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‘Temporary’ return of Thursday Market at PDM in the works
The Thursday Street Market has not been operating for two weeks now and it is not yet clear when it will be reopening back to its original venue at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan.
The weekly street market was last held at the Garapan Fishing Base on June 11 but was temporarily discontinued as preparations are underway for the Liberation Day festivities that will be held at the same spot.
According to Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture executive director Angel Hocog, he will start meeting with and submitting requirements to the Department of Public Lands this week to acquire a temporary permit to operate at the Paseo.
“Hopefully I can get a temporary permit once I submit all the requirements for Public Lands,” Hocog told Saipan Tribune.
Asked when he thinks the market will reopen, Hocog said “it’s up to Public Lands.”
Hocog said his office started gathering documents needed for the permit.
“I started notifying the vendors to submit their monthly business gross revenue tax because that’s part of the requirement,” Hocog said.
“My office is starting to get all the documents from our vendors. We’ll work on that and send to Public Lands,” he added.
Only temporary
Answering if the Paseo is a good place for the Thursday market, Hocog said “it’s not.”
“It’s not, but temporary, that’s the only venue that we have. It’s not recommended that we move south,” Hocog said, “That’s the only option that we have, to move back to Paseo.”
Another concern is if all the vendors will fit to operate in Paseo. The weekly market currently has 62 vendors, food and non-food.
“I sent one of my staff to go out and start doing the measurements but otherwise we just have to take out those non-food [vendors]. But we’ll try to accommodate everyone,” Hocog said.
On the other hand, Hocog also pointed out that the location might be good for tourists to come as it is near hotels. He added that there will be no change in the fees paid by vendors.
Once it reopens, the Thursday Market will stay at Paseo until the Liberation Day celebrations end on August.
