IPI workers stage 2nd protest rally

Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC workers stage another protest yesterday in front of the Horiguchi Building in Garapan where the U.S. District Court for the NMI is located. (KRIZEL TUAZON)

Scores of Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC workers staged another peaceful protest yesterday in front of the Horiguchi Building in Garapan where the federal court is to demand the “unfreezing” of IPI’s payroll bank accounts so they can get paid.

The workers held a two-hour protest as U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona presided over the start of a bench trial about a mechanic’s lien filed by IPI’s former contractor, U.S.A. Fanter Corp. Ltd. A mechanic’s lien refers to a security interest in the title to property for the benefit of those who have supplied labor or materials that improve the property.

The protesters’ chants and vehicle’s honks outside the building could be heard in the courtroom faintly as court proceedings were ongoing.

Colin M. Thompson, who is the lawyer for contractors U.S.A. Fanter Corp. Ltd. and Pacific Rim Land Development LLC, said in a later interview that Manglona did not freeze IPI’s accounts but merely granted Pacific Rim’s writs of execution against some of IPI’s bank accounts. An IPI management official, who requested not be identified, said that this has resulted in the banks putting a hold on IPI’s accounts and IPI workers not being able to cash their paychecks.

The workers first gathered at IPI’s casino/resort project in Garapan before proceeding by buses, vans, and other vehicles to the parking lot of Kristo Rai Church in front of the Horiguchi Building shortly before 10am. The trial inside started at 9am. The workers faced the Horiguchi Building and held up placards and streamers that read “Open up the IPI bank account,” and “We want to get payed (sic).”

Bluent Peker, a project manager for the 90-plus Turkish team, said that IPI’s payroll account has money for the workers’ salaries and they don’t understand why the payroll account is frozen.

“Since one month we are waiting for our salaries,” said Peker, adding that the court should unfreeze the payroll account and give control of this account to the CNMI Department of Labor.

“We don’t want to be involved in other things. Just have a mechanism to make a payment for all the people. We are here to support Saipan. We are here to finish the project for the Saipan people. We are here to increase the tourism,” he said.

Peker said they are protesting because they want the court to hear them. “What we want is very clear. Unfreeze our money, we want our salaries,” he said.

Peker pointed out that, while everyone else are staying home, they are working 10 to 11 hours a day, seven 7 days a week, to be able to complete the project.

“We are builders,” Peker said, adding that the court and the government should help them. He said that what’s happening now at IPI’s project is they’re only doing cleaning and security work. He said the rainy season is coming and they are trying to prepare the building for that.

Patrick Hsieh, a Taiwanese carpenter, said all they want is to get paid for their work. Hsieh said they want Manglona to release at least one of IPI’s bank accounts so the workers will get paid regularly and finish the project. Hsieh said some of the Taiwanese workers are leaving the CNMI because of this situation.

Corrado Modica, an Italian, said there are 30 Italian workers at IPI and that they are upset because although IPI gave them the two paychecks they could not get cash because IPI’s bank accounts are frozen. Modica said their families back home are waiting for the money.

“We need assistance from the government here. Just somebody should take action and help us. Because we’re far away from our families,” he said.

Modica said they feel sad because they never had problems with IPI since they came a year ago.

Bat-Ochir, a Mongolian, said the only reason why they are protesting is they cannot get paid because IPI’s bank accounts have been frozen. “What we’re asking is for the court to help us. Because we are working. The workers need to get paid. In order to get paid, we need IPI bank accounts to be unfrozen,” said Bat-Ochir through an interpreter.

Bat-Ochir said there are 140 Mongolian workers at IPI. He said they don’t want to be involved with the “clash” between IPI and its contractor. “Because the workers are not getting paid, they can’t buy their food. …Now we don’t have anything left,” Ochir said.

He said the construction used to go fast but has now slowed down. “We’re not blaming the previous contractor or the court, we’re just asking for help that’s going to be fair to everybody,” he added.

IPI senior vice president for security and surveillance Donald Browne said they’re protesting again primarily to get some help in opening up their payroll account so that their workers could be paid their wages. At this point, Browne said, they don’t have a mechanism to get paid because IPI’s payroll account is frozen.