$1 on The Marshall Islands Journal —­­­ Friday, October 21, 2011Majuro 1 Saane is The Marshall Islands batting 9 ISSN: 0892 2096 for 9 Ministry of Internal Affairs officials and National Police got together Tuesday to burn the ballots from the 2007 election in Alwal. From left to right, Captain Remen Bakol, Fritzad Jack Reiher, Sweetland Note, Baron Abraham, Nobert deBrum, and officer Moses Lautej. Photo: Isaac Marty. Tony blasts ‘lack of action’ on fraud GIFF JOHNSON Kwajalein Senator Tony deBrum said this week that RMI Cabinet lead- Brenson, John, Jack say Campaign 2011: ers have allowed the investigations into government fraud and theft to virtually collapse for lack of staff in the AG’s deBrum is misleading Kwaj-Majuro split office and few police investigators. In With one month left to the November 21 vote, cam- an attack on government leadership, Reading the article in last week’s investigation of the fraud. paign activities are hitting high gear. deBrum said this problem has occurred Journal that the Acting AG Tubosoye But Justice Minister Wase said This year’s campaign, up to recently, has appeared despite the government’s leaders say- Brown is the only attorney in the AG’s Brown, who was recently named Act- to be less party oriented than any election since before ing everything was under control. office and there is only one national po- ing AG, is the official who has been 1999 — with various party groupings that were central But three Cabinet Ministers — Bren- lice investigator currently on the fraud leading the fraud cases from the begin- in earlier elections having been abandoned for the 2011 son Wase, Jack Ading and John Silk probe prompted deBrum to level criti- ning and is continuing forward with vote. It’s looked like an every man and woman for — got together Wednesday to respond cism at the government. He also said the investigations and prosecutions. themselves election. to deBrum’s allegations, saying the at recent Public Accounts Committee “The investigation is ongoing,” said In the last few days, however, a new group calling RMI-led investigations are continuing hearings the committee members had Finance Minister Ading who made the itself KEA — Kien Eo Am (Your Government) — has and plans are in motion to bolster the specifically asked whether the RMI additional point that High Court trials Continued page 2 Attorney General’s office. has the people to conduct a thorough Continued page 2 Talk to us at [email protected] • Subscribe to the Journal Online at www.marshallislandsjournal.com 2 Friday, October 21, 2011 — The Marshall Islands Journal Fraud fracas: Tony deBrum, Brenson Wase, John Silk, Jack Ading. Jack: Investigation is moving forward From page 1 are scheduled for January, February and March in various prosecutions. Brown also told the Journal last week Campaign fever that he is pursuing investigations and opening new investigations. Wase said earlier this year, he, Ading From page 1 to mark Jaluit Liberation Day. and Silk had met with US officials and coalesced and is comprised of a An interesting feature of elec- arrived at an agreement that the RMI number of Cabinet ministers and tion developments is that there is would lead the investigation, with then senators associated with the current no unanimity among iroij who are AG Frederick Canavor, Jr. as the point administration of President Jurelang the key players both up front and of contact with the US government, Zedkaia. Kwajalein is the center of a behind the scenes in the current while Chief Prosecutor Brown was in brewing opposition group that is sup- election campaign. Forces aligned charge of the prosecutions. “We agreed porting candidates in both Ralik and with Kwajalein iroij are pushing to on how to address the fraud issue with Ratak chains seeking to gain a major- get a majority of “their” candidates the US,” Wase said. “Fred Canavor had ity to oust the current government elected so that they can form a gov- experience in Guam and the FSM so when Nitijela convenes in January. ernment in January, while the KEA we put our confidence in the AG.” The An example of the Kwajalein sup- party, which is aligned with Zedkaia, US offered assistance as needed, and in port was the small fleet of boats that are working to maintain and increase fact both the Interior Department and motored down to Jaluit last weekend their majority. the Government Accountability Office have sent officials to RMI in recent AG post as soon as he completes his request for help.” months, Wase said. PhD requirements, which is expected Now, deBrum said, the Acting At- But deBrum emphasized the fact that to be in the next several weeks. “We torney General has stated he has no President Jurelang Zedkaia, Wase and hope to have him in before the elec- legal staff and only one investigator to Ading had claimed earlier this year that tion,” Wase said. pursue these important investigations the RMI government had the staff to Ading said one of the two police into theft from the RMI government. properly investigate the theft from the investigators — Parker Wilson — is “Now the US government can fairly government. But with the current situ- off-island on a short-term training, and say that the RMI is not pursuing the in- ation in the Attorney General’s office will be back shortly. vestigations and can hold up funding,” this has now been proved to be false, Meanwhile, the lawyer shortage at deBrum said. “It’s a totally intolerable and has created a “totally intolerable” the AG office is because two are on situation.” situation for the Marshall Islands, leave for the election, one resigned, Silk said he also objected to de- deBrum said. and one was given leave at an inap- Brum’s resolution, saying it was the Wase and Silk said they have dis- propriate time, Wase said. Nitijela as a whole that decided against cussed the options of bringing in DeBrum said he had introduced a the resolution, not one person. All three attorneys from Foreign Affairs and resolution in Nitijela early this year ministers said they objected to the Resources and Development to bol- to invite US investigators to assist resolution because it was “misleading” ster the AG’s office over the next few RMI. But this resolution, which was in that it claimed the RMI had rejected weeks for both the fraud work and the deferred by the Nitijela, was “fought a US offer of investigative assistance. election. by the President, Brenson and Jack,” Ading said at the time the US had not Wase said the government is work- deBrum said. offered any assistance so there was ing quickly to address AG office needs. “They said the RMI didn’t need nothing to reject. He also said former RMI AG Philimon anyone to help in the investigation in He stated that a meeting with US Manoni has been asked to return to the spite of the Attorney General’s loud officials in Hawaii early this year on the matter led to cooperation and the okay from the RMI for the US to send $2.6m check for RMI investigators as needed. “Subsequent to that meeting, Interior sent in inves- The Parties to the Nauru Agree- sold to Solomon Islands and other PNA tigators including from the GAO office ment (PNA) office will hand over a members. from Hawaii,” Ading said. $2.6 million check to the Marshall This follows on a $1 million sale of Silk said the investigation and Islands Marine Resources Authority fishing days to Papua New Guinea last prosecutions have been conducted in on Thursday this week for fishing days month. More fisheries stories: P18. a transparent manner. The Marshall Islands Journal —­­­ Friday, October 21, 2011 3 US cut will hit public health A United States-funded health program that was called “trans- formative for the (Pacific) region” Island bank holds first Majuro meet is expected to be eliminated this year, following a US House of Representatives plan to cut the pro- Pacific Island Development Bank board held its gram contained in the US FY2012 first meeting in Majuro on Wednesday this week, budget plan. delivering on a promise a month after the RMI The US Congress’ plan to elimi- government joined with an initial investment of nate funding for the Area Health $250,000. Officials said the RMI membership Education Center (AHEC) program brings all US-affiliated islands into the Guam- has sparked concern not only from based bank, increasing opportunities for College of the Marshall Islands accessing capital. Bank President Aren Palik said Interim President Carl Hacker but they are waiting for the RMI to issue a special also from officials in other US- certificate so that it can begin lending in the affiliated islands. next few weeks. “We’re excited to begin in the Dr. Greg Dever, who directs the Marshall Islands,” said Palik. Board members Palau AHEC that is based at Palau in Majuro this week, sitting from left: Diego Community College, said elimi- Benavente (CNMI), Ilai Abraham (Kosrae), Rosa nating AHEC will hurt a range of Weilbacher (manager administration). Back: public health and nursing degree Aren Palik (President), John Masiwemai (Yap), programs in the region. Thomas Pablo (Pohnpei), Secilil Eldebechel “This will adversely impact on (Palau). Lou Leon Guerrero, Bank of Guam the development of the associate President, is Guam’s representative but wasn’t of sciences degree in public health able to make the Majuro meeting. at Palau Community College, the college’s local nursing program and retard any development at the College of Micronesia in Pohnpei, as communicable diseases such as Dever of the public health training not improve chances for retaining College of the Marshall Islands as well as nursing programs at the TB and leprosy at least in part be- work launched through the program the program.