SAIPAN on Tuesday officially joined the nationwide campaign for water safety awareness with Mayor David M. Apatang signing a proclamation that designated May as National Water Safety Month.
Forty-four states and the territories of American Samoa and the CNMI have joined ongoing national efforts to educate the public on pool and spa safety issues.
Joining the mayor in his conference room during the proclamation signing were Swim for Life CNMI Project Manager Jeremiah Benavente, Grant Writer Valrick Welch, 500 Sails Community Program Director Marjorie Daria, Cultural Maritime Training Center Director Eva Cruz, and Western Pacific Solutions LLC President Glenn Policare.
Apatang, in his proclamation, stated that the residents of Saipan recognize that swimming and aquatic-related activities are vital to one’s physical and mental health and can help enhance the quality of life for all people.
He said the residents of Saipan also understand the essential role of education regarding water safety in preventing drownings and recreational water-related injuries.
Prior to the mayor’s signing of the proclamation, Policare provided a background of the nationwide campaign.
He said Cathy Haggarty, the National Water Safety Month coordinator of the World Waterpark Association, had reached out to the Commonwealth and asked that Saipan support the designation of May as National Water Safety Month.
She said the goal is to promote water safety and to encourage Americans to be more “water aware.”
Policare said, “We are so happy to be part of this.”
He noted that since he returned to Saipan in 1993, it has been amazing to see the many aquatic programs that have developed on island over the years.
The National Water Safety Month proclamation, he said, is the culmination of a great collaboration among various organizations not only in the U.S., but the whole world.
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, center, poses for a photo with Western Pacific Training Solutions President Glenn Policare, fourth right, Swim for Life CNMI Project Manager Jeremiah Benavente, right, Grant Writer Valrick Welch, second left, 500 Sails Community Program Director Marjorie Daria, third left, Cultural Maritime Training Director Eva Cruz, third right, and Special Assistant to the Mayor Henry Hofschneider, after the signing of a proclamation designating May as National Water Safety Month.
