Saipan Mayor RB Camacho, center, poses for a photo with various business owners from Precinct 2 during a meeting on Thursday, April 11.
THE island’s crime rate is a major concern for some Precinct 2 business owners who met with Saipan Mayor RB Camacho on Thursday.
“We have a lot of stealers,” said Guo Tang of Twins Market.
Moises Tagie of RNV Construction said their worksites have been burglarized at least 11 times already.
“If [it is possible], can we send some information that our company or project was burglarized … so at least you could inform the public?” he asked the mayor.
Tagie said this could help burglary victims recover their property with the community’s help.
Mike Sablan, vice president of Triple J, said small, medium and large businesses face “common concerns” regarding crime.
“I think in some ways, all of us are affected, have been affected, and will probably continue to be affected by crime,” he said. “One thing we can do among ourselves is to be more vigilant and help each other out. The criminal that hurts your business will probably go to the business next door and hurt their business as well.”
He also noted that the government is “really stretched for resources,” and that educating juvenile delinquents and their parents might be a way to reduce youth crime.
“Many of us are busy at our workplace focusing mainly on our business. These are very challenging times,” Sablan told the mayor. “What might be helpful is maybe you could divide up the island into zones and you can have one of your staff visit us regularly to talk about criminal activities.”
For her part, Irene Dela Paz of Downtown Market asked if the mayor could reach out to Transit CNMI regarding bus stops.
She is hoping that Transit CNMI passengers can be allowed to request stops at businesses along the bus route.
“I know [Transit CNMI] has stop stations, but it’s a little bit of a business opportunity for us [if they can have more stop stations],” Dela Paz said.
Mayor Camacho’s staff will also organize similar meetings with business leaders in Precincts 3, 4 and 5.
The mayor earlier met with religious leaders and ethnic groups to hear their concerns and solicit feedback.
