“We were appalled. It is dismaying and downright disappointing how some folks have no respect, even for our sacred grounds,” said Rose T. Ada-Hocog, block captain of the Neighborhood Watch Task Force in Koblerville, which led the cleanup campaign.
On Saturday, Ada-Hocog’s group picked up concrete slabs that were dumped on the gravesite of one of the island’s beloved priests.
Among the garbage were beds, water heaters and house decorations, she said.
Alarmed
Yesterday, Saipan Mayor Donald G. Flores visited the cemetery to clean up the area.
Rep. Rafael S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, also sent his personnel to join the cleanup.
Flores said he was alarmed to see household items dumped at the cemetery.
“This is not a dumping site. People should help maintain the cleanliness of our cemetery,” he said.
He is hoping that law enforcement agencies will strictly implement the law against littering and illegal dumping of garbage.
Ada-Hocog fears that many volunteers will see their cleanup drives as “futile or a waste of time because of the actions of these culprits.”
She said she will continue to ask for the cooperation and patience of the volunteers.
Identify
Ada-Hocog said they were able to identify the persons responsible for the illegal dumping.
The names of the individuals, she said, will be provided to the chancery which will decide what to do.
She believed the incident was also reported to the Department of Public Safety.
The littering at the cemetery has been happening for years, she said, adding that theft is also taking place.
Ada-Hocog said every week, family members come to visit the graves of their loved ones and they leave trinkets, flowers, drinks, betelnuts and other gifts for their dearly departed.
When they leave, she said, the thieves arrive to grab the gifts for the dead.
“Personally, the only way that I can see these criminal acts subside or stop is for the culprits to grow up, and (culturally speaking) for the spirits of the taotaomona to start making parts of their bodies swell. That usually helps educate people what not to do,” Ada-Hocog said.
Transfer station
She said that designating a temporary transfer station in each village will help prevent illegal dumping of trash.
“The mayor’s office and the Division of Parks and Recreation as well as the offices of the precinct House members can take turns each week to make sure that the garbage at these temporary transfer stations are delivered to the main one up north,” she added.
The Neighborhood Watch Task Force in Koblerville, together with other volunteers, will continue the cleanup campaign in Chalan Kanoa cemetery this Saturday in preparation for the observance of All Souls Day, she said.
