Police storm Garapan • Raid yields irregular activities on Saipan’s tourist district

It was no accident that the streets of Western Garapan were surprisingly scarce of skimpy-dressed women roaming around the area Friday night.

The unusually quiet ambiance in the otherwise busy commercial district had officials suspecting that word may have already leaked out of an instantaneous raid which was about to be conducted at Saipan’s central business zone that night.

Since its formation Tuesday of last week, the Governor’s multi-disciplinary task force against prostitution wasted no time in going about its assigned mission by taking to the streets of Western Garapan to zero in on a number of suspected illegal activities reportedly widespread within the area.

The raid, according to initial reports, yielded several business establishments operating without appropriate licenses and/or health certificates.

The alleged violations reportedly led to the closure of several business shops, according to preliminary information obtained.

But Police Commissioner Charles W. Ingram Jr. noted very slim signs of commercial sex rackets evident that Friday night.

He indicated the sex workers may have already been tipped-off of what was about to transpire, and thus made themselves invisible that evening.

Friday’s task force operation was the first of a series of visits to be conducted regularly by both government and private agencies in serious efforts to curb prostitution and crimes committed against tourists especially in Western Garapan.

The special group led by Attorney General Herb Soll is expected to sweep through the streets of the said area to eradicate blots of illicit operations enterprised by certain groups and individuals.

Mr. Ingram disclosed the Department of Public Safety has further extended its services to ensure tourists’ safety by deploying more officers around the most-frequented tourist spots on Saipan.

Initiated by Governor Pedro P. Tenorio, the anti-prostitution task force was formed last week as an answer to the series of illegal activities that have reportedly invaded Saipan’s focal business district.

It’s paramount priorities include providing concrete solutions with regard to mounting problems of prostitution and increasing crimes committed against the island’s tourists.

“These illegal activities compromise the image of the CNMI as a safe tourist destination,” said governor in an interview last week.

Both public and private agencies are partners in this fresh move to rid Western Garapan streets of commercial sex workers, thieves, robbers, and other unlawful elements.

All government agencies have pledged active involvement in the initiative, in apparently a last-ditch effort to save the local tourism industry.

Cabinet members under Mr. Tenorio’s administration displayed interest to counteract the pressing concerns by showing up at an emergency meeting spearheaded by the Marianas Visitors Authority early last week.

MVA called for the meeting amid persistent clamors from members of the business sector and the surrounding community of the dangers presented by prostitution and other criminal activities at Saipan’s busiest commercial zone.

A DPS-commissioned survey conducted from September to December 2000 cited prostitution as the most prevalent concern in the area.

Prostitution equally tied with public parking in the list of the district’s most pressing concerns. Purse snatching, theft, burglary, sewage, trash bins, closed roads, street market, and littering also cropped up as eight of the major concerns Western Garapan community wants immediately addressed.