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‘Street Market might take awhile’
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Posted on Dec 19 2018
The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ CNMI Arts Council, which administers the weekly Street Market at the Garapan Fishing Base, is working toward re-opening the mini-food fair despite Super Typhoon Yutu destroying several equipment essential for its operation.
Arts Council executive director Parker Yobei asks for the patience and understanding of both the community and the 32 food and non-food vendors that participate in the weekly event.
“…Our whole power system for the [Street Market] is no longer [in existence],” Yobei told Saipan Tribune.
The council is also working to replace two destroyed weather heads that easily costs about $1,500 apiece; some electrical lines; and 12 panel boxes with eight outlets each, to name a few of their needs.
“It’s hard to do anything without a power source,” Yobei said, adding that while the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. power line that goes through the area is already online, without the panel boxes to connect to CUC lines, then “there isn’t much we can do.”
“We need power to operate,” Yobei said. “Until we get those things in place and some infrastructure back, I cannot [release] a date right now.”
Yobei assured that his office is currently in discussions with local hardware stores for their electrical equipment needs, but it might take a while since funding is something that needs to be considered.
“Slowly but surely we will get there,” he said. “I ask the [public and the vendors] for their patience.”
