Kilili recognizes 37 entities for maintaining maritime security

Delegate Gregorio Kilili Sablan (Ind-MP) recognized yesterday 37 local and federal government agencies and private sector partners for developing a comprehensive port evacuation plan, among other things, that exceeds national standards for improving and maintaining maritime safety and security.

Sablan, joined by U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam Capt. Casey J. White, presented certificates of recognition to most of the 37 entities present during a brief ceremony at the seaport yesterday morning.

Most of them comprise the CNMI Area Maritime Security Committee, which has been the first to actually go through the actual planning cycle from beginning to end and exercise the port evacuation plan.

“The Committee and individual members from agencies of the Commonwealth and federal governments and private organizations worked together toward the important goal of developing an effective, comprehensive port evacuation plan and to create improved maritime safety measures as required by the Department of Homeland Security,” Sablan told the crowd.

He said recognizing the CNMI Maritime Security Committee was an idea shared by his office and Coast Guard’s Jesse Rangle.

“What you have achieved is not just compliance with all DHS requirements. You have, in fact, implemented a system that exceeds national standards for improving and maintaining maritime safety and security in the Northern Mariana Islands,” Sablan said. White echoed this statement in a later interview.

Sablan added that the committee’s commitment toward ensuring uninterrupted flow of commerce to the CNMI and at the same time ensuring the safety of lives and property must be commended.

“And for your outstanding work, professionalism, and commitment, we offer our gratitude and appreciation,” Sablan said as he prepared to present the certificates.

Jordon Lee I. Kosam, chief of the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s Ports Police, said he’s humbled by the recognition, adding that they would continue to live up to safety and security standards. Kosam said he has been with the Ports Police for some 15 years.

Sablan has asked whether Coast Guard could have more personnel or a full time operational presence in the CNMI.

White, in an interview with reporters after the ceremony, said they have been continuously reviewing and identifying the threats and gaps and include them in their operational planning, given that they have limited presence in the CNMI.

“There’s ongoing review to determine where the gaps are,” she said, but whether that means they are going to have full time presence in the CNMI, “we are years from being able to possibly realize that.”

She said they have a full-time team of four people in the CNMI, as part of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, which covers the CNMI, Guam, Palau, and the Federated States of Micronesia. Whenever the CNMI needs additional help, the resources from Sector Guam are tapped including the use of patrol boats.

White also talked about national budget constraints, so they try to maximize the limited resources they have in making sure they are able to fully patrol their area of responsibility.

Among those recognized were CPA seaport manager MaryAnn Q. Lizama; CNMI Office of Homeland Security’s Marvin K. Seman; former CNMI Office of Homeland Security official Patrick J. Tenorio; Emergency Management Office’s Joaquin Omar, George Cabrera, Juan Camacho and Henry Yarofalpiy; CPA Ports Police chief Jordon Lee Kosam, assistant chief Juan Dela Cruz and Capt. Juan Rebuenog; Customs Services Division director Jesus Muna and Lt. Rick Camacho; Department of Public Safety-Fire Division’s Capt. Juan Pua; Police Officer Nober Pua of DPS Boating Safety; Department of Public Health’s Warren Villagomez; Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s Al Santos; Division of Environmental Quality’s Reina Camacho and David Chargualaf; Coastal Resources Management’s John San Nicolas; and Barbara Mizutani from the CNMI Legislature.

Sablan also recognized the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Saipan, Transportation Security Administration’s Lee Cabrera, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ambyth Shipping’s Teresa Lee Gotti and Noli San Luis, Inchcape Shipping, Saipan Stevedore’s Willard Erungel, CTSI’s Joven Cruz, Mobil Oil Micronesia’s Anthony Wencesnao, IP&E’s (Shell Marianas) Jack Salas, GRESCO, Saipan Marine and American Red Cross-NMI Chapter.