“I WISH and I hope that [Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC] can take care of their pending issues,” Gov. Ralph DLG Torres said on Friday, referring to the island’s beleaguered casino investor.
“I wish and I hope that they can pay all of their arrears in order for them to move forward, or us for that matter,” he added.
“Other than that, a lot of these things are for the courts and the [casino commission to decide]. In case that things do not and cannot move forward, then the CNMI has to move forward as well in making sure that those assets are kept right here; and whoever is next in line, working with the Legislature [which] will make that decision…but as of now, again, I hope that they’re able to take care of their arrears and continue to do business here. But if not, then we have to take the next step and move on,” the governor said.
Recently, Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the District Court for the NMI entered a $5.9 million default judgment in favor of seven construction workers who sued IPI over forced labor and human trafficking allegations.
IPI is facing other lawsuits in local and federal courts. In April the Commonwealth Casino Commission suspended IPI’s gaming license and ordered IPI to pay its outstanding obligations totaling $18.6 million, and a fine of $6 million.
