November 09, 2018 Volume 3, Issue 5 President Heine Issues Out INSIDE THIS ISSUE Statement Regarding the Vote President Heine Issues out Statement Regarding the VONC 1 Steady Progress on Agenda 2020 1 Of No Confidence RMI Delegation Focusin on Cancer Explores New Partnership 2 ROC (TAIWAN) Trade & Investment Mission Courtesy Call 3 MOA Signing of MICNGO 4 Inform Project Launch 5 5th ROK-PIC Senior Officials Meeting 6 Breast Cancer Awareness Month 7 Investiture Ceremony of Associate Judge Philippo 8 Ministry of Justice, Immigration, & Labor Retreat 10 and more... Steady Progress on Agenda 2020 President Dr. Hilda C. Heine delivered a video A review of Agenda 2020 finds satisfactory progress statement regarding the Vote of No Confidence on November 9. on the plan’s major objectives, as well as some areas for improvement. Adopted by President In her statement, President Heine stated that the VONC Dr. Hilda C. Heine in 2016, Agenda 2020 is the is baseless and calling it a smokescreen for the RASAR, government’s roadmap for progress and reform. which was not approved. She shared several examples of the progress that were made over the years. To watch the video, click here. The plan identifies 20 major challenges and reforms to be addressed by the year 2020. Its main aim is to President Heine and the Cabinet faced a vote of no improve the social, environmental, and economic confidence motion that was officially brought forth on well-being of the Marshallese people. President November 2. The petitioners of the intent for a motion Heine is the first RMI President to adopt a four-year of No Confidence were Senator Alfred Alfred Jr., Senator Jerakoj Bejan; Senator Bruce Bilimon, Senator David roadmap, in line with the four-year political cycle. Kabua, Senator Leander Leander Jr., Senator Casten Implentation of Agenda 2020 ...(continued on page 6) Nemra, Senator Eldon Note, and Senator Atbi Riklon. Chronological Order of the Vote Of No Confidence Below is the list (in chronological order) the motions of no confidence in the political history of the Marshall Islands: 1) September 2, 1998 - Motion moved against President Imata Kabua and his Cabinet Members. “Elane jen kar kommane juon ekkatak rainin im lale ewi weween an armej lomnak, ij tomak jenaj loe bwe ilon in lok 60% rejjab 2) January 15, 2001 - Motion moved erra ilo vote in jelke in kinke emoj an allikar ilo aolep jerbal ko against President Kessai Note and an maantak, ke Kien in ear, ej, im eban jemlok an komaat an his Cabinet Members. maron nan kokmanmanlok mour in armej in Majol im kinke keidi nan tobrak ko an Kien in, un kein jaki maantak, re-pejpej.” -President Dr. Hilda C. Heine’s response to the Vote Of No 3) October 21, 2008 - Motion Confidence. moved against President Litokwa Tomeing and his Cabinet Members. 4) April 8, 2009 - Motion moved against President Litokwa Tomeing and his Cabinet Members. RMI DELEGATION FOCUSING 5) October 13, 2009 - Motion ON CANCER EXPLORES NEW moved against President Litokwa Tomeing and his Cabinet Members. PARTNERSHIPS The RMI’s National Nuclear Commission (NNC), in collaboration with 6) November 14, 2013 - Motion the RMI Ministry of Health and Human Services (HHS), participated in a moved against President series of meetings in Seattle, Washington to explore opportunities for new Christopher Loeak and his Cabinet partnerships to improve cancer screening and treatment for Marshallese. Members. This meeting represented the first time that the RMI Government moved outside of traditional US-RMI bilateral government discussions about 7) March 7, 2014 - Motion moved cancer care and demonstrates the commitment of the RMI to pursue all against President Christopher avenues to provide adequate healthcare for the Marshallese impacted by Loeak and his Cabinet Members. the U.S. nuclear weapons testing program. 8) January 18, 2016 - Motion moved against President Casten Nemra and his Cabinet Members. 9) November 05, 2018 – Motion moved against President Dr. Hilda C. Heine and her Cabinet Members. PAGE 2 HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS QUARTERLY MEETING RMI ATTENDS 2018 NYIFF FOR THE FIRST TIME In early October, Minister of Culture and Internal Affairs Amenta Matthew led a delegation to participate The quarterly meeting for head of departments from at the 2018 NanYing International Folklore Festival government agencies, state-owned agencies and entities (NYIFF) held in Tainan, Republic of China (Taiwan.) took place November 6 at the International Conference The RMI delegation comprised of Iroijlaplap Boklong Center. This is the second quarterly meeting for head and Lejla Kasko Zackious, Mayor of Wotje Ota Kisino of departments, the first quarterly meeting was held in and spouse, Secretary of Culture and Internal Affairs late March. The meeting discussed methods to improve Wallace Peter, officials from the RMI Embassy to performance, issues relating to ethics, updates from ROC(Taiwan), and the Jebo Cultural Group. This is Ministries and SOE, among others. the RMI’s first appearance at the nationally televised event. President Dr. Hilda C. Heine attended the quarterly meeting where reiterated that customer service has always The Cultural Affairs Division of Tainan City been a priority for her administration and their roles as Government has been hosting the NYIFF for Head of Departments is pivotal. “Your thinking and your the last 23 years. It is one of the largest and most work would help the government. This government has renowned festivals held in ROC (Taiwan.) The festival, been interested in making sure that people are at the brought more than ten thousand participants and center of what we do. We have shown our commitment spectators alike, aims to preserve the cultural heritage in several areas but need to improve in others. We need to from countries all over the world and provide an ensure that the service is efficient and reaching everyone opportunity for international cultural exchanges. This equally.” year 18 countries, including the RMI were selected to participate at this year’s NYIFF. ROC (TAIWAN) TRADE MISSION COURTESY CALL On November 2, the Trade and Investment Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) paid a courtesy visit to President Dr. Hilda C. Heine. Ambassador of ROC (Taiwan) Jeffrey Hsiao accompanied the delegation which was led by Assistant Director- General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hsiao- Feng Tseng and comprised of six representatives from various private sectors in ROC (Taiwan.) President Heine expressed her gratitude for their visit. She hoped that their visit will create opportunities to start and build connections stating that their visit enhances the economic exchange and cooperation for the two countries. PAGE 3 PRESIDENT HEINE & CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS SIGN HISTORIC PACT Government took a major step forward in strengthening its partnership with civil society with the signing of a new Partnership Framework Agreement between the government and the Marshall Islands Council of Non-Government Organizations (MICNGOs). The agreement supports President Dr. Hilda C. Heine’s Agenda 2020, which aims to improve social, environmental, and economic well-being in the country. MICNGOs is the national umbrella organization for Civil Society Organizations (CSO), composed of numerous organizations that address a wide range of development challenges. These include health, education, environment, women’s rights, youth, climate change, and more. Although government has worked with various groups in the past, this is the first time that a formal partnership agreement with CSO has been forged. Under the agreement, Government will provide an annual grant of $120,000 to strengthen MICNGOs and its member organizations, and in return these groups will provide advice and support to Government on its objectives under Agenda 2020 and the National Strategic Plan. The historic agreement was signed on November 8 at the Cabinet Conference room by President Dr. Hilda C. Heine and MICNGOs Chairman Alson Kelen. During the signing ceremony, President Heine stated that “Including civil society strengthens the conversation about sustainable development among key stakeholders; and where civil society can supplement as well as scrutinize government reports, we will be able to serve everyone better and ensure no one is left behind.” RMI FOCUSING ON CANCER EXPLORES NEW PARTNERSHIP CONTINUED The delegation was led by Deputy Secretary Mailynn Konelios-Langinlur, and included several sectors of cancer care that were essential to bring into the brainstorming session in Seattle, including patient and clinical care in the RMI, cancer registry, and cancer screening and cancer prevention. Other HHS Ministry representatives included: Neiar Kabua, Suzanne Philippo, Dr. Aina Garstang, Erma Myazoe, and Daisy Pedro. The NNC was represented by NNC Commissioner Dr. Holly Barker and NNC Public Education and Awareness Coordinator Ariana Tibon. According to the NNC Chair, Rhea Moss-Christian, the brain storming session in Seattle was an overwhelming success: “NNC’s collaboration with HHS is essential to ensuring that health care needs arising from the nuclear testing program will be addressed.This collaboration will require even greater stakeholder input if we are to be successful but as an initial step, the commitment by the HHS team to the Seattle discussions is inspiring and the NNC looks forward to building on the momentum that this group has started.” The centerpiece of the Seattle meetings was a half-day brainstorming session at the Fred Hutch/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.