Here we go again

Some of you may not have heard of the new Outer Cove Marina (OCM) and the controversial issues surrounding its development. Others may have a vague recognition of the new marina and its developers, the Marine Revitalization Corporation (MRC), as having been in the news, but the problem was probably considered long since solved. And yet others, like myself, have toiled with the results of all of these problems daily and continually suffer the consequences as they compound ever since this issue arose some two years ago.

The problem has not been solved. In fact it has escalated to a showdown that will see someone fall, and you, Saipan, have a choice. Amidst the battle lies two opponents, the developer of the marina (one entity) versus us. Who are we? Now, I cannot say that I speak for everyone (or anyone for that matter as no one has asked me to write this), however I am certain that most if not all of my constituents will agree with the points I hope to address. We are the entire boating community; we showcase that #1 draw to Saipan, our beautiful ocean. We represent the second largest sector (second only to the hotel sector) within the largest industry in Saipan, tourism. We have been pushed around, forced out of our home, dragged in circles and are still at square one. We are hard working businesses trying to do our share in offering to the tourist the “Saipan experience”. We are trying to survive the ailing economy, trying to earn a living, trying to employ your people, trying to raise tax dollars for your government and trying to continue to fortify our ailing economy; we happen to be placed in an instrumental role due to our size and importance in our economy and we are professionals who can help Saipan. We cannot do a thing with our hands tied and we need your rationale. You be the judge if we are important and you be the judge if we are being unjustly treated.

Firstly, for clarification, Smiling Cove Marina is the beautiful marina we are all familiar with; it is protected, has floating docks, had reasonable fees and is the marina We were kicked out. OCM is outside of Smiling Cove northeastward or oceanward and is subsequently the only marina we may use.

My title, ‘Here We Go Again’ refers to the calling of a public hearing by DLNR on behalf of MRC. The hearing, as advertised in the newspaper, would hammer out an acceptable passenger departure fee based on MRC and DLNR’s independently commissioned audit report. Once again, the hearing would prove irrelevant, and we would be railroaded into submission while yet another legislative/governmental request would be bypassed (specifically, an OPA report of MRC s marina).

For one year and four months, we had very anxiously awaited the OPA report requested by our former Speaker Diego Benavente. His request in October 1998 was very detailed in reference to over expenditure in the marina’s development, fairness of public price share, and listed general concerns of the results of inefficient planning being passed on to the public.

So once again, we d be railroaded into this hearing, before the OPA report was distributed, to talk about fees based on the J. Scott Magliari Accounting Firm report. We knew what we would find: Fees based on the total expenditures by MRC divided by the number of slips (boat parking slots) that were constructed. Again, misappropriated expenditures (hiring their own firm while we awaited the non-biased OPA report –– an expense that we would undoubtedly be expected to eventually shoulder), to brush over the problem at hand.

As a part of the CNMI Covenant, the Department of Defense (DOD) was appointed the lease upon which Smiling Cove and OCM have been developed. DOD, in turn, leased back the same land to the CNMI government. The CNMI government appointed the National Park Service as the management body of the land, to be run in accordance with federal regulations. The land is a public land on federal property. Our government appointed managers of the submerged land of the aforementioned area, DLNR, or specifically the Division of Fish and Wildlife then developed the Smiling Cove Marina.

It has been said that this development carried with it a conditional use directive from federal Fish and Wildlife that in order to fund Smiling Cove (federally), it would need to set forth the distinction to disallow commercial boats and activities. In order to accommodate the growth of the economy and commercial enterprise, the division made the decision to grant what they thought of as an exception to the above conditions and allowed for our vessels to berth and operate in Smiling Cove. We commercial operators used the only marina in Saipan, Smiling Cove, for many years, only to be kicked out about a year-and-a-half ago. We paid our rates on time (something not too common in that marina) and were a large source of revenue for DLNR. When we were kicked out the above reason was given. This reason is entirely false. Federal Fish and Wildlife has specified that such a distinction (eliminating commercial operators from Smiling Cove) is a farce. There was a misunderstanding somewhere along the line and local Fish and Wildlife will tell us this is true, there is no such condition in Smiling Cove! So right here, we may stop. If it has been a mistake why do we remain banned from a safe, and viable marina where we once paid fair rates to conduct our business? (To be continued)

Bill Owens
BSEA Inc.