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[Ric Gillespie]

How short are we Ric?  I may be able to help a little more.

This budget continues to be a moving target. Just when I thought we had everything covered, the Republic of Kiribati has thrown us a $5,000 curve ball.  We have always been required to bring along a Kiribati "observer" - a Customs and Immigration officer who clears us into Kiribati when we arrive at Nikumaroro and hand-endorses our passports "Port of Nikumaroro."  Now, we still have to bring along an "observer" but  - new rule - the clearance into Kiribati will have to be done before we depart Fiji by five officials who will travel to Fiji from Tarawa.  There are only two round trip flights per week from Tarawa to Fiji so we have to pay not only for the bureaucrats' airfare but also for three nights in a hotel.  All in all it will be another $5,000.  Our option is to clear into and out of Kiribati by traveling to Niku via Kanton Island, their official port of entry for the Phoenix Group -  but that would cost us four days at $11,000/day. We're stuck. We'll just have to somehow raise the money.  Anything you can do will be much appreciated.

[Andrew M McKenna]

Sounds like a junket to to have 5 officials come to Fiji.  Each one is going to check in 3 of us?  Absurd.

Aren't there already Kiribati reps in Fiji?  I thought they were in the process of moving people there due to sea level rise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/kiribati/9127576/Entire-nation-of-Kiribati-to-be-relocated-over-rising-sea-level-threat.html

Might there be a way to mitigate this need through contacts at the State Dept?

Sigh

amck

[Ted G Campbell]

Ric,

Let’s see if we can negotiate our way out of this latest SNAFU.

In return for the government dropping its last minuet elevated on-site personal demands we would be agreeable to the historic government oversight of this project and in return we would be agreeable to offer the government, that if the Niku VIII project is successful i.e. we find the Electra, the uncontested “salvage rights” to the Electra basis the lat/long, depth, etc. data supplied by TIGHAR.

In return TIGHAR gets sole possession of all photographic/video documents of the search and discovery of the where abouts of AE without any further obligation to the government.  AND it would be expected if any physical evidence of the Electra is recovered by the government and/or its contractors TIGHAR shall receive a token artifact there from.  AND  TIGHAR retains the sole rights of all, future books, movies, television documentaries, etc. concerning the search and discovery for the lost flight of Amelia Earhart.

The point is; TIGHAR will have proven her point, TIGHAR will be relieved of the cost of recovery, TIGHAR would have a symbolic piece of the Electra to add to the artifact library already secured and TIGHAR would not incur the cost and expense of preserving and exhibiting the Electra proper.

Ted Campbell

[Ric Gillespie]

Sounds like a junket to to have 5 officials come to Fiji.  Each one is going to check in 3 of us?  Absurd.

The less I say about this publicly the better.

The State Dept. doesn't have any clout with Kiribati because the U.S. doesn't do anything for Kiribati.

[Ric Gillespie]

Let’s see if we can negotiate our way out of this latest SNAFU.

TIGHAR has an Antiquities Management Agreement with Kiribati that already addresses the issues you raise.

[Monty Fowler]

Another one of Niku's curve ball specials, it seems. I'm not in the least surprised, but I remain optimistic that everything will come together. Somehow.

LTM,
Monty Fowler, TIGHAR No. 2189 ECSP

[Ted G Campbell]

Ric,

Will you explain the details of the agreement?
Ted

[Bruce Thomas]

Ric,

Will you explain the details of the agreement?
Ted

Knowing that Ric is deep into preparations for the team to depart on Niku VIII, I went digging back into the archives of the Forum looking to see what he's said about the agreement before.

Last September, in answer to a similar request for information about TIGHAR's agreement with Kiribati, he made this post about the operative parts of the agreement.

[John Balderston]

Ric and team, just slid in with a small donation and an early Researcher renewal - not much but trusting that in a small way it will help.  Fair winds and following seas, and good hunting! v/r JB

[Krystal McGinty-Carter]

Well this was not something I wanted to come back to see.   I have one more paycheck before the expedition departs. Ill do what I can. We have thousands of followers between this forum and facebook. If even half of us contributed just $25 each we could make this up with no problem.  I can cut something out to make up $25. Anyone with me?

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

Well this was not something I wanted to come back to see.   I have one more paycheck before the expedition departs. Ill do what I can. We have thousands of followers between this forum and facebook. If even half of us contributed just $25 each we could make this up with no problem.  I can cut something out to make up $25. Anyone with me?

OK.

This is a link to the page for donations to the Earhart Project.

When you get there, this is what the "Donate" button looks like:

[Krystal McGinty-Carter]

I am aware of where the donate button is and what it looks like. I have used it many times.  I was simply pointing out to anyone who may be reading that it seems like a lot of money in bulk but if everyone contributed the seemingly menial amount of $25, given the large following, the funds could be raised very quickly.  But I appreciate your response.

[JNev]

...maybe the good father was simply joining in on your plea so as to make it easier for others you've pled to, so that they might follow your lead, Krystal...

[Martin X. Moleski, SJ]

I am aware of where the donate button is and what it looks like. I have used it many times.  I was simply pointing out to anyone who may be reading that it seems like a lot of money in bulk but if everyone contributed the seemingly menial amount of $25, given the large following, the funds could be raised very quickly.  But I appreciate your response.

I contributed $25, per your request.

I like to put links into my posts to aid readers with site navigation.

I'm sorry for giving you the impression that you did not know where to go to donate.

I intended the link and the image for others.

[Krystal McGinty-Carter]

Thank you for clarifying. Im not always the best judge of internet language...that and Im in a grumpy mood today for unrelated issues. I apologize.

When my next paycheck hits, Im sending $50,  $25 from me and $25 from my daughter. (TIGHAR actually sent her a membership card...talk about a happy little girl!)   Id send it now but the electric company wouldn't like me very much.