Sugar Dock closed down

Recreational activities at Sugar Dock such as swimming are currently prohibited following recent incidents of drowning and pending assessment of the area for possible development.

Public Safety commissioner Ed Camacho said during yesterday’s proclamation signing for Boating Safety Week that only certain areas—the hotel areas—can be allowed for use.

“It’s off-limit for swimming because we’re also paying the price. We’re looking at proposals to see how we can change such condition,” said Camacho.

He said recreational activities could be done at commercial areas such as Grand Hotel and Pacific Gardenia where there are more people to monitor activities, including lifeguards from these establishments.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta instructed the Boating Safety Division yesterday to closely monitor the Sugar Dock, which has already claimed five lives this year.

“A lot of people who drowned there are actually swimmers. So Captain [Pete Muna], take a look at the area. I see it as a very dangerous area. The current is very treacherous. We just lost another life two days ago,” he said, referring to a man who died while snorkeling with his son beyond the reefline across Sugar Dock. The boy, about 10 years old, survived by clinging to his father’s floating body.

Before this, three Chinese and a male Chamorro also drowned at Sugar Dock.

Camacho yesterday called on hotel owners to provide lifeguards at their respective beach sites.

“We encourage them to do that. We need each other here. It’s not safe if we don’t work together. If there’s a pool or beach in your premises, you’ve got to have a lifeguard,” he said.

Meantime, Camacho said he hopes that the Marianas Public Lands Authority will give DPS a place at Sugar Dock for jet stations to encourage livelihood while improving safety in the area.

He also called on the public “to take swimming lessons” for personal safety. “Let’s be water-sport smart from the start. It’s important that we know how to swim because we’re surrounded by a vast ocean.”

Camacho said the occurrence of several drownings at the Sugar Dock justifies looking at proposed developmental projects for the area.

“It’s time that we need to look at [the proposal] again,” he said, referring to the proposed commercial development of the dock, which was opposed by many residents for cultural and ecological reasons.

The project involved dredging that would improve water currents in the area.

For his part, Muna, who is head of the Boating Safety Division, advised people to stay away from the waters during bad weather and rough sea conditions.