Previous Story
DPW favors other site for school relocation
|
Posted on Nov 23 2005
The Department of Public Works said the government needs to identify another site for the Garapan school relocation, saying that the proposed area on Navy Hill is also a potential commercial area.
The government, in consultation with the business community, proposes to transform the current Garapan Elementary School site into a business center and transfer the school’s campus to Navy Hill.
“We’ve got to make sure that we have an ideal location for the school, but that Navy Hill area is also a prime lot, an ideal commercial area. We don’t want to put the school there and relocate it again after some time,” said Reyes.
Governor’s Senior Policy adviser Robert Schwalbach formally presented the government’s relocation proposal to the Board of Education Tuesday.
He reportedly said that the school would be moved to a new site, a five-hectare property north of the Commonwealth Health Center.
The BOE said the plan is an excellent option to improve the CNMI economy but it would have to be looked at thoroughly before a decision can be made.
Earlier, Saipan Chamber of Commerce outgoing president Alex Sablan favored the conversion of the Garapan area into a full-blown commercial district. Sablan said this is needed to be able to create more attractions for tourists.
He said Saipan needs to have malls, convention centers, and other facilities to offer tourists beside the beach and island tours while they are here.
The CNMI is experiencing a decline in tourist arrivals, especially from Japan—its major tourism market—due to the recent pullout of Japan Airlines.
JAL used to bring in some 150,000 tourists to the CNMI annually
