Rep. Joseph \u201cLee Pan\u201d Guerrero (R-Saipan) will introduce a bill that he hopes will finally address the perennial problem of vandalism of tourist sites on Saipan following the desecration of the Katori Jingu Shrine at Sugar King Park last Oct. 22.<\/p>\n
The Katori Jingu Shrine was desecrated by unknown suspect or suspects, which fortunately was found just days before the important Katori Jingu Shrine Ceremony.<\/p>\n
Guerrero said he is already looking at introducing a bill to address that problem, and one of the proposed solutions is holding parents accountable for their children\u2019s misdeeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to stiffen the law itself. We\u2019ve got to hold accountable the perpetrators that are doing this. If it\u2019s the kids, I think that we should punish the parents, because the parents are responsible for their actions,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t see any reason to continue to allow this to happen. We see this vandalism happening all around the island. We need to be diligent in addressing these concerns because we can\u2019t continue to let this thing happen in the CNMI.\u201d <\/p>\n
Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office special assistant Henry Hofschneider agrees with the call to hold parents of minors accountable in the event that they are found guilty of vandalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents are responsible for their minor children. If they do anything that harms the public property, personal property, or private property, then the parents should answer for that. There are a lot of things that we can do to let children understand that vandalism does not help us. It\u2019s costing us a lot of money,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Hofschneider said that vandalism also affects how others see the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes us look like we are not educated, not well behaved, or raised in a good family, and that is not who we are,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Chris Concepcion agrees that there should be stricter laws, but prefers to steer clear when it comes to who should be held accountable.<\/p>\n
\u201c[The MVA is] in support of stricter laws and penalties or punishment for vandalism and other crimes directed at tourists or tourist sites. Whether or not the minors or the parents themselves are to be held accountable, I will leave that to the Executive Branch to decide what path forward to take when it comes to law making,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Concepcion reiterated the importance of these tourist attractions to the economy of the CNMI.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn our side, a message needs to be sent out to the community that tourist sites need to be protected and that vandalism of tourist sites cannot be tolerated because tourism is the lifeblood of the economy,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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