He expressed his support for House Local Bill 17-38 which will require the use of a diver down flag for diving activities on the western beaches of Saipan.
“The number of accidents, injuries and fatalities that the bill seeks to prevent is something that decision-makers should not wait to see to push the bill forward,” the mayor said.
The bill should be passed, he added in his comments submitted to the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chairman, Republican Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb.
According to Flores, “Freak accidents involving fishermen and boatmen are more than sufficient justifications to pass the bill and make it law real soon.”
He said he recognizes the importance of safety and protection of human lives in the seawater, particularly in the western side of the island which has become a very busy course for many small commercial and non-commercial boat operators.
The bill states that all divers must prominently display a diver down flag when diving on the western beaches of Saipan.
“No diver or group of divers will display one or more diver down flag on a navigation channel, except in case of emergency, in a manner which shall be reasonable and not constitute a navigational hazard,” according to bill which was introduced by Rep. Rafael S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan.
