(DEQ) — Twenty-three new litter control apprehending officers from six different agencies on Tinian were presented with their badges and citation books at an award ceremony on Feb. 7 at the mayor’s office there.
The officers had attended a litter control apprehending officers certification training on Oct. 25-26, 2006 offered by the Division of Environmental Quality and the Department of Public Safety. The training had been requested by Tinian Mayor Jose San Nicolas.
The new litter control officers for Tinian are: Peter Manglona, Emerito Lumba Jose G. Adriano, Herman P. Aldan, Jesse P. Aldan, Reyisa Aldan, Barbara K. Arend, John S. Baza, Jose M. Borja, Henry Q. Cruz, Carmelita Dela Cruz, Estanislao M. Hocog, Herbert B. Hocog, Kelvin John, Juan T. King, Vincent L. Manglona, Vicente M. Muna, Keith K. Nabors, Joe M. Pangelinan, Anthony A. Reyes, Vicente C. Reyes, James M. Roberts, Jr. and Martin C. San Nicolas.
According to Mayor San Nicolas, these officers will be tasked with patrolling the beaches, streets, and other public areas of Tinian in a municipal effort to crack down on littering and beautify the island.
In his remarks at the award ceremony, DEQ Solid Waste Manager David Chargualaf further urged the new litter control officers to take the lead in educating the Tinian community about the litter control law and the problems associated with littering, not only through active enforcement but also through school presentations, community cleanups, and other programs.
All litter control apprehending officers on Saipan, Tinian and Rota represent agencies authorized to enforce the Litter Control Act — DEQ, DPS, the Coastal Resources Management Office, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Department of Public Works, and the offices of the mayors on Saipan, Tinan and Rota.
Members of the community are urged to join this litter control campaign by bringing their own trash bags and leaving their picnic areas cleaner than when they found them.
If public trash bins are full or in poor condition, members of the community are also asked to take their trash with them for proper disposal at the transfer station or Marpi landfill.
Littering carries a minimum fine of $200.