The Marshall Islands Journal —­­­Friday, December 12, 2008 15 Legislatures organization brings islands together

APIL and its related agencies have a mandate for reform and restructuring coming out of their two-day meeting in Majuro last week. APIL position is Association of Pacific Island Legislatures President J. Kalani English, a state senator in Ha- waii, told the Journal that APIL is shifting to focus on “how to deliver goods and services to the to ‘deliver goods’ region.” Plans in motion call not only for restructuring the way meetings are conducted, but also restructuring Senator English of the Pacific Islands Development Bank to fit the changing times, pushes new plans English said. “Members need more informal APIL President J. Kalani English is determined discussion time to get into in-depth to see this regional organization move to the next discussions,” he said. “There’s level of accomplishment. “We’ve discussed the a need to restructure. The orga- issues,” the state senator told the Journal. nization has reached a level of “People understand the needs. Now it’s time to maturity. It’s grown and needs to move to implementation.” adjust.” APIL is not without its own set of tools, includ- English, who has just taken ing the Pacific Islands Development Bank that was over as APIL’s new President for established by the organization and is capitalized by 2009, said: “I want to make the a $1 million investment from member islands that RMI Chief Justice Daniel Cadra (seated) swore in the new want to get bank investment in their islands. organization more user-friendly APIL officers last week. From left: Nitijela Speaker Jurelang to members, with less formality English pointed out that PIDB is one of a number Zedkaia, President Kalani English, Treasurer Alik Alik and of tools that APIL brings to the table to promote so members have more time to talk Secretary Judith Won Pat. Photo: Douglas Henry among each other.” its agenda and move forward to address key issues English said that much can be in the region. accomplished through APIL and its regional financial organization, the Pacific Islands Development Bank. PIDB provides loans in the RMI welcomed back to group islands that have contributed capi- The Association of Pacific Island Legisla- providing loans, technical assistance and other Islands, American , Hawaii and two non- tal of $1 million. The RMI is cur- th rently reviewing an investment. tures held its 49 board meeting on Thursday programs. Incoming APIL President J. Kalani US affiliated islands, and . Other islands have invested in and Friday last week, following a swearing in English, a state senator from Hawaii, said the English pointed out that APIL membership of its officers by RMI Supreme Court Chief body had “missed the presence of the Marshall cuts across all political jurisdictions — freely smaller amounts building up to Justice Daniel Cadra at the Nitijela. Islands” and was happy to see RMI rejoin. associated states, commonwealths and ter- the $1 million target, said Aron In a brief opening ceremony, Speaker Iroij “We look for meaningful participation of ritories of the US, a state and independent na- Palik, President of PIDB, who Jurelang said it gave him pleasure to have the the Marshall Islands and welcome it back to tions not associated with the US. The agenda was in Majuro for last week’s Nitijela resume membership in APIL. membership,” English said. included what he described as “very pressing meetings. To date, Guam, Palau, He pointed to the APIL-established Pacific APIL has 12 member islands — the four issues,” ranging from environment and health Yap, the Northern Marianas and Islands Development Bank as a vehicle to states of the Federated States of , to economic development and the social well Pohnpei have each put in $1 mil- support development in the member islands, Palau, RMI, Guam, the Northern Mariana being of the populations in the islands. lion. Kosrae has invested $600,000 and Chuuk $251,000, despite eco- nomic problems in both of these FSM states. English praised the low default rate of less than one percent, cred- iting Palik’s hands-on work and follow up with loan recipients to Joining in opening ensure success. The focus of bank the APIL meeting lending at the moment is largely last week was on business and development (top photo) projects, though Palik said this President Litokwa may expand in the future. Tomeing, Speaker English said that APIL is looking Zedkaia, Iroij to “grow partnerships” with other Kotak Loeak, APIL groups such as the United Nations President Kalani Development Program, AusAID English and and the Republic of China. Rev. Enja Enos; “The message coming out of Senator English the Majuro meeting is we want greets Taiwan to deliver tangible benefits to the Ambassador members,” English said. Bruce JD Linghu; The next annual general assem- Nitijela Vice bly is set for Pohnpei in late May Speaker Alik or early June, while the next board Alik is sworn in meeting in late 2009 will be held by Chief Justice in Kiribati. Cadra. Photos: English also said he was delight- Douglas Henry ed RMI had returned to member- and Giff Johnson. ship after years of absence.