Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho is urging residents to help stop vandalism across Saipan, saying repeated damage to public facilities threatens youth programs, community safety and the island’s shared spaces. “Vandalism and crime is not the solution!” he said, calling on the public to report suspicious behavior, especially in areas where children gather.
The mayor’s appeal follows another incident at the Garapan basketball court, where the glass backboard was shattered just before the holidays. Camacho said he inspected the damage himself and used one of two spare glass backboards donated earlier by businessman Jerry Tan. With assistance from BL Machine Shop, the backboard was replaced on Jan. 6 at no cost to the government.
“That’s their contribution back to the community,” Camacho said, thanking shop owner Bobby and his team for volunteering their labor.
Camacho said vandalism remains a recurring issue, noting a recent report of coconut trees painted in the Laulau Bay area, a popular tourist diving spot. His office and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor responded to assess the damage. “If you got nothing to do, please find something productive rather than destruction. We’re all suffering. If you got nothing to do, we have a big ocean — go out and fish. There’s a lot of land — go out and farm.”
The mayor emphasized that protecting public spaces requires community involvement, not just government action. “It’s the community. Bring the community together,” he said. “The government is only a handful versus a population of 50,000 to 60,000.”
To address growing concerns about crime, Camacho said his administration is launching neighborhood watch efforts and inviting residents to participate. “To ease the worry and fear in our community, I humbly ask the community to please come and join,” he said. “Let’s all work together, because the government cannot handle it alone.”
“It is now more than ever, in these challenging times, that we must protect our resources rather than destroy them,” Camacho added. “We thank the community for your support, and we will continue to serve the people and our youth.”
