Pacific Islands

The Building Safety Code Division of the CNMI Department of Public Works recently notified Imperial Pacific International about alleged IPI violations pertaining to the ongoing construction of its casino resort.

Imperial Pacific International has claimed that it has been and is being overcharged by the CNMI government when it is being made to pay a US$3 million casino regulatory fee on top of the US$15 million casino license fee.

Pacific Rim Land Development has issued a motion asking the US District Court for the NMI to authorize it to auction Imperial Pacific International’s assets to satisfy the US$5.5 million balance due on a civil judgment.

CNMI Governor Ralph Torres has given tepid verbal support for IPI to undergo financial suitability hearings “if this is something that Commonwealth Casino Commission needs to do in order to move forward.”

Democratic Representative in the Northern Marianas Legislature, Tina Sablan, believes that CNMI regulators dropped the ball on IPI.

Acting Executive Director Andrew Yeom of the Commonwealth Casino Commission has filed another complaint against Imperial Pacific International, this time over the firm’s failure to pay the US$3.1 million annual regulatory fee that was due on October 1.

The Imperial Pacific casino has been been given a six-month extension for payment of US$20 million it owes the Northern Marianas government.

A District Court for the NMI declared that Imperial Pacific International has no 5th Amendment right to avoid self-incrimination as she denied the firm's request to suspend the court proceedings in the lawsuit of seven construction workers who have alleged labor and other violations.

Commonwealth Casino Commission Chairman Edward Deleon Guerrero claims that his body is the only one authorized to suspend or revoke the gaming license of Imperial Pacific International.

Imperial Pacific International has reportedly offered to pay half of its $15 million annual license fee now, with the remainder deferred until February next year due to the impact of Covid-19 on its business.