BANTALAN Sugar Dock Inc. promises to clean, maintain and collaborate with government agencies and lawmakers in developing the Bantalan or Sugar Dock beach area in an adopt-a-place ceremony at the site on Friday, May 12.
“Bantalan played a huge part in the economy of the NMI some decades ago — this was where sugar was docked, and the majority of trading was done. We would like to maintain this historical site as part of our initiatives to help our community. This place is historical and should be taken care of for our children,” the organization’s adviser, former Rep. Martin Ada, said.
Adopt-a-place is a program of the Saipan Mayor’s Office that encourages businesses, community groups, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private individuals to “adopt” any place on island and commit to cleaning, maintaining and, if possible, developing the area adopted.
But even before the implementation of the adopt-a-place program, the Bantalan group was already helping maintain the Sugar Dock area.
In 2022, the group spearheaded the construction of a new pavilion in partnership with former Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, the Infrastructure and Recovery Program and the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
“We established this non-profit because we want to make positive changes to the community,” Ada said. “We thank the Saipan Mayor’s Office for giving us the opportunity to do this with them,” he added.
Ada said they will also work with other government agencies and lawmakers regarding the construction of facilities such as restrooms and a proper shower area.
“We need the help of our lawmakers and government agencies to implement these projects which will require connecting a waterline to our proposed shower area,” he said.
Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho thanked the organization for stepping up and officially adopting the place.
He said Bantalan’s efforts to contribute to the community serve as an inspiration and model to other local organizations.
He noted that the island’s economic driving forces, such as the casino, are gone while the tourism industry hasn’t recovered yet, but he said Saipan still has other resources that the people can use to make a living, and land and water are among them.
“Let us make use and preserve these natural resources,” he said.
Bantalan Sugar Dock Inc., a non-profit group, has “adopted” the Bantalan or Sugar Dock beach area on Friday, May 12, 2023
