Precinct 3 Representatives and Saipan Delegations has appropriated $16,000 for the China Town Basketball Court renovations signed by the Governor.
The Office of the Vice Speaker and Saipan Delegations waits for the Department of Public Works, Technical Division to come with specifications and design for the project.
Mr. Dan Barcinas, Staff of the Vice Speaker has informed Mr. Ray Lizama on Sept. 09, 2010 on the status of the project. Mr. Barcinas has been coordinating the project since February of this year. “I am excited for our youth with this news” exclaimed Mr. Barcinas in an email interview with the Variety.
“This is great news for our community as a whole especially for our youth, coaches, officials, organizers so they could continue their quest to promote basketball development programs in all the villages and throughout Saipan” said Mr. Lizama in an interview with the Variety.
Basketball is growing as the most popular sport on Saipan. Mr. Lizama is planning to bring back the “Village Youth Basketball League” focusing on the fact that this will help promote positive role models within our communities.
These types of curricular activities will serve as a type of preventive techniques against combat crimes, vandalism, graffiti, and it will also make our community a safer and peaceful village.
“The whole idea is to bring our youth, and community together to promote goodwill, and friendship among our youths throughout Saipan” said Mr. Lizama.
Mr. Lizama, who grew up in China Town, feels the need of the basketball court to be renovated. The China Town Basketball Court has been unplayable for the last 7 years. After moving back from the State of Oregon he did not know the condition of the court until people started approaching him, and sharing their concerns.
His last words to the Variety were: “It breaks my heart just to hear from youth basketball players, people in our community, ask me the question ‘Why can’t we renovate the court?!’ and that usually leaves me speechless.
Excuses should not be tolerated, it’s not an option. We must renovate the court for the betterment of the community.”
