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MVA urged to cast light on local culture
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Posted on Dec 11 1998
The Marianas Visitors Authority should develop a master plan that will highlight the historical and cultural significance of the various tourist sites on the island, according to the Tourist Site Development Committee.
When tourist visit each of the 57 tourist sites, Felix Sablan, field operations manager, said they should find information on these places to give them an interpretation of the local people’s heritage. Members of the committee unanimously approved the proposal to carry out a comprehensive plan to develop the different sites.
By identifying the historical value and cultural significance of at least 35 memorial monuments, the committee can come up with the main theme that will be used in developing the sites, said Kiyoshi Aikawa, chairman of the committee.
This developed as the MVA board approved the $70,000 worth construction of toilet facility and parking lot at Kammer beach.
Other projects approved by the board were the $12,860 development of swimming hole on Rota, $4,980 memorial landscape maintenance contract on Saipan, $4,000 surveying of swimming hole also on Rota and Korean memorial surveying in Marpi also for $4,000.
The Rota swimming hole, one of the island’s most attractive sites, has been devastated by soil erosion. Sablan said the survey will on the swimming hole will pave the way for the grant of an expanded area to MVA from the Board of Public Lands.
In a related development, the MVA has also sent a letter to Rear Adm. Jonathan Greenert of the Pacific Command to allow the tourism office make certain improvements such as landscaping.
Implementation of various projects, however, will depend on the availability of funds amid the financial crisis besetting the CNMI government.
Members of the tourist site development committee have implemented a survey of each site to determine which of these would be given priority due to limited funds.
Meanwhile, the committee led the Garapan District drainage clean-up participated in by the Division of Environmental Quality, Department of Public Works and the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
