GOVERNOR Ralph DLG Torres on Friday extended his congratulations to Imperial Pacific International’s new chief executive officer, former Sen. Ray N. Yumul.
Ray N. Yumul
“I would like to congratulate Mr. Yumul on his new post. It is humbling to have an executive director here on island to address the issues that IPI has, to also appreciate the local concerns that we have, and address and understand the culture, [as well as] the history of the reasons why the industry was approved in the beginning,” the governor said.
“I hope that he continues to prioritize what is set not just in the law, but as well as the pending issues that IPI has. It’s definitely challenging, and I think we all know that, but him taking the helm is something that the industry and the company need.”
Governor Torres said the administration “is here to support what it can, as well as to understand what the company’s goals are moving forward…while ensuring that arrears and pending issues are addressed.”
He added, “I hope that the company can come back and continue to assist the community and move forward with their vision for the CNMI while, again, making sure that they address the issues that [are] before them, whether [they are] federal or local issues.”
Yumul succeeded Donald Browne who resigned on Dec. 17, 2020 and returned to his former position of assisting the casino operator’s security and surveillance team.
As the new IPI CEO, Yumul must obtain a key employee license from the Commonwealth Casino Commission.
But the regulations also allow the casino operator to apply for a provisional license to enable its new CEO to legally represent IPI.
Variety learned that the casino commission may not issue a key employee license to Yumul until IPI pays the commission over $3 million in regulatory fee that was due on Oct. 1, 2020.
IPI’s failure to pay the regulatory fee is one of the five enforcement actions filed with the casino commission.
