Inos said in the next few days, the administration will put together a team to be composed of staffers from the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Department of Public Safety and representatives from hotels to ensure that crimes against tourists will never happen again, especially in Marpi.
On Wednesday, however, a Norwegian tourist lost his passport and other belongings after his rented vehicle was burglarized while sightseeing at Ladder Beach.
The victim and his friend were on a tour, and Saipan was their first stop.
DPS had yet to respond to the inquiries of the Variety regarding this and other previous crimes committed on tourists.
The victims have already left the island.
Inos, in an interview yesterday, said: “We have to put heads together and do what is best to prevent similar incidents from occurring.”
He added that their efforts may include installing surveillance equipment and stepping up security services in the area.
Private security personnel, he added, need to be trained further, and should learn how to properly report incidents.
“We are trying to address these things as we move along,” he said.
DPS, he added, will now be in a better position to respond when similar incidents happen, but he also noted the department’s lack of manpower, vehicles and equipment.
This is why DPS also needs the help of businesses and other members of the community, Inos said.
During their session yesterday, senators asked DPS Commissioner Ramon C. Mafnas what are the challenges the police officers are facing in ensuring the safety of tourists in the CNMI.
Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, urged Mafnas to immediately come up with a plan to tighten the safety in places like Suicide Cliff where a Russian tourist was attacked by a thief who also drove away with her rented car.
He noted that the victim, as reported by the Variety, complained that nobody among government agencies involved made an effort to comfort her after her traumatic experience.
“I would like to see a plan for at least northern Saipan. Let us work on ideas and do more with less to protect that part of the island,” he urged the DPS commissioner.
Mafnas said he had spent several hours putting together a proposal which he was now ready to present to the other agencies that will work collaboratively with DPS.
However, he identified some challenges. He said DPS does not have enough personnel.
The department’s financial situation is also an issue, he added. If they are short-handed then everybody would have to work overtime, he said.
The funding challenges also affect the maintenance of their equipment and vehicles, he added.
DPS is receiving federal assistance for vehicles but most of the time they come with conditions, Mafnas said.
There are always restrictions when receiving federally funded police vehicles, he added.
To ensure the security of tourists in Marpi, he said DPS would need the community support.
The private sector, for example, can sponsor a small compact vehicle that security personnel can use in the area, he added.
MVA seeks funding for additional security.
Yesterday, the Marianas Visitors Authority announced that it is trying to identify funds within its current budget to expand its security services to include Suicide Cliff, a widely popular visitor site where a visitor was robbed last week.
For several years, MVA said it has hired private security firms to provide services at frequently visited sites, which now include Banzai Cliff, Bird Island Lookout, Grotto, and popular dive spots Laulau Beach and Obyan Beach.
“Since the MVA took on the responsibility of providing security services at these sites, crime there has almost completely eliminated,” said MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio said in a statement.
“Practically, the MVA is not able to provide oversight at all frequent visitor locations, but we are looking at trying to include Suicide Cliff in our ongoing round of procurement for security services.”
Banzai Cliff, Bird Island, and Grotto are located in the Marpi area of Saipan, along with Suicide Cliff, and received nearly 40,000 visitors combined in August 2011. Currently security services at these locations are provided by G4S Security Services (CNMI) Inc.
“In partnership to fight criminal activities in the areas, G4S will be diverting their resources to patrol the areas, especially those that are being targeted by criminals,” said G4S branch manager Moises K. Pangelinan Jr. “We need community support to fight the criminal activities at the area.
If you see or hear something suspicious, report it.”
The security guards also administer first aid and report maintenance or other problems.
“Although the MVA’s primary role as a state tourism office is to promote travel to the Northern Marianas, at the same time, we realize that all our marketing efforts would be useless if visitors didn’t feel safe coming here. This was the impetus for contracting security services in the beginning,” said Tenorio. “Tourism is the sole economic driver for our entire economy, and the safety of our islands should be a concern for the whole community.”
MVA said it currently dedicates over $120,000 annually to security services.
