A Saipan lawmaker is calling for the Commonwealth Casino Commission to force Imperial Pacific International to pay over $US90 million it owes in duty to government and local businesses.
The Imperial Pacific Resort on Saipan. Photo: Supplied./ Mark Rabago
Representative Edwin Propst said the lone Saipan casino licensee owed the CNMI government $US18m in infrastructure tax, $US37m for the community benefit fund, and over $US35m to vendors and former contractors.
He said it was frustrating that Imperial Pacific owed the local government money while many people were still living in tents following the devastation of Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018.
Some vendors and former contractors on the casino building have accused Imperial Pacific of breaching contracts and dishonouring obligations, with a number of cases now before the courts.