CCC chair: If an IPI extension is coming, it needs to be now

Commonwealth Casino Commission meets with Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC during last Thursday’s monthly commission meeting. (ERWIN ENCINARES)

Commonwealth Casino Commission chair Juan Sablan told executives of Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC last Thursday that if the casino license agreement is to be amended, it needs to be done as soon as possible.

At issue is the deadline for the completion of the construction of the Imperial Pacific Resort. Right now, it is set at Aug. 31, 2018, which is about five months from now.

During Thursday’s commission meeting with IPI, Sablan stated that if there is to be an amendment to extend the deadline, then it should be done now.

After several questions directed toward Pacific Rim Constructors Inc. president Keith Stewart, Sablan himself sees the need for an amendment, especially with a new company involved with the construction of the casino.

“I definitely see an amendment coming up. That has to be done as soon as possible,” said Sablan.

The commission met with IPI’s new main contractor, Pacific Rim, for the first time last week. Stewart, who attended the commission meeting, was bombarded with questions about the construction timelines.

One of several questions that were repeatedly raised in previous commission meetings was the ability to meet the targeted deadline of Aug. 31, 2018.

Stewart said Thursday that he remains uncomfortable about setting expectation, given the labor problems facing the CNMI; however, he stated that he would be in a more comfortable position to set dates 60 days from now.

Sablan said the commission could not wait for 60 more days to know if IPR would be able to meet its deadline.

Stewart told the commissioners: “We have spoken with IPI as recently as [Wednesday] in terms of dates that may be suggested…but that is something that we need to work through more internally…At this time, I cannot comment anything more.”

Casino commission executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero told Stewart that since the request for amendment would probably be submitted soon, he believes it would be proper for Pacific Rim to submit its initial assessment of the facility.

Deleon Guerrero added that Pacific Rim should use the current construction status of IPR and their own expectations on when they could complete the structure to make a “reasonable and realistic deadline.”

“Part of the problem of trying to [shorten the deadline] is that you run the risk of accidents,” he said. “If there is a request [to extend the deadline], we are interested to see how your assessment in terms of [why, and how long the extension] is needed,” said Deleon Guerrero.

IPI general counsel Philip Tydingco told the commissioners at the February casino commission meeting that he would be recommending to IPI to request for a deadline extension in the form of an amendment to the CLA.

While specific details were not discussed, Tydingco reiterated that the point of the extension is to ensure that completion is achieved through a safe manner.