Palacios, in a memo to DPL and DLNR, said the Saipan legislative delegation does not oppose the proposed fee.
“However, we are concerned that the community may feel the fee is unfair due to such short notice. As chairman of the [delegation’s] committee on judicial and governmental operations, I would like to recommend that you suspend the proposed $10 fee for this year so that we can better educate the people on the reason for imposing such fees,” said Mafnas, R-Saipan.
He added, “I would also like to recommend that the fee to be raised to $40 with $10 being refundable provided that they clean up the area afterward. I suggest that the remaining balance be used to rent portable toilets to be set along the beach area. It has been brought to our attention that in the previous years, campers would dig up holes in the sand along the beach just to use the restroom. This practice is extremely unsanitary. The placement of portable toilets in the area will surely stop this unhealthy practice.”
He also urged DPL and DLNR to “come up with a list of do’s and don’ts, specifying what is allowed and what is prohibited, i.e., open camp fire, loud music. etc.”
