IPI looks to December for hotel resort completion

Monday 2nd of July 2018

Imperial Pacific International is likely going to be missing its August 2018 deadline, and is currently in the process of applying for an extension to December, Saipan Tribune reports.

IPI’s request came during a presentation at the Commonwealth Casino Commission regular meeting held on Thursday.

“The development of the resort hotel experienced a big jump and we are trying to [do] everything and get ready for the inspection by the end of the year,” said IPI vice president for construction Eric Poon.

“Overall, our focus is on the three areas—resort hotel, hotel tower that includes the building facade and roof, and the external works which are in front of the hotel lobby,” he said.

The hotel resort on Saipan was supposed to be completed by August 2018, a deadline that has been extended a number of times before.

Juan Sablan said this will be the sixth amendment to the casino license agreement, and that IPI should come up with a realistic deadline in its request for the extension.

“Since Pacific Rim came into the picture and did the preliminary assessment, you should’ve already known what needed to be done, what resources are lacking. Before it was manpower, then issue with the materials, but now you have materials here on Saipan… ask for a date that’s realistic…because if you pick a date that is unrealistic that would require another extension… violations in the agreement require sanctions,” he said.

CCC executive director Edward Deleon Guerrero urged IPI to submit its request for the extension as soon as possible, as it takes time to change for the CCC to change regulations.

In response, Poon said they have been working with the Development Planning Advisory Council to come up with their extension package.

“We are still finalizing a lot of documentation and it’s not a 10-20-page extension package… we still have a lot of information that we have to prepare and consult with our general contractor to once again get the construction and manpower scheduling. It’s been taking a very long time but we are almost there.”