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Torres hopes IPI will finish its project
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres hopes that Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC will continue and finish its Imperial Pacific Resort in Garapan and other projects as well as address other issues that the company is facing.
At a radio news briefing last week, Torres said the casino industry is critical to the CNMI and that he is happy that the Department of Public Works lifted its stop-work order for IPI to continue with its construction.
“Because we know how important the [role they] play in our economy, our retirees,” the governor said.
Torres said he is not happy and very disappointed with IPI’s actions and inactions but, at the same time, he also acknowledged what IPI has brought to the CNMI’s economy.
“And I hope that we can move forward on it and they can finish their project,” he said.
Despite DPW lifting last Wednesday its stop-work order against IPI at the ongoing construction of its casino/hotel project in Garapan, work hasn’t resumed yet because of another dispute with IPI’s safety consultant.
Last Wednesday, DPW Building Safety Code Division representative/inspector Gani Salazar, told the Commonwealth Casino Commission that it has allowed IPI to resume construction work at tower hotel’s levels 3 to 13 of the Imperial Pacific Resort building after IPI complied with DPW’s requirements.
Salazar, however, stated that IPI cannot work on tower hotel’s Level 14 unless they submit shop drawings and revised plan for that floor.
IPI received the stop-work order from DPW last Oct. 27.
In the stop-work order, DPW suspended all construction work from tower hotel’s Level 3 to Sky Level 14 until shop drawings and revised plans are submitted to and approved by DPW’s building safety officer.
DPW also suspended all welding work.
