The Funny Thing is that...(3)

Tuesday May 27, 2008, Number 3
The Funny Thing is that...

…there are two types of crooks. The first one doesn't want the public to know. While the other just doesn't give a damn whether the public knows or not! More on that later!

… we received a response on the events of Ailinglaplap by a reader who said, "For your information, the Ailinglaplap events is fully funded by the Iroij Anjua and Imata. They are spending over $70,000.00 for this event. That means chartering the Government vessel to transfer people and the boats that will participate in the events."

… the sum of $83,000 is up for grabs in prizes. We guess that someone will fork up an extra 50 g's to fund the charters.

... President Tomeing led a large delegation to Arkansas last week to participate in the 29^th Constitution Day celebrations after attending the inauguration of Taiwan's new President.

...President Tomeing's delegation included First Lady Tomeing, Minister and Mrs. Tony deBrum, Ambassador and Mrs. Phillip Muller, Ambassador and Mrs. Ben Graham, Speaker and Mrs. Jurelang Zedkaia, Senator Kaibuke Kabua, and several Presidential and Foreign Affairs staffers.

…the President announced that a new consulate office will be established in Springdale. The question now is who will head the office. Last we heard the person who was "supposedly" selected to run the office is on the "no fly list."

...while the President, Speaker and Senator Kabua headed back to Majuro, the rest of the delegation will travel to Washington, DC. From DC, Minister deBrum and Ambassador Muller will continue on to Atlanta then to Milan, Italy.

...The President will remain in Arkansas for the remainder of the Week.

...Minister of Public Works Kejjo Bien went to the Philippines for an official visit and while there he visited a family member who was referred to the hospitals there.

…a reader of ours pointed out that several yeas ago the Marshall Islands Journal had a front page story that labeled former President Note has having "Joined the Jet Set" for traveling, Yokwe Online once featured a story called the "Road to Disaster." We're wondering what they'll label this administration that seems to enjoy traveling since they came to power four months ago. Shhhhhhhh….

…again, one of our "eyes" saw Minister Christopher Loeak board Continental late last week back to Majuro. (We'll find out where he went and let you know).

...the Children's ward at the Majuro hospital was flooded due to toilet plumbing problems and human waste and bad odor were left overnight while the sick children were sleeping.

...the following day the cleaning people used really strong cleaning supplies while the Children were still in their beds and now we are questioning if this is dangerous to the children's health, but this is not something new because other rooms face the same plumbing problems.

...the air conditioning system at the hospital does not have a control and the patients are often freezing and sometimes we notice them sneaking out to get warm.

...there is a cleaning crew which comprises of only the Filipina (Lydia) who is left to clean the whole hospital by herself and it's been 3 months since they replaced the laundry person at the hospital.

...we should now question the hospital administrator and why is he/she sleeping at the wheel and we would recommend that a maintenance contract be secured to make sure this doesn't happen in the future.

...Marshall Islands Ambassador to the United States Benjamin Graham's latest survey revealed that 93 percent of 129 stores in both Majuro and Ebeye are illegally selling tobacco products to youths under 18.

...Marshall Islands has joined other Pacific countries to ban fishing vessels they sell licenses to from fishing in the high seas.

...The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $2.5 million in emergency management grants to the U.S. Pacific territories and the freely associated states. Marshall Islands will receive a share at of the pie by receiving $87,435.

…the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5658, the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009" by a vote of 384 to 23. The bill authorizes defense spending and policy for 2009, and contains several provisions sponsored by Congresswoman Bordallo that will strengthen Congressional oversight and accountability of the ongoing military build-up on Guam.

...congratulations to Mr. Filimon Manoni who will take the top legal post in the RMI government as the Attorney General and thank you to former AG Posesi Bloomfield for your service to the Marshallese people.

… House of Delegates of Palau recently adopted a resolution expressing disapproval for the treatment of President Remengesau and First Lady Debbie Remengesau by Continental Micronesia and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

And to spice things up…

This week in RMI history shows that in 2004 former Foreign Minister Gerald Zackios met with the Taiwan National University to discuss the exchange of notes between RMI and ROC doctors. At that time the University would send doctors to the RMI for duration of one to two years. Arno Senator Zackios emphasized that the other possibilities would be for the University to provide scholarships to Marshallese students interested in the medical field. Talks began between the University and the RMI Ministry of Health through the ambassadors from both countries, thus, the birth of the medical exchange program between Taiwan and the RMI.

Also this week in 2004, ship building companies—Dragon Ship Building Ltd.; Ching Fu Shipbuilding Company and Taiwan Navigation showed interest in changing or come under the RMI flag. Former Foreign Minister Zackios acknowledged that the opportunity would strengthen the Marshall Islands Trust Company should the ship companies decide to do so. Former President Note called the moves "beneficial." Note is quoted as saying the International Registries Incorporated (IRI) is a major "contributor to the local economy."

Finally this week in 2004, talks between the former President Note and China and Mandarin Airlines' about a survey team to the RMI was "very positive." Talks began to see the feasibility of having the airline service the RMI. China Airlines would begin flights between Taiwan and the RMI while Mandarin Airlines would support Air Marshall Islands on its domestic flights. Obviously, the plan didn't materialized, but a year later, talks began between the previous government and Japan Airline—the beginning of the direct tourist flights from Tokyo.

We say until next week, keep your Rumors coming and remember, without Rumors life would be full of empty stories!

Can You Believe That...(2)

May 22, 2008, Number 2
Can You Believe That...

...a recently hired Foreign Service Officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to board a Continental flight to Guam enroute to the Forum Fisheries Association Meeting in Palau, but found out at the Amata Kabua International Airport in Majuro that he is listed in the "No Fly List." and therefore didn't make it to the meeting?

...the MV-LOMOR was dispatched by the OIDS (Outter Islands Dispensary Services/MOH) to pick up an medevac patient from Wotje and while there it was directed to continue on to a neighboring island to pick up turtles for the President's private birthday function at his residence?

...people are asking if the Australian government would approve their funded vessel to hunt for turtles which they are totally are against in the first place?

...MV Lomor is to serve and protect, not used to kill for meal innocent turtles?

...The Marshall Islands government has acceded to five International Maritime Organization (IMO) conventions?

...An Asia Pacific Airlines Boeing-727 cargo flight skidded off the end of the short runway at Pohnpei last week Friday. This is the second time that an APA flight has skidded off the Pohnpei runway. In the previous incident a few years ago, the aircraft was destroyed and part of the runway was damaged in the accident.

...APA carries mail to and from islands in the FSM and the Marshall Islands, and also exports large volumes of yellowfin tuna to sashimi markets in Hawaii and Japan?

...Jabor, Jaluit residents are facing power rationing as MEC announced Tuesday that power will be limited to 10 hours per day?

...Ebeye residents have faced numerous blackouts over the past two months?

...the MV-YFU82 was used to deliver passengers and food supples to Ujae, Lae, Wotho Local Government's Inaugurations?

...during this trip, the vessel was directed to stay an extra day so the attendees including Iroij Mike Kabua can play riwut at each of the atolls?

...the vessel was used to deliver passengers who did not pay their way from Kwajalein to the ceremonies at each location?

...people are asking why is the government paying for excursion trips for the landowners of Kwajalein and since when did a government owned vessel traveled long distances without being chartered to deliver development projects to the outer islands?

...the vessel was further directed to deliver spectators for the canoe race at Ailinglaplap?

...Marshallese are asking how much did the vessel make in terms of revenue on this trip given that its supposed to pay for itself through its charter?

Marshall Islands Rumor Has It that (1)

Friday May 16, 2008

...Marshall Islands' nuclear Bill 1756 has been pushed aside by the United States Congress due to the lack of RMI Government position

...As part of the new LUA proposal, Kwajalein Leaders and the RMI Government will ask the US if KADA can operate and provide an Oceanic Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) and supply USAKA with its power.

...The OTEC was a plan to have USAKA provide Ebeye residents with free power

...The Minister or Resources and Development was running around during the Marshall Islands 29th Constitution Day to see if Tobolar can raise the price of coconut because the President announced it without his knowledge.

...Yokwe Online's hottest topic is on NTA and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications responses, yet people in Majuro are wondering why the "Transportation" part of T&C is inoperable

...Leaders of the Pacific, including Presidents Tomeing (RMI), Manny Mori (FSM) and Tommy Remengesau (Palau) are in Israel for their Independence Day

...President Litokwa Tomeing has plenty to read over the next few weeks. He has just received two books from Israel, one from President Shimon Peres and the other from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

...The Ministry of Health is in need of a chief accountant who must be a graduate of a recognized college or university, a certified public accountant in the Philippines, and with at least two years work experience as a chief accountant.

...Northwest Arkansas Congressman John Boozman is asking the US Congress to provide Arkansas with Compact Impact Funds

...If more Marshallese communities throughout the US request the Compact Impact Funds, funding may be withdrawn from the Compact Sector grants.

...A Saipan NGO, Karidat Social Services, is asking the US to provide part of the 30 million annual Compact Impact Funds because 1/3 of its recipients are from the Freely Associated States.

...The 2007 Elections Commission has submitted its findings to the President and it should be made public soon by the President.