MVA approves patrols in three sites
Concerned about the safety of tourists, the Marianas Visitors Authority has hired a security agency to patrol three tourist sites — Laolao Bay, Obyan Beach and Grotto site in Marpi, said Felix M. Sablan, field manager of MVA.
Providing security in these areas was approved by the MVA board after the Department of Public Safety reported some 50 incidents of burglaries every month in Obyan beach alone. Likewise, robbery incidents have been reported in Laolao Bay beach.
This led the MVA to earmark some $75,000 for the hiring of a security agency for the whole year. In the meantime, an agency has been hired to serve for three months until MVA has chosen the agency which will provide security for a longer period.
Although security guards will be patrolling these areas, MVA officials noted that the assistance of policemen would still be needed since the private security agency cannot make the arrests.
Earlier, MVA officials held talks with DPS Commissioner Charles Ingram to find out if MVA can just give them the funds meant for the security agency so that the policemen can patrol the area. But Ingram claimed that it would cost the agency more to hire policemen to carry out the job since they would have to be paid $15 per hour for working beyond their regular duty hours.
Concerns have been raised on the safety of tourists on the island with the increase in crime rate specifically on the Garapan area, Saipan’s commercial district.
The Hotel Association of Northern Mariana Islands has earlier urged the government to maintain the security of tourists on the island since it would damage the CNMI’s image as an ideal destination in the Pacific.
