Proposed site for public cemetery rejected

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has disapproved a bill designating a six-hectare site in Marpi for the new public cemetery on Saipan due to unavailability as well as inappropriateness of the identified lots.

He said the measure should address other concerns, such as which lead agency to oversee operations of the proposed cemetery, before the Legislature can pass similar legislation in the future.

Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider, proponent of House Bill 11-413, expressed disappointment over the governor’s veto, but asked support of lawmakers for a new proposal correcting “minor technical provisions.”

In a letter to the Legislature, Mr. Tenorio said that while he believes that a new public cemetery is “urgently needed,” the legislation should address concerns of government agencies before identifying a site.

The Department of Lands and Natural Resources has informed the chief executive that the three lots designated for the site in HB 11-413 are “either not available or ideal for the proposed cemetery. It also noted that these properties have been parceled for land exchanges or designated right-of-way.

Under the proposal, the department would be tasked to develop these lots into the public cemetery that will have underground burials, crypts and crematorium.

This will then decongest overcrowding in existing cemeteries, such as those in Chalan Kanoa, Tanapag and Capitol Hills where the Wireless Hill Public Cemetery is located that will be gradually closed down with completion of the new facility.

Mr. Tenorio found some provisions in HB 11-413 conflicting as he cited the powers granted to both DLNR and the Department of Public Health to oversee the new cemetery.

While DLNR would promulgate regulations to operate the facility, the measure proposed that DPH shall be responsible for its administration, like issuance of burial permits and assignment of burial sites.

“DPH has also expressed a number of practical concerns that should be explored before adopting this measure. It would be more appropriate to have DPH promulgate such regulations, as suggested earlier by DLNR,” said the governor.

Noting that other technical errors must be corrected, Mr. Tenorio urged the Legislature to work with the two departments to come up with a new proposal addressing all his concerns.