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Apatang wants exemptions for vendor permitting
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang wants to discuss exemptions to the current permitting rules and regulations because the current permitting process has become a barrier for food vendors to participate in community events like last weekend’s Lunar New Year Party.
During the Lunar New Year Party committee conference, it was discussed that vendors interested in participing in the two-day event were hesitant because even if a vendor or business already holds a valid sanitation permit and fire permit, the Division of Public Health requires separate licenses for separate events.
“The problem is, these businesses can’t take their permits and use them for a temporary basis for other locations…it should be general,” said Apatang.
The Saipan mayor said there is not much he can do because every agency has its own set of rules and regulations but what he intends to do is appeal to the Legislature to consider making exemptions for specific events.
“Every department has its own policy and regulation and fees. It is up to the Legislature to take a look at that and maybe regulate and make exemptions,” he said. “I will be bringing this up to the Legislature.”
Apatang said it is not fair to restaurant owners, for example, because they already have complete, valid documents and would need to acquire whole new permits for a mere two-day event.
“We would like to ask them to look into that because if it is a two-day event, vendors are hesitating to come out to participate because it is very costly for them to get [additional permits], even if they are operating a restaurant already,” he said.
Apatang said he understands that this should apply to longer festivities but to apply the same rules to events that would not take long is quite costly.
“I can understand for Liberation Day…because that is two to three weeks, so we have to protect the vendors…but this is only for two nights and you have to pay so much for fire and everything else,” he said.
The issue has been on going for vendors interested in participating similar short-term events.
