Topic: RMINews

Marshall Islands' Leaders Attend France-Oceania Summit

Republic of the Marshall Islands' President Kessai H. Note and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gerald Zackios are in Paris this week for the second France-Oceania Summit. At the invitation of French President Jacques Chirac, heads of state and foreign ministers from 16 countries attended the meeting held on Monday, June 26. The summit's goal was to "introduce a new dynamic to the relations between France and the Pacific region," said the French ministry office.
ALSO:

Second France-Oceania Summit Declaration

Symposium to Discuss Future of Marshall Islands

A first-of-its-kind symposium will be held in Majuro on July 15, 2006, entitled Antoone 2020: Visioning 2020. The event will bring together some 150 young Marshallese (mostly in their 20s and 30s) from all sectors to discuss the future direction of the country, focusing specifically on the question: Where will the RMI be in 2020?

Masters Degree Holders Charting New Course in Education for Marshalls

The student cohort in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) graduated with their Masters Degrees in Education Leadership last week in Majuro. Over 350 people attended the ceremony, including RMI President Kessai Note and the First Lady. "There are now 20 new Marshallese Masters degree holders who are ready to take on the future of education in the Republic of the Marshall Islands," said Dr. Steve Spencer, the director of the Center for Pacific Studies, in a note of congratulations last month to the graduates.

Marshall Islands' Parliamentarians Meet with Beijing Olympic Official

A group of five parliamentarians from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) left for a visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC) on June 12. The high-level delegation was composed of Nitijela (legislative body) senators who also serve as standing committee chairmen. The group was led by Vice Speaker Ruben Zackhras.

Three days into their trip, the Marshall Islands' delegation visited with a top official for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Majuro Chamber of Commerce Holds Forum on Education in the RMI

Twenty questions, about the current state of education in the Republic of the Marshalls (RMI), were submitted in advance to Minister of Education Wilfred Kendall and Secretary of Education Biram Stege.

In his opening remarks at the June 14 Forum, Minister Kendall said that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is improved today with the advent of performance-based budgeting and a new management information system. All 5-year olds are enrolled in kindergarten. There is a revised curriculum for elementary school, standardized student testing for grades 3, 6, and 8, teacher testing, and movement toward teacher certification, according to the Minister.

Letter sent by Majuro Chamber of Commerce representatives to Speaker of the Nitijela (the Republic of the Marshall Islands' parliament regarding senators trip to People's Republic of China.

Dear Hon. Speaker Litokwa Tomeing,

As the official representatives of the Majuro Chamber of Commerce, the
Executive Committee met today and considered, among other things, the story
in this week's Marshall Islands Journal about the ³high-level delegation of
Nitijela senators² planning to visit the People¹s Republic of China on June
12, 2006.

Marshall Islands' President Visits Pacific Northwest

From many islands to one
- President and a half-dozen senators and ministers visit Northwest.

Seahawks visitor shows his presidential preference
- President Kessai Note visited the Seahawks headquarters on Thursday.

President, Lawmaker Find Island Connection
- Marshall Islands' president makes a stop on 'beautiful' Bainbridge.

Marshalls' to Make "Own Decision" on Whaling

Marshall Islands has joined the International Whaling Commission, and whale conservationists are concerned. The Pacific nation may vote with Japan and the pro-whaling lobby at the next IWC meeting. For the past twenty years, there has been a ban on commercial whaling, but with more Pacific islands being wooed by Japan, the vote could swing with the pro-whaling camp.

The Marshalls signed-up just two weeks before the international meeting in St. Kitts, West Indies, reports Radio New Zealand.

Minority Party Responds to Marshall Islands' Government Stand on Public Accounts Issue

A response to a question about the inactivity of the Marshall Islands' Nitijela's Public Accounts Committee during the May Majuro Chamber of Commerce meeting, which featured a special forum with the President and his Cabinet, implied that lack of a quorum was because of minority senators. Opposition party Senator Justin deBrum issued a rebuttal, published May 17. A recent statement, posted May 23, from the majority party's Minister Witten Philippo again said that the minority party chose not to participate in meetings. The following letters, from Senator deBrum and Senator Kaiboke J. Kabua, state that this is "simply not true" and point to lack of openness and transparency in government:

Dear Editor:
On the surface, it may seem that the rules of procedures of the Nitijela prevented the Nitijela Committee on Public Accounts from holding meetings. But if one should go a little deeper into the political strata, one will find that the real reason the Public Accounts committee is NOT alive and kicking is because that is the way the government wants it to be... so what else is new?

Children's Rights Committee Postpones Marshall Islands' Review

Examination of a report on children's rights in the Republic of the Marshall Islands was postponed because that country's delegation did not show up to present the report. The 42nd Session of the Committee on the Rights of the Child began Monday, May 15, at the Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland, and was to review the Marshall Islands' second periodic report on May 23. The session, which runs through June 2, is scheduled to review the promotion and protection of children's rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in sixteen States.

According to the Convention Committee, consideration of the Marshall Islands' report will be postponed to the next session in October 2006.

Marshalls' Government Officials Face Tough Questions from Private Sector

The Majuro Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee has provided the minutes of the May 10 meeting. The membership hosted the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kessai H. Note, who brought officials of his Administration to respond to Chamber questions. The minutes, which follow, provide the questions and a summary of statements made by officials:

Public Safety/Crime
Q. Crime appears to be on the rise in the Marshall Islands, especially burglaries. Is there a plan to upgrade the Department of Public Safety by, for example, getting fingerprinting equipment, drug ID kits so that the detectives can ID the drugs that they confiscate, and building a new prison facility?

Marshall Islands President and Officials Answer Chamber Questions

On Wednesday, Majuro citizens packed the May Chamber of Commerce meeting at the Marshall Islands Resort for a special question and answer session with President Kessai Note, the Cabinet, Secretaries, and other Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) government officials. In his address, President Note summarize some accomplishments of his administration and encouraged "the private sector and the business community to do more for the growth of our economy and our country."

Marshall Islands' President Note's Statement at Chamber Meeting

Majuro Chamber President Jack Niedenthal's Opening Remarks at Chamber Meeting

Marshalls Islands Journal: President Note Speaks Openly to Chamber

Opening Remarks by
Jack Niedenthal
President
Majuro Chamber of Commerce
Majuro Chamber of Commerce Meeting
The Enra Restaurant, Marshall Islands Resort
Wednesday May 10, 2006
Kommolol Anij kin ien in. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize HE President Kessai H. Note; Honorable Ministers; Iroij; Alaps; government Secretaries; members of the Diplomatic Corps of the United States and the Republic of China Taiwan; other distinguished guests; students and teachers from SDA High School; the general public in attendance; and of course our Majuro Chamber of Commerce members.

Airline to Raise Rates unless Cell Tower Lowered

The Majuro Chamber of Commerce, in the Marshall Islands, has called for immediate action to resolve the six months-long stalemate between national telecommunications and Continental airlines over the height of a cell phone tower located at the east-end of the capital atoll's international airport. For safety and efficiency considerations, the tower can be no higher than 92 feet above mean sea level, according to Continental (CMA) and U.S. Federal Aviation (FAA) officials.

If the 108 feet tower is not lowered, Continental, the only airline carrier to Hawaii, will raise its rates by 4%, beginning the first of June due to payload restrictions for take-offs. Maximum fuel loads are required for the Majuro-Honolulu route.