Looters, ignorance cause problems for history preservation

Looters and ignorance about permits given to project contractors create problems in preserving historical landmarks and artifacts in the CNMI, according to the staff archaeologist of the Historic Preservation Office.

John Mark Joseph said the destruction of sites with historical significance is caused by looters and, inadvertently, by contractors who do not understand the conditions of their project permits.

Speaking during Tuesday’s regular Saipan Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, Joseph said that most of the time contractors fail to fully understand the provisions and restrictions written on their permits because of their unfamiliarity with the language.

Joseph also said that historical sites are sometimes destroyed by people and groups who believe “they are above the law of the CNMI.”

As a result, Joseph said, the CNMI loses valuable and irreplaceable information about its past and a chance for the Commonwealth to share its history with the public, which in turn could lead to the discovery of historical sites that could be visited by locals and tourists alike.

Under CNMI Public Law 3-33 and Public Law-3-39, as amended by Public Law 10-71, it is unlawful to remove, take, disturb, destroy or disfigure any artifact, historical property or human remains on public or private lands or in the waters surrounding the CNMI without a permit issued by the HPO.

Joseph said the law, which is under the Commonwealth Historic Preservation Act of 1982, states that knowing and willful violators shall be fined up to $10,000 per day or shall be imprisoned up to one year or both.

Further, he said Public Law 3-33 provides that it is unlawful for any person to excavate, dig or look for the remains of a human body without a permit from the Director of Public Health and Environmental Services, with concurrent approval by the HPO and the mayor of the senatorial district.

Joseph said he is appealing to the CNMI community to “please respect the cultural heritage of the CNMI at all times.”

He said if anybody sees any cultural and historical properties being disturbed or taken, the public should immediately contact the HPO.

The said the HPO is very aggressive in educating the public about laws safeguarding historical sites and relics and the benefits of preserving the history of the CNMI.

Joseph said they are currently working with other agencies to provide signages enumerating the laws and will soon come up with booklets.

He said HPO is also enlisting the help of the Division of Customs and other agencies to stop the removal of artifacts from the CNMI. He said the office is also working with the Attorney General’s Office to help with enforcement of the law.

Joseph stressed that historical sites and landmarks help boost the tourism industry of the Commonwealth.

He said it also helps research studies in the future and solve unanswered questions regarding the prehistory of the CNMI and provide information about the different people that inhabited the islands in ancient times.