Marshallese are a good addition to the community, says Springdale mayor during Marshalls' President visit.

The President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands joined several thousand fellow Marshallese in Springdale, Arkansas over the Memorial Day weekend for the celebration of the Republic's 24th Constitution Day. For the second year, President Kessai H. Note was the special guest of the Northwest Marshallese Community and its keynote speaker for the opening ceremonies.

On Saturday morning, President Note spoke of challenges facing his island nation. "Only by confronting and dealing with these issues will both our countries be able to move beyond the legacy of dislocation, illness and suffering left by the era of nuclear testing," said Note, the local newspaper reported. Note told his constituents that he wants the new Compact agreement to include full inflation adjustment for funding, money to repave the island’s main airport, the continuation of U.S. education programs, and Federal Emergency Management Authority disaster assistance, said the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The Marshall Islands signed an amended agreement for a new Compact of Free Association with the United States last month, but the agreement must be first approved by the RMI legislature and the US Congress before taking effect.

An estimated 6,000 Marshallese make their home in the Northwest Arkansas region, benefiting from the many food industry jobs in the region.

RMI Ambassador Banny deBrum said the they treat the Arkansas community like an outer island and that Note's visit shows he "cares about how his people are doing in the U.S."

Springdale Mayor Jerre Van Hoose said that the Marshalls' delegation always asks if their people are being good citizens. The Marshallese are "employed, productive, support their children in schools and have very few incidents with law enforcement," Van Hoose said according to the Morning News.

Although Marshallese from all regions of the United States traveled to the Arkansas event, other communities in California, Texas, and Utah also sponsored activities to commemorate the national holiday. The Constitution of the Marshall Islands entered into force on May 1, 1979. The first of May is a national holiday remembered in the Islands and wherever Marshallese have migrated. Traditional activities include sport and band competitions, cultural presentations, food booths, and special guest speakers.

President Note received invitations from other communities in the United States. The Embassy said that depending of the President's busy schedule, they are hopeful that he will have time to visit other communities in the Northwest this summer. Last fall, President Note visited the community in California on his way back from a state visit to Chile.

Following his visit in Springdale from May 23 to 26, Prsident Note will be leaving for Washington, D.C. for meetings with US Congressional and Bush Administration officials. Before the Arkansas visit, Note attended the high-level Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) hosted by Japan.

Compiled by Aenet Rowa, Yokwe Online, May 25, 2003