Jurisdiction issue dogs Beach Road pathway lights

Funding problems, together with unclear rules on who has actual jurisdiction over the site, have left pathway lights along Beach Road under a shadow of darkness for several years now.

The office of the Division of Parks and Recreation said it has been receiving numerous calls asking about this issue.

But division director Anthony Benavente said another agency is actually in charge of repairing and maintaining the lights, referring to the Technical Service Division of the Department of Public Works as the one that should be held responsible.

Benavente explained that his division is only in charge of cutting grasses or cleaning up the parks and recreation areas but not putting up the infrastructure.

However, TSD director Joseph M. Inos Jr. explained that they have no jurisdiction over the management of the pathway lights as it is the responsibility of the Division of Parks and Recreation.

Inos said it is not the duty of the Technical Service Division to ask for a budget from the Legislature for this purpose and that they will only come into the picture if there is a request for such repair.

Once the request is made, the papers are ready and the funding is ready, he said, they can then purchase the materials and the repair or installation of such lights will start.

This is usually done via a contract with the private sector, he said, but if the budget is not enough, the DPW crew will accomplish the project.

Inos, who had just been promoted director after five years with the Technical Service Division, recalled that it was about between two to three years ago that some of the lights were repaired but only on some portions of Beach Road.

He even recalled that about a year ago, copper wires that connect the pathway lights were stolen, which makes him believe that parks and recreation sites like the Beach Road pathway need supervision.

Saipan Mayor Juan Tudela said his office has nothing to do with this problem at all because it is solely the responsibility of the Commonwealth government.

At least two individuals seen walking along the Beach Road pathway yesterday expressed apprehension that the darkness at the pathway could result in crimes happening in the area.

However, the two, who both asked not to be identified, also understood that the government is currently in crisis and may not have the money to repair the lights.