Continued operation of pool eyed

Saipan Swim Club’s Anthony Camacho-Deleon Guerrero competes in a local tournament held early this year at the Kan Pacific Swimming Pool in Marpi. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC said it plans to continue the management of the sports facilities that were part of the land leased by Kan Pacific Saipan Ltd. in Marpi.

Kan Pacific maintains and operates the Olympic-size swimming pool, baseball field, and the 18-hole Mariana Country Club. The go-kart race track is also part of the more than 50,000 square meter land leased by Kan Pacific, but it us under Marianas Trekking, which offers ATV tours and other outdoor sports activities.

“[The sports facilities] are included in the [request for proposal]. The management contract did include all facilities,” IPI senior vice president for special projects Viola Alepuyo told Saipan Tribune.

The Department of Public Lands had already issued a notice of intent to award the land lease to IPI, which is the lone company that answered the RFP when the 40-year lease of Kan Pacific was about to expire. The actual lease agreement has yet to be finalized that’s why DPL issued an extension to continue Kan Pacific’s operations. The Legislature, once all issues are settled by DPL and IPI, will either approve, deny, or amend the agreement.

Alepuyo said the golf course would continue its daily operations once they get the green light of taking over the operations of the Marpi properties, but she’s not sure if they could make improvements in the facility. IPI is also waiting for the approval of its request from the CNMI Lottery Commission to waive the requirement to only operate a 5-star quality hotel.

IPI’s plan to continue managing the sports facilities, including the pool, could be welcome news for the Northern Mariana Islands Swimming Federation since it will start the 2018-2019 season later this month and CNMI swimmers are also preparing for several local and off-island competitions.

Swimming is one of the most successful sports programs in the CNMI, producing medals for the Commonwealth in numerous regional and international competitions.

Alepuyo added that IPI also hopes to continue the management and operations of the sports facilities once their requests to CLC and negotiations with DPL are secured. She, however, did not mention any commitments about the 2021 Pacific Mini Games, which Saipan will be hosting in less than three years, as IPI’s plans would all depend on DPL’s decision.