David Sablan, Department of Public Lands special advisor, said the area enclosed in the red lines labeled “Mariana Global” is the exclusive concessionaire area or ECA. The green area to the west of the ECA is the designated swim zone. If rule changes are enacted, the public can still bring food to the island and consume them in public pavilions, but they should not consume personal food or beverages in the ECA. Visitors must also use approved floatation devices provided by the main concessionaire if swimming in the designated swim zone.
RESIDENTS have until Aug. 14 to submit written comments regarding proposed changes to the rules and regulations governing commercial activity on Managaha, according to David Sablan, Department of Public Lands special advisor.
In its July 15 public notice, DPL said it wants to prevent the consumption of outside food and beverages in its main concessionaire’s exclusive concession area or ECA; restrict certain personal floatation devices in the designated swimming zone; and “further define” the type of commercial activity that may only be conducted by the main concessionaire and authorized sub-concessionaires.
If the rule change is enacted, the public can still bring food to the island and consume them in public pavilions, but they should not consume personal food or beverages in the ECA.
Visitors must also use approved floatation devices provided by the main concessionaire if swimming in the designated swim zone.
The ECA is on the north side of Managaha. The designated swim zone is to the west of the ECA.
Sablan said DPL’s Managaha rangers have the responsibility of monitoring the exclusive concession area to prohibit outside food and drink consumption. They also work with lifeguards to prevent the use of unauthorized personal floatation devices in the designated swim zone.
The July 15 public notice states that these proposed changes are being considered to help the main concessionaire, Marianas Global Inc., avoid liability. The “standard Managaha Island Master Concession Operator Agreement” between DPL and Marianas Global Inc. requires that DPL be secured against liability “for any injuries or losses which occur in the exclusive concession area.”
“Revising the regulations to restrict outside food and beverages in the ECA and to restrict personal floatation devices used in the designated swimming zone to those provided by the concessionaire will allow the concessionaire to exercise greater control over activities occurring in the ECA and for which the concessionaire is liable,” DPL stated.
Sablan said DPL will review written comments “then prepare a response and determine whether to proceed with final adoption accordingly.”
The changes to the rules and regulations will be enacted 10 days after being filed with the Commonwealth Registrar Office.
Written comments can be sent to Teresita Santos, DPL secretary, P.O. Box 500380, Saipan, MP, 96950 or dpl@dpl.gov.mp. Use the subject line “Proposed Amendments to the Commercial Use of Managaha Island Rules and Regulations.”
