IPI, CCC settlement talks continue
The hearing whether or not to revoke Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC’s exclusive casino license has been postponed again, this time to Feb. 20, 2024, as IPI and the Commonwealth Casino Commission continue their settlement talks.
The revocation hearing was supposed to start yesterday, Feb. 12, but Saipan Tribune learned that CCC board vice chair Rafael Demapan granted last Feb. 5 the parties’ second joint request to move the enforcement hearing to Feb. 20.
Demapan’s order states that CCC executive director Andrew Yeom and IPI, through their lawyers, asked the CCC board last Feb. 2 to reset the scheduled enforcement hearing for CCC’s two complaints against IPI from Feb. 12 to Feb. 20.
Citing the amended second joint motion, Demapan said the parties are still in settlement negotiations and need more time.
He granted the motion for “good cause appearing.”
IPI manager/director Howyo Chi said yesterday that the new Feb. 20 hearing is needed to allow time for settlement negotiations. He did not elaborate.
Yeom said yesterday that they need more time as “it is a complicated discussion.”
IPI is represented in the settlement negotiations by attorney Michael Chen, Saipan Tribune learned.
Citing the matter’s sensitivity, Yeom declined to disclose who are involved in the negotiations.
Assistant attorney general Keisha Blaise is counsel for Yeom.
The CCC board set the revocation originally for Jan. 31, 2024.
IPI failed to pay some $62 million in casino license fees it owes the CNMI government by the Dec. 30, 2023, deadline.
Andrew Yeom
