DEPARTMENT of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao yesterday insisted that Francisco Tanko M. Palacios Baseball Field meets the standards in league specifications and “not in a deplorable stage or unplayable condition as claimed by the local major baseball organization.”
In a statement yesterday, Faisao said the current setting of the baseball field “does meet the standards for training and for amateur or professional league specifications.”
One of the Saipan Little League Inc., board members raised concerns about the condition of the baseball field which has been undergoing a renovation, even when the Saipan Little League and Saipan Major League opened last month.
Some baseball players, particularly in the SML, also brought up issues about the “manufactured sand” in the field while some parents complained about the ground in the outfield where one player was injured in one of the opening games of the league.
One of the board members of a baseball organization brought this up to DCCA’s Sports and Recreation Division.
Another baseball group official who requested anonymity said he totally disagree when the said board member tried to blame the Sports and Recreation. He said the Sports and Recreation has been doing all its best to accommodate the sports organization. Whatever issues that came out in the renovation of the base field should not be held at the Sports and Recreation, the official said.
Faisao, for his part said the baseball organization’s claims “are irrelevant to the DCCA’s Sports and Recs’ existing standards or specifications and the department will continue to have open door policy to prioritize meeting with the said local baseball organization in addressing their concerns.”
However, he added, the local major baseball organizations are entitled to their own opinion and as noted, no other local sports organizations have endorsed or support views of his or her organization.
The Department, Faisao said will progress forward in an accountable and transparent mode in effectuating to meet its goals and objectives for its program needs that are provided in any existing CNMI statutes which conferred the authority to the Sports and Recs to develop and administer programs relating to team and individual sports, recreational activities, and physical fitness for youth and adults, including senior citizens and persons with mental or physical disabilities.
