Commonwealth Casino Commission board chair Edward C. DeLeon Guerrero and vice chair Rafael S. Demapan said Wednesday that, rather than the CCC, it is the Department of Public Works that has control over the Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC\u2019s casino\/resort building in Garapan as it has responsibility of enforcing the building code. <\/p>\n
During the CCC board\u2019s regular monthly meeting in the CCC\u2019s conference room at the Springs Plaza Building in Gualo Rai, DeLeon Guerrero and Demapan both stated they were surprised upon reading in news articles that the commission is holding up DPW\u2019s request to inspect the casino\/resort building.<\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero said he read a national magazine article stating that the CCC is holding back DPW\u2019s request and that he does not know how the issue got to the national media. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I also was not aware that the Casino Commission has jurisdiction over the Building Code. We do not. DPW has that authority. They have the jurisdiction to implement that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Last May 1, DPW Secretary Ray N. Yumul asked Demapan for authorization for the DPW Building Safety Code inspectors to enter the IPI building to inspect it. Yumul said the inspection is necessary to assess the existing condition of the electrical, mechanical, and standard components of the building\u2019s equipment.<\/p>\n
The secretary said the last inspection IPI conducted on the site was in May 2021, which found rusting components of tower structures and safety rails that will eventually weaken the structural integrity of the tower crane.<\/p>\n
As of yesterday, it\u2019s not clear whether DPW \thas already inspected the building. <\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero said Wednesday that CCC can always stand behind and assist to enforce whatever DPW orders have.<\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero said they have repeatedly requested DPW in the past to take down IPI\u2019s crane tower No. 5. He said tower No. 4 and 5 were originally the threat, but No. 4 has been taken down.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut No. 5 took forever for them to remove the most dangerous part,\u201d DeLeon Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
He said they invited the then-DPW secretary in almost every meeting for over a year.<\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero said they have asked the assistant attorney general assigned to the CCC to talk to the AAG assigned to DPW to discuss the matter. <\/p>\n
\u201cI asked them if those cranes fall down, who\u2019s liable? The Commonwealth. I will be the first one to line up and testify against the Commonwealth because I\u2019ve been screaming at them and everybody here understood that we don\u2019t have any authority,\u201d the chairman pointed out. <\/p>\n
Deleon Guerrero said Yumul apparently addressed the matter to Demapan so they will figure it out. <\/p>\n
He reiterated that the CCC cannot take the lead when it comes to labor violations, Occupational Safety and Health Administration violations, building code violations, and Zoning violations. <\/p>\n
DeLeon Guerrero said they are not the primary entity, but will stand by any of the agencies to assist them in enforcing those regulations. <\/p>\n
Demapan, on the other hand, said he was surprised when he saw something in the news about him holding on to DPW\u2019s request for approval to inspect the IPI building. <\/p>\n
As a result of that news article, Demapan said, he visited DPW and informed them that the CCC has no control of the IPI building. What the CCC does have control is the gaming devices in the building. <\/p>\n
He said an auction is ongoing at IPI and some of those equipment still have the Commonwealth\u2019s seals on them. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo basically we are working closely with the securities for the IPI to ensure that Commonwealth\u2019s interest and CCC\u2019s are well protected,\u201d Demapan said.<\/p>\n
The vice chair said they constantly work with securities of IPI in making sure that \u201caccountability is No. 1 because of the Commonwealth seal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Demapan said he was able to meet with Yumul just recently after the second article came out about the inspection issue. He said he told Yumul they should also invite other agencies such as the Fire Department because it deals with the safety of the building. <\/p>\n
Demapan said DeLeon Guerrero did mention about the building code as DPW\u2019s responsibility and not CCC\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Demapan said he suggested that they should come together such as this CCC board\u2019s regular meeting and see how they can closely work together and take this venue as a conduit for them to get together so that it is easier to discuss the main issue. <\/p>\n
He said they constantly go to the IPI building site, in ensuring that whatever merchandise or items that have been auctioned off are well accounted. <\/p>\n
Demapan said that\u2019s basically why they are here, to ensure that the Commonwealth seal is well protected.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt may appear that we\u2019re not doing anything, but we are doing something to protect the interests of the CNMI government,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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