Kessai Note

Kessai Hesa Note (born August 7, 1950, in Ailinglaplap) is a Marshallese politician who was President of the Marshall Islands from 2000 to 2008.

Elected in 1979 alongside Litokwa Tomeing, Note is one of the two longest-serving members of Nitijeļā.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was the Minister of Internal affairs from 1985 to 1986, and Minister of Transportation and communications from 1986 to 1987.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Having served as Speaker of the Nitijeļā since 1988,<ref name="rmiparliament">Template:Cite web</ref> he was elected president in 2000. Note is the first commoner, rather than an Iroijlaplap or traditional chief, to be elected to the Presidency.<ref name=Giff>Giff Johnson, "Opposition Takes Control Of Marshall Islands Government" Template:Webarchive, Pacific Magazine, January 7, 2008.</ref> He is a member of the United Democratic Party, and was reelected by parliament in January 2004, receiving 20 votes, while Justin deBrum received 9.

On January 7, 2008, following the November 2007 general election, he was defeated in his bid for re-election in a vote of Parliament, receiving 15 votes against 18 for Litokwa Tomeing.<ref name=Giff/><ref name="RNZI_37332">Template:Cite news</ref>

Kessai Note (right) with U.S. Delegate Eni Faleomavaega.

Note is of Japanese-Marshallese descent, having inherited his Japanese heritage from his paternal grandfather.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Note's grandfather was a native of Niigata Prefecture, and settled in the Marshall Islands during the Japanese colonial era and married a Marshallese wife.<ref>マーシャル諸島共和国大統領会談 Template:Webarchive, Official weblog of Akiko Yamanaka, May 28, 2006</ref>

He was the Minister of Justice from 2020 to 2022.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In February 2023, The Washington Post reported that Note is under investigation by the Marshall Islands' attorney general.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 2023, the United States Department of State barred Note from entering the US under the Global Magnitsky Act for accepting bribes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Office of the President of the Marshall Islands (Official)