IPI, Pacific Rim, DPAC talk extension

Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC is seriously weighing to extend its Aug. 31, 2018, deadline for its hotel-resort/casino in Garapan. The Hong Kong-based investor remains in talks with its construction prime contractor and the Development Plan and Advisory Committee.

In a report to the Commonwealth Casino Commission yesterday, IPI executive Eric Poon said they are continuing discussions on a “license extension assessment” with both DPACs representing IPI and the NMI, even setting up workshops to “get a package to propose to the governor.”

He added they were working on a “reasonable and feasible proposal” for the extension.

Poon added that IPI is also working with Pacific Rim Constractor, which has been its prime contractor for construction for only seven weeks.

Pacific Rim, a construction firm based in Guam, agreed to take up the incomplete project left by IPI’s former prime contractor, MCC International.

In response to casino commission chair Juan Sablan asking when the proposal would be submitted, Poon said the proposal should be ready sometime in May 2018.

Pacific Rim president Keith Stewart declined to comment on the status of their discussions since he said their main focus is completing the project and he did not wish to “overstep boundaries.”

Poon indicated in his report that, as of April 23, 2018, completion percentage for Imperial Pacific Resort was at 65 percent, a 0.2-percent increase from March 2018’s 64.8 percent completion. February 2018 completion percentage came in at 64.5 percent.

Poon further indicated that for April, a large rise in the population of construction workers was noted. March 2018 construction worker population, including management, was at 255, according to a previous report to the casino commission, while April 2018 noted 780 total construction workers, including management.

In an interview with casino commission executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero, he believes that it was “smart” of IPI to consult with both DPACs and Pacific Rim.

“They are trying to understand what needs to be done and when they think they are going to actually finish. I believe they are also trying to not restrict themselves to another date that cannot be met. I think it is smart of them to look at it and be truthful,” he said, minutes after the casino commission recessed for lunch.

“By having a third-party group like the DPAC looking at what date [for discussion] is more realistic, I think the objective is to only finish [the project] but to finish it at the soonest and safest way,” he added.