A local architectural and engineering firm spoke up during Monday\u2019s Commonwealth Casino Commission meeting to inform them that Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC has yet settle their balances with the firm.<\/p>\n
During meeting\u2019s public comment section, Tony Cabrera, representing the architectural and engineering firm Herman B. Cabrera & Associates, informed the commission that IPI has yet to settle a balance of about $25,000 in services rendered by the company.<\/p>\n
The company is reportedly weighing its options, which possibly include pursuing the matter in court. \u201cWe are not sure yet. But if the court is where we can settle this, then we would go to the courts, [but] we don\u2019t want to go that far,\u201d Cabrera said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The company, according to Cabrera, was contracted for about $66,000 for architectural and engineering consultation, including the review and certification of construction blueprints, all a requirement of the CNMI building code. He declined to disclose an exact amount.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last [billing] we sent out to [IPI] was probably the sixth or seventh notice for them,\u201d Cabrera informed the commission Monday.<\/p>\n
CCC chair Juan Sablan noted that one of the notices mentioned a billing sent to IPI in September 2016. <\/p>\n
Cabera clarified that those were additional invoices and that altogether, IPI was billed about $66,000. <\/p>\n
\u201cAbout more than half has been paid,\u201d Cabrera said. \u201c\u2026[After] the last outstanding balance [notice], we never heard from them after that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Saipan Tribune reached out to IPI twice\u2014once on Monday and once more yesterday\u2014but the Hong Kong-based company declined to comment.<\/p>\n
Sablan, addressing IPI chief financial officer Ed Chen, noted that the firm is not the only one complaining about not receiving payment from IPI.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026Last time, we had clients coming in and complaining about the non-payment of billings,\u201d referring to a recent House gaming committee, where another member of the public complained about not receiving payment from IPI. \u201cCFO, I hope you take [this] seriously because that is not an acceptable method of operation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cabrera emphasized the company\u2019s patience with IPI, especially since the company has not responded to several of their notices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have been waiting for a response,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
CCC vice chair Joseph Reyes assured Cabrera that the commission \u201cwould immediately request for a response [from IPI].\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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