CNMI lawmakers grill Casino Commission on future of Garapan casino

The Northern Marianas went all-in on its gamble with Imperial Pacific International’s (IPI) exclusive casino license. 

Now it seems it’s not just luck running out, but also patience from House and Senate lawmakers who grilled the Commonwealth Casino Commission (CCC) Executive Director Andrew Yeom on the hotel and casino’s future. 

Yeom shared their frustrations, saying, “No more am I interested in having the IPI holding us hostage in terms of our CNMI economy. Whether we can move on or without them, those are all options on the table.”

But who controls that table is up for debate as the Casino Commission is accused of folding its cards and delaying the revocation hearing amid litigation. Future hearings are at risk of being postponed again as IPI challenges the CCC in court.

Marissa Flores, a CNMI House of Representatives rep said, “The Casino Commission has failed. I think as an executive director you should have done more to protect the interest of the industry.”

The Commission said they’re working on collecting what is owed by IPI, amounting to $62-million in casino license fees alone. They’re also negotiating to pay most of IPI’s creditors. 

Yeom said it could cost $200-million to finish the building in Garapan.

“I will make sure that through the settlement discussion, we will have some sort of a guarantee, an assurance, to finish the building,” Yeom said.

Still, some lawmakers are not willing to roll the dice.

Senator Corina Magofna said, “It all starts with their financial condition, right? Show me the money. Do you have the money to even sit at the table and discuss with us what you can offer and how we can negotiate to move forward? And until that happens I feel like it is a waste of time.”

It remains to be seen if, as the saying goes, the “House always wins.”

Just before news time the NMI District Court denied IPI’s request for an emergency temporary restraining order to stop the Casino Commission’s revocation hearing set for tomorrow.

The hearing will now proceed and KUAM will be streaming it live at 10 a.m. tomorrow on Facebook.