Saipan Mayor Ramon ‘RB’ Camacho, right, and a staff member stand beside a signboard intended for raising awareness about his safe-community initiatives.
SAIPAN Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho is collaborating with Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas and Attorney General Edward Manibusan to address criminal activities in Chalan Kanoa.
“We need action,” Camacho said, adding that he met with the DPS commissioner and the AG to discuss the island’s “rising crime rate.”
He said they also discussed solving crimes and measures that can help prevent crimes from happening.
Camacho, who is a retired police major, said among the critical issues they discussed were burglary and drug cases.
“I talked to them about the information I gathered from some community members. The community is reaching the point of thinking about resorting to violence to protect themselves. When I heard that from the community, I decided to call an urgent meeting with [the DPS chief and the AG],” he added.
“Burglary cases are increasing rapidly. There’s one victim whose dirt bike was stolen and another victim lost valuable stuff. The victims of these crimes have questions. I shared the victims’ frustrations with the DPS commissioner and the AG,” Camacho said.
“I came across a community member who told me that one of their family members is using drugs, and they are ashamed to report it. I sat down with them and told them that there is nothing to be ashamed of in reporting. Be ashamed when they start beating you up, or worse,” the Saipan mayor added.
“I want the community to understand the positive part in putting people in jail. There are programs in jail. That’s why it’s called Department of Corrections. They go in there after they are sentenced by the court to realize what they have done…. There’s nothing to be ashamed of in reporting [drug abuse cases]. Report them so the system can help them get rehabilitated, and once they’re released, they can become law-abiding citizen,” Camacho said.
He told reporters that he will hold a town hall meeting in Chalan Kanoa on Dec. 4 to hear the community’s concerns regarding the criminal activities in the area.
The venue will be announced later.
Camacho urged community members to attend the meeting.
“If they don’t participate in this discussion and we allow the criminals to become bigger than the law-abiding citizens, then it’s going to be a big problem. While it’s still small, we should work together and suppress it. We should not to allow it to continue to grow,” Camacho said.
To raise awareness about the town hall meeting, he said he will place a signboard on a trailer, which will be driven around Chalan Kanoa.
He said that with the permission of the Public School System and the education commissioner, he also wants to speak to teachers and parents at PTSA meetings.
“The island is no longer just Chamorro and Carolinian — this island is now a diverse community so I am inviting everyone. I need all the community members. You treat this place as your home so please work with the mayor’s office and together let’s promote a safe community, a safe village, and a clean island,” he added.
“The solution to the problem we are facing is to work together. We are stronger if we continue to work together. This is the time to work together to remove this unacceptable activity within the community,” the mayor said.
