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Welcome to the funeral
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Posted on Aug 07 2008
Funerals are not a big thing on Saipan. They go on all the time, but the one I am writing about has not yet happened and will be a big thing because it could have been avoided.
The death(s) will probably take place at the Microl intersection. It will occur between 8:00-10:00am. It will happen because one vehicle will be going one way and will collide with another vehicle making a left turn. It will be especially sad if children are involved.
It will happen because the Department of Public Safety simply cannot understand the importance of having traffic cops directing traffic when the traffic lights go out at the Microl intersection and at other intersections.
The excuses are the usual—taya selape, taya personnel. We are expected to believe that getting traffic cops in place is as difficult as supplying consistent power and drinkable water 24 hours per day, treating sewage or balancing the budget. It is that difficult.
Since our Executive Branch seems to bewildered, let me make some suggestions. Every morning at 7:55am, a cop should be at the Microl intersection ready to direct traffic when the lights go out. How hard is that? Need some personnel? Drag the detectives away from solving all those receiving stolen property crimes and have them direct traffic an hour a day. It’ll be good exercise for them. Need more help? Ask for and train some volunteers.
It is a miracle that no one has died yet. It took eight deaths before a barrier erected at the 1,000-foot curve in Sadog Tasi. How many will it take before DPS realizes that directing traffic is a matter of public safety. Ignore it, and it will be “welcome to the funeral.” The family members of the deceased will not treat the people responsible with respect.
[B]Kenneth L. Govendo[/B] [I]Judge, CNMI Superior Court[/I]
