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August 12, 2008
Below President Tomeing's statement during the visit of Col. Clarke
It is always a pleasure to see you Ambassador. I am exceedingly happy to see you Colonel once again and to welcome you to Majuro. Thank you for coming. We are honored to have you.
We were just about to get to know your predecessor Col. Stevenson Reed well when he left. I appreciate very much his forthright approach towards mutual issues affecting USAKA and the RMI. It has helped increase our understanding of each other’s problems. There is no need to re-emphasize the fact that anything that upsets USAKA’s ability to sustain ongoing benefits to the Marshall Islands, including the RMI workforce and tax benefits, is a major concern for us.
I want to thank USAKA for its conscientious effort to install mitigation provisions to help cushion the effect of USAKA’s ongoing transformation program. I am also grateful to learn that things will eventually turn around perhaps from 2010 onwards, beginning with the activation of the fiber optic cable, and the launching of other anticipated projects.
During my recent visit to attend the ‘change of command’ event in Kwajalein, I came to learn of the excellent school system you have at Kwajalein to which is admitted 5 Marshallese students per year. This particularly caught my attention because my government has placed the highest priority on the need to provide the best of education there is to the children of this country. I am wondering Colonel, whether, as part of USAKA social service extension program, you might consider increasing the present annual number of admissions to 10 or even 15. It is a gesture I believe Colonel, whose long term results will be enduring and highly productive, preparing young and talented Marshallese for the rigor of future academic pursuits.
You have a full term to go yet Colonel, and I have no doubt that there will be ample opportunity for you and I to get to know each other well and to discuss issues of mutual interests. You are aware of my open door policy. May I wish you a very productive and successful term at USAKA. Thank you for coming.
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