMI, indicates a recent mid-term ADB/RMI report.

The purpose of the report is to brief people on the state of education in the RMI and promote participation in the public consultations to be held in July and August in selected atolls. "We encourage and welcome any comments from Yokwe.net and its members," says Ben Chutaro, local consultant and co-author.

Yokwe Online has established this Virtual Town Hall to discuss these issues and options for educational reform in the Marshalls. Leaders and citizens are invited to participate by posting their comments in the Town Hall Forum which is now open for discussion.

PROPOSALS BY THE MARSHALL ISLANDS NITIJELA TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

Since last September, "Letters to Our Leaders," has been following the issue of a proposed Constitutional Convention for the Marshall Islands. Recently, Yokwe Online contacted the Chairman of the Judiciary and Governmental Relations Committee for documents outlining the proposed Constitutional Convention and the Nitijela's amendment proposals. Committee member Senator Abacca Anjain-Maddison provided Schedule I which includes the 33 amendments previously submitted and two new amendments, and is posted in this Virtual Town Hall. Also, Senator Alik Alik, J&GR Chairman, has requested the following update be posted in response to questions asked in our Con-Con Forums.

Senator Alik Alik's Update on Con-Con Amendments

Schedule I: Proposals by Nitijela to the Convention

Marshall Islands Constitutional Convention Bill to Be Considered Next Session

The Virtual Town Hall Meeting for Consideration of Marshall Islands Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) continues with an update from Senator Abacca Anjain-Maddison. The Senator said the committee decided at an executive meeting last week, after reviewing the "Jemen Ei" on timing, that the consideration of Bill #7 will be delayed. "It is slated for the bill to come up next session to be considered which commencing on the first Monday of January 2005 for a duration of usually not less than 25 days of sitting. It is not a rush thing anymore, " she said.

The Senator has provided the Bill for the Constitutional Convention Act, 2004, which was introduced to the Nitijela in its twenty-fifth regular session of 2004.

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING
"The Marshall Islands Constitutional Convention"
Senator Abacca Anjain-Maddison, Rongelap Atoll, sent the following email to Yokwe Online today:
"As a member of the Judiciary and Governmental Relations Committee (J&GR) I am pleased to inform you that I am ready to answer any questions you or the public has with regard to the concon."

Yokwe Online readers are invited to submit CONCON questions for the Senator and join the discussion in the CON-CON FORUM.

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL IS NOW OPEN
"Consideration of the Call for a Marshall Islands Constitutional Convention"

"Letters to Our Leaders," has been an interactive feature since 2002, enabling Marshall Islands citizens and friends to ask government leadership about current issues. In the Marshalls, public meetings are being held to discuss the need for a new CON-CON. Now, those Marshall Islanders living off-island and abroad can participate by asking questions and expressing views here. This will be a on-going Town Hall subject, and Con-Con questions can be submitted at anytime. To kick-off the first session, Yokwe Online submitted the following questions to which Senator Alik Alik, Chairman Judiciary and Governmental Relations Committee, responded:

QUESTION: When and how was the need for a Constitutional Convention initiated and by whom?
SENATOR ALIK: As you understand that our Constitution requires for amending of the same at least once every ten years. It's now ten years since our last ConCon, and that's why just a bill was introduced to fulfill that Constitutional requirement. The Bill is with the Judiciary and Governmental Relations Committee which I am the Chairman as assigned to by the Speaker. We have held so far four public hearings to find out from the people whether they feel that a Constitutional Convention should be taking place for the purpose of amending the Constitution.

YOKWE ONLINE'S VIRTUAL TOWN HALL

Letter to Our Leaders: President Note's Response to the Jimmy Mote Case

Yokwe Online has contacted the Office of the President for an official statement on the Jimmy Mote case. The case became public when Yokwe Online posted the story on August 1. In short, Jimmy Mote has been in immigration custody for seven months and faces an order of deportation. The following questions were sent to Marshall Islands President Kessai Note on August 17.

QUESTION: : In reference to the President's Nitijela statement that "Immigration provisions of the Compact have improved for Marshallese," does the President have any comment concerning the Jimmy Mote case?

RESPONSE from OFFICE of the PRESIDENT: The President is aware of Mote's case as he is being briefed by the Embassy and Minister Zackios from time to time. As we are all aware, the Embassy is currenlty working closely with the proper U.S. authorities to resolve Mote's case since it was first brought to their attention a few weeks back. There's no reservation in saying that the Embassy will do all it can in assisting Mr. Mote as it has always done in the past to other Marshallese citizens. more....

YOKWE ONLINE'S VIRTUAL TOWN HALL
The Jimmy Mote Case: RMI Embassy Statements

In response to the many requests from Yokwe Online readers for more "official" information, the entire Embassy statements, which were sent to Yokwe Online and used as quotes in our articles, are provided here. Yokwe Online'scontacted the Embasy prior to breaking the story to the public, and used statements in Part II and III.

Marshall Islands Compact Negotiator Says New Immigration Provisions Bring Transparency and Safeguards

In part two of our Virtual Town Hall's "Letter to Our Leaders #9," Robert Muller, Executive Director of the Republic of the Marshall Islands' Compact Negotiation Office, continues his response to Yokwe Online's questions and comments regarding implications of the immigration provisions.

COMMENT: The press and certain commentators have indicated that new provisions might hinder Marshallese "free access" to the US. It was also reported that the "U.S. attorney general's office could set regulations specifying the time and conditions of admission to the country."

RESPONSE: The answer to the issues you raise is not an easy one given that it involves speculating about the intentions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with respect to issuing future regulations concerning Marshallese in the United States. Please note that DHS will now be in charge of issuing regulations and not the Attorney General as those functions were moved over to the new department as of March 1, 2003. Anyhow, I think I would respond to the issues raised in two ways.

Letter to Our Leaders: Marshallese Concerns about the New Compact

Yokwe Online presented the following questions to Robert Muller, Executive Director of the Republic of the Marshall Islands Compact Negotiation Office. There are concerns that Section 141 (f) will significantly impact their stay in the US under the new Compact. "“any alien who has been admitted under the Compact, or the Compact, as amended, and who cannot show that he or she has sufficient means of support in the United States, is deportable."

QUESTION: What is the RMI's opinion on this?

ANSWER: The Sec. 141(f) you referred to is the “public charge” provision which applies to all non-immigrants to the U.S. (For what it is worth, it even applies to intending immigrants). A person must be capable of supporting oneself or have the means to do so such as an affidavit of support from a relative, outside income, etc. more....

Letter & Questions: Would it be possible for off-island Marshall Islands' citizens to communicate their views about Compact II directly to their Senators via email?

Submitted by Mike Pettitt

The approval and implementation of the original Compact between the RMI and the US was completed via public referendum and vote. This historic vote set in place the original Compact Agreement, including the Kwajalein Use Agreement under which the Kwajalein Missile Range (USAKA) currently operates.Thus, the upcomng vote by the Nitijela on passage of "Compact II," which includes a new long-term agreement for Kwajalein Missile Range out to 2066 (or beyond, if extension is exercised) may be the most important vote to be considered by the Nitijela in its history.
1. As so many Marshallese now reside in the US and have access to computers and email, I believe it would very beneficial for the RMI Embassy site and/or Yokwe.net to post email addresses for all Senators.
2. Ideally, these would be individual addresses but alternately could be an address for the Clerk of the Nitijela (who could pass messages on to the the appropriate Senator).
3. If that is not possible, the RMI Embassy in the US could agree to receive and forward questions and comments from RMI citizens.

RMI Secretary of Education Biram Stege says that she appreciates the opportunity to share the goals and plans of the Ministry with a larger audience in response to the Town Hall Question, "What are the plans, goals and objective priorities of the Ministry under the renewed Compact?"

• RESPONSE : The Ministry has recently revised its strategic plan in light of the renewal of the Compact. I have outlined some of the key objectives under this plan and how we plan to meet them. This by no means covers all areas that need improvement, but they are some of the most glaring areas requiring attention.
  
  
  1) Improved reading abilities for all students in English and Marshallese.
  Reading, especially English, abilities are key to mastering other subjects such as history, science, technology, etc. as most of the textbooks for these subjects are written in English. The MOE has already purchased reading textbooks for all Elementary school students and conducted training sessions for their use by teachers. Other strategies to obtain this goal include improved teacher training, higher standards for teacher certification, retention of native-English speaking volunteer teachers, and increasing the number of classroom hours dedicated to language training.