Letters to the Editor

Traffic islands are menace? Come on!

I would like to offer my thought on the Garapan traffic islands. After reading a few negative letters on the subject I thought I’d go take a personal look at this new menace to our way of life. What I found is that the area in question is less than one half (five-tenths) of a mile in length. Within this distance I counted no less than 5 opportunities to turn, or to u-turn.

Are there really people on this island operating on such a tight schedule for the whole day? Are these people aware that there are places in the world that have one-way streets? Will they not be happy until the entire islands is paved and every impediment to their God-given right to turn in any direction on a moment’s notice is eliminated?

And what’s with the Liberation Day Parade argument? How a traffic island is going to jeopardize a parade is something I can’t seem to grasp. Even Tinian’s main road that runs the length of that island is divided, and I don’t recall hearing any whining from Tinian about the tremendous inconvenience this causes.

Come on people, the tourism industry is in a slump, and while nobody wants to admit it, I think a big reason is that most urban areas in Saipan have all the visual charm of a third-world parking lot. If ever there was a place that needed some beautifying, Garapan is it. Some people are showing the initiative and foresight to make some positive changes, and they should be encouraged and thanked, not publicly castigated.

Just today I saw that the trees are now being planted and they look beautiful. I’m sure a little temporary inconvenience will be a small price to pay for this improvement in the long run.

Herminia Matsumoto Fusco

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Safety over beauty

I am very much impressed by the sight and beauty of those palms trees that were planted in the medians erected along Beach Road in Garapan for the benefit of the tourists.

But why only for the tourists? Why not make it like the American Memorial Park so that no more cars would pass through? It is very much inconvenient for all motorists who are driving up north.

Are the ideas of Marianas Visitors Authority and the Department of Public Works focused only on the safety of our tourists? What about if there is an emergency on that area? Would you just right away turn around and jump over those long islands? Won’t these cause more accidents than safety? Think about it.

Another thing, those palms trees could cause more hazard than safety especially when there are weather disturbances such as typhoons and other calamities. Those tall trees and leaves will leave behind more work for MVA, Parks, and Public Works to maintain every day.

Why not plant those palms trees in Garapan Central Park. It will give more beauty and breeze there. And put back the highway to its original design.

I love to see Garapan be beautified but not on the highway.

Mario Q. Taisacan