Coast Guard’s Sparks bids goodbye to NMI, Guam

The Fitial administration, through the Commonwealth Ports Authority, hosted a farewell ceremony Monday night for U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Thomas Sparks, who is bidding the Northern Marianas and Guam goodbye after three years of service.

Sparks has been named the U.S. Coast Guard liaison officer in the Pacific Command and will be stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii next month. He will be replaced by Capt. Casey White, who will assume the post later this month.

The outgoing official described his three-year service in the Marianas region as a wonderful experience and among the highlights of his career. Sparks was assigned here from 2008 through 2011.

In a ceremony at the Saipan seaport Monday night, Sparks was presented plaques of appreciation by the ports authority and its board, as well as from other stakeholders.

In his remarks, acting governor Eloy Inos recognized Sparks for his invaluable maritime safety assistance and support to the CNMI.

Inos also announced that he or Gov. Benigno Fitial will grace the special farewell rites for Sparks in Guam on June 26.

Sparks later told Saipan Tribune that the two major challenges facing the Coast Guard throughout his three-year term were the tyranny of time and distance. Resources and the lack of enough tools to provide better service to the Commonwealth were also among the hindrances.

Saipan Tribune learned that the U.S. Coast Guard has about 275 personnel in active duty and reservists in Guam. Of that number, only four are assigned to the CNMI. The Coast Guard has no operational station on the island.

Sparks said it has always been his desire to bring more personnel and resources to CNMI but this was affected by funding woes at the national level. Despite these limited services to CNMI, Sparks believes the Coast Guard is doing its job well in the Commonwealth.

“We don’t have regular operational unit here all the time, but we get them here as often as we can. I am convinced that we’ve done our best to assist the CNMI,” he said, adding that the Coast Guard has also broken a number of “big cases” relating to illegal fishing in the waters of the Northern Marianas.

He is confident that his successor, Capt. Casey White will continue to provide better service to both Guam and CNMI.

“We have a saying in the Coast Guard: ‘You can’t fix everything but you can leave better than you think.’ I am hoping that she will take that to heart. There’s a need to get more people, more assets, and more money in our budget because I think this is a growth area for the Coast Guard. It’s an area that needs more attention,” he added.

Among those at the farewell gathering were Inos, CPA executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero, CPA board member Fermin Sakisat, ports manager MaryAnn Lizama, and employees of the ports authority and its stakeholders.