Marshall Islands Looks for Deals to Bring Economic Boost

[Stacey King]

MIJournal : YOKWE.online
Metal million: Cleaning up Majuro makes mega-bucks - 30 years of scrap metal littering the island.
METAL COLLECTION: Majuro Atoll Waste Corporation is hoping to make a million dollars or more from the sale of 30,000 tons of scrap heavy metal. According to MAWC manager, Roger Cooper (pictured), the company is hoping to have the unsightly scrap moved off island by December. “This month we signed a contract with Skanfil Corporation of Manila, the Philippines, to provide labor and transportation for the scrap metal,” Cooper told the Journal. He has contracts with Matt Holly, who has the Micro ships, Majuro Stevedoring and Terminal Co., Pacific International Inc., Robert Reimers Enterprises, Kirt Pinho, Public Works and the Marshalls Energy Company to remove heavy metal from their yards. “We’ll also be collecting shoreline debris that has laid around for years and we’re negotiating with Charlie Domnick to remove his stuff.”

A 25-man Filipino crew, which is on a six-month contract, was due to arrive in Majuro from Tarawa, Kirbati, on Tuesday, but this was delayed “because AMI isn’t flying,” Cooper said. “They had visa issues coming through Guam, so they’re flying Manila to Korea to Fiji and then Kiribati. We’re hoping they’ll be able to make the trip next week.” The 25 experienced ‘ship breakers’ (steel cutters) will be joined by a local workforce of about 45. “We’ll be paying minimum wage and when we need them we’ll post advertisements and put signs up at the dump.” Asia Pacific Airlines is hauling in 20 sets of metal cutting torches and other tools for the crew, while a container is on its way with more equipment. “The last major steel clean up on Majuro was in the 1980s,” Cooper said, “so we have 30 years of scrap metal littering the island. It’s an eyesore and while metal is not really a health threat, there are other dangers involved such as kids being at risk if they play on the junk.” The metal collection will stimulate the economy for a while, he said. “It will provide jobs and make the island more attractive for residents and tourists.”