Saipan Mayor RB Camacho meets with representatives of the island’s ethnic and cultural organizations at his office on Wednesday.
SAIPAN Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho on Wednesday met again with the island’s ethnic group leaders at his San Jose office to discuss village cleanliness, public safety, a culture festival, the various programs offered by the mayor’s office, and other related topics.
They first met on Feb. 9, and agreed to hold another meeting.
In attendance on Wednesday were local cultural advocate John Gonzales, Luella Marciano of the Indigenous Affairs Office, Tyrone Garon of the United Filipino Organizations, Hiroko Tenorio of the Japanese Society of the Northern Mariana Islands, Ta Bun Kuy of the Chinese Association, and Leakat Ali Khan of the Saipan Muslim Community.
Marciano said she would like to collaborate with the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs in organizing basketball and volleyball tournaments for the youth.
She said the sports programs in public and private schools should also be implemented in the villages to increase youth participation.
“If we can bring … those basketball, … volleyball tournaments [to the community], working with DCCA [and] with businesses that can support — that’s one way for us to help our youth,” she added.
Marciano noted, however, that some public recreational facilities are in better shape than others. She said in Chalan Kanoa, for example, the Laly Four beachside basketball court as well as the basketball court near the Catholic cemetery are usable, but not the basketball court adjacent to the former Joeten store.
Mayor Camacho said he is currently organizing an after-school softball program with six tentative teams.
He said his vision is to have a Marianas-wide tournament.
“These teams [will] compete in each precinct,” he added. “Whoever is the champion … will challenge the winners [on Rota, Tinian, and the Northern Islands].”
Camacho also requested that ethnic group leaders schedule a meeting between him and their members.
“Once we finish with this meeting, schedule a meeting with [your] own community and share what this meeting was all about. [Ask] how can we work together, how can we share information to promote a safe community, safe village, and clean island,” he said. “I want to sit down and talk to your community members.”
During the meeting, Ta Bun Kuy, a business owner, expressed his frustration with crime on island. He said in September of last year, thieves stole frozen beef from the freezers of his restaurant, and solar lights from his warehouse. He said the cases remain open.
He likewise shared his observation that poker parlors are potential sites of drug trafficking.
Marciano said she has witnessed drug deals at poker parlors.
