‘RB’ throws support to marine operators

Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho is urging the Saipan community to come out and support local marine operators who are set to formally appear before the Department of Public Lands next week for a public hearing regarding proposed amendments to the rule and regulations regarding the use of Mañagaha Island.

Camacho, who has expressed his concerns about DPL’s proposed amendments to Mañagaha use rules and regulations, is urging the community to come out to DPL’s public hearing regarding this issue on Aug. 16.

“Let’s all show up. I will show up because this is a serious issue and I will support the people of Saipan. As the mayor for this municipality, I am concerned about these proposed changes. DPL is assisting the creation [of] a discriminatory policy against our own people. DPL is just looking for the best interest of the investor and not of the people,” Camacho said.

Camacho’s opinion on DPL’s proposed amendments is simple, they’re discriminatory, he said.

“Tasi Tours was the previous concessionaire of Mañagaha for more than 30 years, and their policy had always been one of inclusion. They welcomed our residents and even transported residents on their own boat, back and forth for free. We are talking about public land here, and the owners are the indigenous people of the islands. I’ve heard from the community that they are very disappointed. What are we trying to do with our people? Are we trying to restrict them, put a boundary? I thought we are marketing the CNMI as a tourist destination. Tourists want to see who we are and what we are. By making it exclusive, they are not allowing tourists to mingle with the local people, to establish friendship and to see what kind of people we are,” Camacho expressed.

Ultimately, Camacho says DPL’s policy is putting up a wall between Mañagaha Island and the local residents of Saipan (especially those who use the island commercially).

“The CNMI is being marketed for our hospitality, for being friendly and for being a safe destination. But with this policy, what you are doing is you are putting up a wall. We need economic recovery, but we must do it right. The Saipan Mayor’s Office is promoting tourism, Japanese tourism, Korean tourism, Chinese tourism, sports tourism, and now we are exploring agri-tourism. We are exploring all avenues for tourism to drive our economy. But by doing this exclusive Managaha rule, it’s not friendly, it is not building relationships between the islanders and the visitors. The proposed amendments should be voided,” he said.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, marine operators have expressed that should DPL push forward with its amendments, many of them would have to close up shop as they won’t be able to conduct business on Mañagaha anymore.

However, DPL’s David Sablan says that the current regulations provide that commercial competition on Mañagaha Island will be eliminated and provide that the concessionaire has the exclusive right to operate all commercial concessions, and to conduct all tours of the island and from the island, but does not clearly define the scope of commercial activity and concessions included in this right.

“Revising the regulations will clarify that this exclusive right to conduct or operate any tour or activity on the island or departing from the island includes but is not limited to underwater and surface water activities,” he said.

Ultimately, Sablan explains, the intent of this amendment is to further define the type of commercial activity the concessionaire and a limited number of sub-concessionaires may perform.

“Section 145-30-101 of the Commercial Use of Mañagaha Island Rules and Regulations already states that this includes the right to conduct all tours of and from the island, and to operate surface water sports, i.e., parasailing, banana boat ride, pedal boat, power boat lagoon cruises, windsurfing, canoe rentals, canoe tours, kayak tours; and underwater sports, i.e., SCUBA diving, SNUBA diving, snorkeling, BOB, and sea walker-type tours. The proposed amendment will clarify that picking up tourists from the island to conduct these activities is considered commercial activity and prohibited. The proposed amendment further clarifies that whether the commercial activity was a package deal that originated in Saipan to Mañagaha Island, or departs from Mañagaha to Saipan, this type of activity will be restricted,” he explained.

Furthermore, DPL said marine sport operators will be restricted from picking up a visitor from Mañagaha Island for the purpose of any intended surface or underwater sport activity, unless the marine sport operator(s) has a valid sub-concessionaire agreement that was mutually agreed upon by DPL and the concessionaire.

“The existing regulations do not give the exclusive concessionaire the exclusive right to provide transportation to the island, and the proposed amendments would not change that. As a result, the proposed regulation would not prohibit local residents from hiring boats or using personal transportation and would not prohibit tour providers from arranging transportation between Saipan and Mañagaha (as long as the transportation does not include a marine sport activity),” said Sablan.

Ramon “RB” B. Camacho