7 Feb 2005

Land dispute in Marshalls holds up construction of schools

6:34 am on 7 February 2005

A Land dispute in the Marshall Islands is holding up United States funded construction projects for Majuro schools.

The dispute is over land boundaries and limited availability of land for construction projects over a two year period.

Tony Tomlinson, who is overseeing the design and bidding of US funded construction work for the Marshall Islands, says some projects can't move ahead until land problems are resolved.

Limited land in the capital atoll has seen prices skyrocket in value, with landowners arguing over boundaries, in order to gain additional rental payments.

The U.S. funded construction budget for the Marshall Islands ia bout 15-million US dollars a year, with the majority of it going to rebuilding schools.