Mariana Country Club general manager Gloria C. Cavanagh made this suggestion after an elderly Japanese couple whom she said were repeat tourists, were robbed of their belongings while playing golf at their resort on Monday morning.
The Department of Public Safety had yet to respond to the inquiries of this reporter regarding this latest attack on tourists, but Cavanagh said DPS already assigned a detective to the case.
The victims were about to tee off when the suspect approached and talked to them in Japanese.
After the conversation and while the elderly Japanese couple returned to the greens, the suspect suddenly jumped on the victims’ golf cart, drove fast to the boonie area and disappeared with the victim’s purse.
The victims lost $300 worth of traveler’s checks and other valuables, but Cavanagh said this latest crime committed against tourists affects “the CNMI, its people and the economy as a whole.”
Last September, Cavanagh said a motorcycle riding thief grabbed a tourist’s bag.
DPS had yet to announce new details regarding that case.
People continue committing crimes against tourists because there’s no “active deterrence,” Cavanagh said.
The chances of being caught on the island are “very small,” and “the crime leaves with the tourist or tourists” who were the victims, Cavanagh said.
She said she has to upgrade the security of the resort in order to ensure the safety and security of their clients.
“This comes in with a lot of investment for security personnel, barbed wire, among others. These are not free and they are quite expensive. But we have no choice. I don’t want my other guests victimized,” Cavanagh said.
Tourists who were victimized return home, share their experience with family members and friends who then avoid the CNMI as a tourist destination, she said.
“The Saipan people are also the victims of those individuals committing crimes against tourists,” Cavanagh said.
“No matter how much money we throw at DPS, how many laws are enacted by Legislature, it is also the community’s responsibility,” Cavanagh said, adding that people out there, family members or relatives, neighbors, “who know something, but choose not to talk, should now come out and help.”
When tourists don’t come to the CNMI, social services and programs for the people will be affected, she added.
Cavanagh said they are “working really hard” with DPS and the Marianas Visitors Authority to prevent crimes against tourists.
