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MVA, Navy brace for troop visits
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Posted on Dec 16 1998
The U.S. Naval Forces recently sought the assistance of the Marianas Visitors Authority in ensuring the success of the planned visits of hundreds of servicemen to the island beginning January 1999.
Lt. Nicholas A. Balice, public affairs officer, met with MVA managing director Perry John Tenorio and deputy managing director Vicky Benavente to seek more information on various hotels, golf courses, tourist sites and other facilities available for the scheduled three to four-day rest and recreation of the servicemen.
Balice’s visit came after Rear Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert of the U.S. Pacific Command informed Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio that the Northern Marianas has been chosen by his office because the island is an ideal site for the servicemen to relax and unwind.
Greenert also met earlier with Commonwealth Ports Authority executive director Carlos H. Salas and Antonio B. Cabrera, general manager of Saipan Harbor to where he sought their help on the sewer and water connection when the vessels arrive.
Starting next year, Navy vessels would call on the port of Saipan which is expected to give the sagging tourism industry the much-needed shot-in-the-arm. Greenert has informed the CNMI government that two vessels would call on the port every other month.
Earlier, the commanding officer of USS Juneau, a major component of the U.S. amphibious assault force recommended a number of services which the CNMI may offer to ensure the success of future visits of the Navy vessels.
This include the provision of potable water connection straight to the port, improvement of the telecommunications facility, installation of land line phones to ships pierside and a cable television connection to the port.
Due to the downturn in tourist arrivals, many businesses on the island have closed down since Asia’s financial crisis began in July 1997. Although a number of visitors still come to the island, they have drastically cut down on their spending which has resulted in the decline in revenues of shops geared for the tourists.
