FOLLOWING the second emergency temporary restraining order filed by Imperial Pacific International in federal court on Wednesday, the Commonwealth Casino Commission rescheduled its deliberation on the revocation of IPI’s exclusive license to April 9.
Acting CCC Chairman Ralph S. Demapan said, “In light of the pending TRO filed in the … District Court for the NMI by IPI to stop the revocation hearing scheduled [for] April 2nd by the Commonwealth Casino Commission, it was voted by the commissioners that the revocation hearing date will be moved to April 9th, 10 a.m., at the Commonwealth Casino Commission Office.”
According to its legal counsel, Assistant Attorney General Carl Dela Cruz, the commission will also allow the people to voice their opinions before it makes a decision on IPI’s exclusive license.
Demapan earlier said that they “will base their decision on what has been submitted” during the revocation hearing held from Feb. 28 to March 1, 2024.
IPI has submitted a settlement agreement, which included a payment of $31 million for its arrears and $16 million for the lifting of license suspension. IPI said it would also give up the exclusivity of its gaming license.
The commission said IPI owes the CNMI government over $62 million in annual exclusive casino license fees and over $17.62 million in regulatory fees plus fines and penalties, for a total of $79.63 million. The casino operator was not able to meet its obligations to the government since it stopped its operation at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
IPI Director Howyo Chi said he was told that the CNMI government “will not entertain any proposal unless IPI makes some type of payment, upfront.”
