Group opposes transfer of Splash Island

The CNMI Windsurfing Association has appealed to the Coastal Resources Management to change its decision granting the permit to Sea Venture Island Inc. for the relocation of Splash Island within the Saipan Lagoon.

Splash Island which offers water sports activity, will be transferred to north of American Memorial Park and south of the entrance channel to the Smiling Cove from its original site near Managaha Island.

In a petition sent by members of the association through their counsel Wesley Bogdan, the members argued that allowing the relocation of Splash Island would be a violation of their right to a clean and healthy environment as guaranteed under the CNMI Constitution.

The association members said their interest are not represented by CRM as specific public health and safety concerns have not been addressed or investigated.

“CRM has entirely ignored all the evidence and documents in its possession revealing that the new location is unfit for the proposed development,” the association said.

Sea Venture has requested a change of site to a more protected area as the floating platform was being damaged by the constant wave in the central part of the lagoon.

The windsurfers said CRM has violated its own regulatory permitting process to allow the permit to be issued in a “capricious and arbitrary fashion which amounts to breach of fiduciary duty on the part of government officials taking part in this decision.”

According to the petitioners, their statutory rights prohibiting development in areas which contain culturally and historically significant lands, scenic vistas or which pose an unreasonable health and safety risks to the public are violated.

CRM has yet to issue a permission to proceed with the transfer of Splash Island while certain conditions imposed by the agency have yet to be met by the company.

The agency approved the planned relocation of Splash Island on that condition that it will be positioned in such a way that it will avoid interference with fishing activities in the vicinity of Smiling Cove Marina and Micro Beach Point.

CRM also ordered that buoys be placed around any boating activities associated with the barge to avoid potential accidents between barge users and fishers or boaters entering or leaving the Smiling Cove Marina. (Lindablue F. Romero)