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Increased police visibility in Garapan suggested
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Posted on Mar 22 2001
Measures to fortify safety enforcement at Saipan’s tourist zone are alive with proposals to allocate fresh funds from poker licensing fees for the construction of a temporary koban at the Garapan district.
Rep. Heinz Hofschneider proposed that the Legislature appropriate a sum of $35,000 collected from the annual local license fee for poker machines under Saipan Local Law 11-2 for the said project.
The legislation offers the use of the poker machine collection fees without fiscal year limitation. The Secretary of Public Works has been eyed to act as the expenditure authority for the funds appropriated under the proposed measure.
According to Mr. Hofschneider, the audit powers granted to the federal auditors and the Public Auditor pursuant to the Planning and Budget Act of 1983, as amended shall apply to this act.
Further, the Secretary of Finance shall establish separate accounting for the Capital Improvement Project covered under the act.
Since threatening incidents ranging from theft, robbery, prostitution, and other crimes have started taking its toll at the Western Garapan district, Commonwealth leaders have beefed up efforts to prevent its further spread.
Reinforced police visibility in the Garapan area has come to be a necessity, especially with recent reports of illegal activities enterprised by certain groups and individuals at the business district.
Just last Friday, authorities hailing from different branches of the government combed the streets of Western Garapan in efforts to zero in on a number of suspected illegal activities reportedly widespread within the area.
The sealed operation was led by the Governor’s multi-disciplinary task force against prostitution.
Its topmost priorities include providing concrete solutions with regard to mounting problems of prostitution and increasing crimes committed against the island’s tourists.
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.
Government agencies have pledged active involvement in the initiative, in apparently a last-ditch effort to save the local tourism industry.
