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MVA extends security to Suicide Cliff
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Posted on Nov 09 2011
The Marianas Visitors Authority, through its security firm G4S Security Services (CNMI) Inc., has extended security services to Suicide Cliff, a popular visitor site, in response to a robbery at the site last month.
The MVA now provides security at intermittent hours at six high traffic sites: Banzai Cliff, Bird Island Lookout, Grotto, Lau Lau Beach, and Obyan Beach.
“Thanks to the flexibility of our contractor G4S, we are now able to provide a rotating shift of security personnel among the six sites,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “We are very grateful to G4S for working collaboratively with us on this urgent matter, at no cost to the MVA or the people.”
MVA board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce stressed that preventing and solving crimes cannot fall on the MVA alone.
“Crime in general should be a concern for all citizens. With regards to crimes specifically targeted at our guests, the MVA reiterates that a crime against our visitors is a crime against our community and our livelihood as tourism is the sole driver of our island economy,” Aldan-Pierce said. “The MVA does what it can to provide a nominal sense of safety at six tourist sites by posting security guards. Additionally and using available assets, we make accommodations where possible to alter the posting schedule and site. This, however, is reactionary and, given the unrestricted movement of our visitors throughout our islands, not a viable solution. What we believe the answer is in policing and community vigilance.”
Banzai Cliff, Bird Island, and Grotto are located in the Marpi area of Saipan, along with Suicide Cliff, and received nearly 40,000 visitors combined in August 2011. The MVA currently dedicates over $120,000 annually to provide security at these visitor sites. [I](MVA)[/I]
