So that environment advocates, including government agencies established program like the “Beautify CNMI” and the revitalization effort of the Saipan Municipal Council, that would implement the clean and green campaign in the island.
And since the conception of the beautification program more people from different sectors — the academe, business, religious, and government and ethnic groups, continue to patronize the program.
From time to time we see group of people picking up trashes along the Beach Road and anywhere on Saipan .
But what could be a good start cleanup campaign may not be a successful one unless it is done regularly and consistently.
Thanks to the personnel of the Parks and Recreation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources. When the cleanup drive by private groups is done as scheduled either every once in a month, or every quarter or annually, these workers without interruption continue their task all throughout the year. They frequently, habitually and routinely attend to their work
Think about the surroundings of the Saipan ’s 31 villages and its 21 sub-areas and neighborhoods located within villages. Then look at the public parks and the basketball courts and all the public recreation areas.
When you travel around Saipan think about the main thoroughfares. Try to pass by the secondary roads. And focus your way along the Beach Road, from the American Memorial Park all the way to Pacific Islands Club. Then divert your attention from Marpi to San Antonio going upward to Koblerville, to the remote area of the Obyan Ladder, and to Kagman and Capital Hill.
These are the areas, which the Parks and Recreation Division workers, called their second home. From 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during weekdays the 35 personnel grouped into two lead by Akiky Alexander and Pat Kapileo trudged with their equipment.
“We are happy with our work,” they commented in chorus, when asked why they continue working despite the bad weather condition. “Rain or sunshine we are here to maintain the cleanliness of the area.”
Every Monday and Tuesday, the group devoted their time picking up trashes along the Beach Road. On Friday they do trimming bushes and flowers in the area.
Their only disappointment is when they see trashes scattered around the pavilion. “We have trash bins placed in most areas but people need to be reminded always how to do with their garbage.”
They also cleanup the basketball courts in every village, painting the graffiti and trimming the surrounding.
The Department of Public Works is responsible for trimming the bushes along the highway and because of limited manpower, they said, they have to include instead in their routine work.
“This is the only work we know,” one worker claimed. “But we love our work.”
Some of them have been in the service for 20 years while others are still new. Their salary varies, according to their length of service in the government. Some are getting a measly $4 an hour while others $12.
On weekend, most of them said “we spent our time with our family and sleep.” “That’s our life — work and home.”
Without them what could be the image of Saipan? Let us consider one area — Beach Road , most of the time exploited by picnickers of educated and high compensated workers during weekend, leaving volume of trashes.
