Babauta names nominees for zoning board

Citing the need to rid Garapan of illegal operations, Gov. Juan N. Babauta reconstituted the Saipan Zoning Board, naming his nominees to the panel during Tuesday’s Paseo de Marianas grand opening ceremony.

Among those named to the board were Maria Pangelinan, Rex Kosack, William Concepcion, Andrea Alepuyo, Connie Coward, Henry Hofschneider, and Isidoro Cabrera.

“One thing everyone says is that you’ve got to get rid of the girly bars in this area, the prostitution, and illegal gambling,” he told the crowd. “These are things that are going on and we need to clean up Garapan. This zoning board is going to zone this area and the rest of Saipan so that there is order in the house.”

He said the zoning board will continue the work that has already been started in Garapan by zoning out establishments that do not belong in the area, making the Paseo de Marianas “a place where people can bring their families and a place we can all be proud of.”

Babauta compared this project to the efforts of former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani to clean up Time Square in the heart of New York City.

“He [Giuliani] proved people wrong, and tonight, I say if Mayor Giuliani can clean up Time Square, then we can and should be able to clean up Garapan,” Babauta said.

Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, chair of the High-5 Task Force, had earlier conceded that government efforts to transform the tourist district into a wholesome destination has become much like a game of whack-a-mole, with lawmen jumping on one section of the district and the prostitutes popping up elsewhere in the area.

He said the High-5 Task Force office received complaints against several identified pimps and prostitutes who loiter and solicit customers around the establishments’ premises in southern Garapan.

According to the complaints lodged by two big business operators, the sex workers hurt legitimate businesses as they harass and scare away tourists who come to shop in the stores.

Reports also disclosed that prostitution activities have become standard fare at some restaurants. Two Chinese restaurants—one located on Beach Road and another at central Garapan—were reportedly selling the girls’ services off their menu as if they were a regular dish.

At the service of such patrons are in-house pimps employed by the restaurants. A special menu listing names of girls and their contact numbers, alongside the day’s dishes, are also provided to loyal customers.

The task force—composed of the Public Health Sanitation Division, Revenue and Tax, Labor and Immigration, Public Safety Department and Attorney General’s Office—have reportedly shut down several establishments for certain violations.