From cutting power to the casino in Garapan, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. has now cut power to the different housing properties of Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC on Saipan, leaving many IPI employees living in these sites without working air-conditioners and refrigerators.<\/p>\n
A copy of IPI management\u2019s internal memorandum for all employee housing residents issued last Tuesday showed that power was disconnected at the Miller Estates, Brown House, Lucy\u2019s Apartment, Tanapag Dormitory, and Chalan Laulau Dormitory.<\/p>\n
The memorandum assured IPI employees who are affected by the power disconnection that IPI management is \u201cworking closely\u201d with CUC to have the power reconnected soon.<\/p>\n
As of press time yesterday, Saipan Tribune was still waiting for IPI\u2019s comments about the disconnection and how much the company owes CUC.<\/p>\n
When asked yesterday, CUC executive director Gary P. Camacho declined to disclose how much IPI owes and for how many months the company is behind in payments. \u201cCustomers have the right to privacy. That\u2019s like you don\u2019t want me talking about your accounts, unless you want me to,\u201d Camacho said.<\/p>\n
Saipan Tribune learned that since there are no generators at these properties, employees, including those living with their children, have no power and water supply.<\/p>\n
In a statement yesterday, Rep. Tina Sablan (Ind-Saipan) said that, with IPI failing to pay its utility bills for its company housing, the CNMI now has on its hands \u201ca humanitarian and public health crisis\u201d affecting IPI employees and their families, including children.<\/p>\n
Sablan said there is no generator so there is no power or water. \u201cTheir food is going bad, and they can\u2019t use their bathrooms,\u201d she said, yet even as IPI employees and their families \u201care suffering in unsanitary and inhumane conditions, IPI continues with construction and its pursuit of other projects.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sablan said there is money for some things, but maintaining essential services necessary for healthy and sanitary conditions at company housing seems to not be a priority. \u201cThis is shameful, and totally unacceptable,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
Sablan has asked the leadership in the House of Representatives to hold a hearing with IPI and the Commonwealth Casino Commission. Sablan said she has also been reaching out to CCC as well as IPI management.<\/p>\n
The lawmaker said she has notified the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. about the problem and that CHCC replied that they\u2019re sending an environmental health team to check on the matter.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a serious problem here. We are still in a public health emergency, and intolerable conditions at IPI company housing must be resolved as soon as possible,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
IPI has admitted that it is currently in a financially precarious situation, has experienced difficulty even paying its electricity bills, has had trouble meeting its payroll, and is likely to shut down.<\/p>\n
Last May 19, CUC cut electric power to IPI\u2019s casino in Garapan and at IPI\u2019s office at Vestcor on Capital Hill for non-payment of bills. Camacho earlier stated that power will be reconnected after IPI pays its bills. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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