HONOLULU, HI\u2014Representatives of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the United States met last August in Hawaii and jointly approved $28 million that would go to the Marshall Islands under the Compact of Free Association.<\/p>\n
The bilateral Joint Economic Management and Financial Accountability Committee of the RMI and United States meeting took place on Aug. 29, 2016, in Honolulu, Hawaii. <\/p>\n
Committee members jointly approved $28 million in the sectors of health, education, environment, and public infrastructure as identified under the Compact of Free Association, as amended, for the benefit of the people of the RMI. <\/p>\n
This annual meeting of the JEMFAC serves to promote the effective use of funding under the Compact and provides the opportunity for RMI and U.S. officials to discuss bilateral priorities pertaining to Compact funding and how best to achieve them.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am encouraged by the JEMFAC meetings and discussions we held regarding the Marshall Islands,\u201d said JEMFAC chairman and acting assistant secretary Nik Pula. \u201cThe Marshall Islands continues to make progress on all fronts with respect to Compact funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the annual joint meeting, the committee members: <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tReaffirmed our mutual commitment to peace, prosperity, and shared democratic values. <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tRecognized the importance of the enduring relationship between our two countries and highlighted areas for continued cooperation to advance our shared goals.<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tReaffirmed that the goal of funding provided under the Compact, as amended, is for the benefit of the people of the RMI. <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tRecognized the significant progress made by the RMI Government in developing the capacity of its Ministry of Finance and the submittal of the RMI\u2019s Fiscal Year 2016 Single Audit in a timely and unmodified manner. Minister Brenson Wase and Secretary Maybelline Bing\u2019s (RMI Ministry of Finance) extraordinary efforts in improving the RMI\u2019s financial management operations were particularly recognized. <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tReceived presentations on RMI efforts: to strengthen the RMI Public School System, support the College of the Marshall Islands, strengthen the RMI\u2019s school accreditation processes, improve access to primary healthcare, and implement infrastructure projects to contribute to economic advancement, budgetary self-reliance, and sustainable inclusive development.<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tResolved to make Compact sector financial assistance available to enable the RMI to undertake a third party review of the RMI\u2019s education system<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tApproved funding for community projects on Ebeye within Kwajalein Atoll. <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tReaffirmed the importance of sustainable and inclusive economic development through improved education standards, access to primary healthcare, and data collection.<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tRecognized the RMI\u2019s progress in developing clear, simple, measurable and verifiable performance indicators in health and education.<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tWelcomed Mr. Paul Curry, Principal Operations Coordination Specialist at the Asian Development Bank, who observed the JEMFAC meeting. <\/p>\n
The JEMFAC allocated fiscal year 2018 Compact assistance to the following sectors:<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$11,022,660\tEducation<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$6,869,099\tHealth<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$2,647,699\tEbeye Special Needs \u2013 Education<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$1,957,635\tEbeye Special Needs \u2013 Health<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$1,484,556\tEbeye Special Needs \u2013 Capital<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$180,766\tEnvironment<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$2,050,000\tPublic Sector Infrastructure<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$240,780\tKwajalein Environmental Impact<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$2,287,410\tKwajalein Development Fund <\/p>\n
Additionally, the JEMFAC allocated \u201cprior-year\u201d unexpended Compact assistance to the following sectors:<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$500,000\tEbeye Special Needs \u2013 Capital (Section 211(b)(1))- Ebeye Sea Wall Project<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$1,126,250\tEbeye Special Needs (Section 211(b)(1)) \u2013 EWSSP Phase 3<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\t$462,000\tKwajalein Development Fund (Section 211(b)(2)) \u2013 Power Generation Support<\/p>\n
JEMFAC passed the following resolutions:<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tJEMFAC 2017-1 Mid-Corridor Housing Project <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tJEMFAC 2017-2 Support of Education Institutional Strengthening <\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tJEMFAC 2017-3 Infrastructure Projects \u2013 Professional Design and Engineering<\/p>\n
\t\u2022\tJEMFAC 2017-4 FY2018 Compact Grant Allocations<\/p>\n
The JEMFAC will reconvene for its mid-year meeting in spring 2018. <\/p>\n
The JEMFAC is composed of the following members: Pula (Department of the Interior), vice chair John Silk (RM, Minister of Foreign Affairs), Brenson Wase (RMI, Minister of Finance), William Gallo (Health and Human Services), and Philip Roskamp (State Department). (PR)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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