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DPS help sought to curb tourism-related offenses
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Posted on Apr 28 2006
Alarmed by negative reports about tourists’ safety in the Northern Marianas, Marianas Visitors Authority officials have requested the police department for assistance leading to greater protection of visitors.
These came in view of unpleasant tourism feedback, including the “overly aggressive solicitation” by female entertainers in Garapan, throwing of stones at passing cars in Tanapag/San Roque area, stealing of tourists’ items, and others.
Two separate incidents also took place recently on Tinian: a Japanese couple being hit with a metal object and robbed by a man while at Blow Hole as well as the vandalism of the Okinawan monument.
The Okinawan tower was built by the Micronesia Repatriation Association in honor of the war dead from Okinawa.
Graffiti was all over the tower, and its descriptive sign and flower stand was reportedly damaged.
“Let’s just work together. We need your help,” said MVA vice chair Marian Aldan-Pierce in a recent meeting with Department of Public Safety commissioner Ernest Williams.
During the meeting, the need to revive the DPS bike patrol was cited.
For his part, Williams said that his office would extend assistance to MVA.
“We’ll be here to assist you. Our job is to make everyone safe,” he said.
Williams said that following the governor’s order to club operators in Garapan to keep their female staff away from the street, “they [girls] are not aggressive now as they were.”
He said the Koban police station in the Garapan commercial district has been re-opened.
He said that police officers are back in the area to ensure that the governor’s order is complied with.
