The Northern Marianas Casino Commission says the developer of a troubled casino-hotel on Saipan has violated its licence agreement.
Saipan'sstill to be finished casino resort Photo: RNZI/Mark Rabago
The Hong-Kong based Imperial Pacific International's project in Garapan was due to be completed today but immigration delays have made that impossible.
The territory's Casino Commission has this week been discussing Imperial Pacific's request for an extension until December 2020.
During a public consultation on Wednesday, community members reportedly supported the extension, provided there are conditions, including fines for missing performance targets and stronger worker protections.
The commission's director Deleon Guerrero told the Marianas Variety there may be consequences for Imperial Pacific's non-compliance.
Imperial Pacific on Friday released its interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2018, announcing profit of $US10 million.
Imperial Pacific said it expected approval will be granted for the deadline extension and its worker shortage has been fixed.
"We have secured adequate labour supply from Guam, the Philippines and Taiwan to ensure the need of the construction," it said in a notice filed to the Hong Kong stock exchange.
Imperial Pacific said the project, which is 69 percent complete, has cost around $US708 million so far.