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November 17, 2011
Majuro, Marshall Islands- President’s Day, established by Act, is a public holiday in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) in honor of the birthday of the RMI’s founding father, the late President Iroijlablab Amata Kabua.
As in previous years, the special day was commemorated by a brief wreath-laying ceremony at the tomb of the late president by President Jurelang Zedkaia and his Cabinet, and were joined by the surviving spouse of the late president, Mrs. Emlain Kabua, her family, members of the council of Iroij, Iroij Mike Kabua and Alap Bradley Mawilong of Kwajalein, members of the diplomatic corps, Chief Justice Carl Ingram, and other distinguished guests.
Late Iroijlablab Amata Kabua was born on November 17, 1928 on Jabor, Jaluit .
Before embarking on his political career, he started out as a school teacher and superintendent in the RMI school system during the late 1960s. He became paramount chief of both the Ralik (sunset) and Ratak (sunrise) chains of islands that comprise the archipelago of the Marshall Islands and led the political movement to separate from the former United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that was administered under the US, subsequently leading the RMI to nationhood on May 1, 1979. He became the first RMI president in May 1979 until his death in December 1996.
Giving special recognition to the late Iroijlablab Amata Kabua, Minister in Assistance to the President, Ruben Zackhras said, “as someone who has worked with the late president, I can say with confidence that our country would not have made it thus far had it not been for the courage, wisdom, and perseverance of our late President and Iroijlaplap Amata Kabua.” Minister Zackhras also acknowledged and thanked former president and Iroijlaplap Imata Kabua, former president Kessai Note, and former president and Iroij Litokwa Tomeing for their commitment and contribution towards the development and growth of the RMI. He also acknowledged former First Lady and Lejla Emlain Kabua, First Lady and Lejla Hiromi Kabua, First Lady Mary Note, and First Lady and Lejla Arlin Tomeing.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Senator Kaiboke Kabua, thanked President Zedkaia, the government, and distinguished guests for making the gathering a special remembrance of late President and Iroijlaplap Amata Kabua.
President Zedkaia then hosted a special luncheon in honor of this year’s President’s Day and was serenaded by a group of students from the College of the Marshall Islands’ Majuro and Ailinglablab clubs.
The day’s activities were punctuated by a special message from President Zedkaia which was broadcasted throughout the day both on the national radio station, v7ab, and through one of the country’s cable networks, NTA.
In his message to the country, President Zedkaia said he was ‘honored to follow in his uncle’s footsteps, recalling that the late President was one of the few who had earned the title ‘Fathers of Micronesia,’ along with Tosiwo Nakayama of Chuuk, Henry Patel of Pohnpei, Lazarus Salii and Roman Tmechul of Palau, and a selective few others.
He said that the late President came of age in the debate halls of the Council of Micronesia, which was the precursor to the Congress of Micronesia in the 60’s and 70’s, and added, “let us honor his memory by keeping alive his legacy by being accountable in our work and being prudent with government resources, by being honest, and fully committed in our daily work.”
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