Setbacks hound Imperial Pacific casino 2018 completion

The Saipan government has expressed doubts on whether casino operator Imperial Pacific International (IPI) will be able to make its casino completion deadline of October 2018.

IPI reported that the integrated resort is at 62 percent in mid-September 2017. But the Saipan Tribune reported that Commonwealth Casino Commission Vice Chairman Joseph Reyes cast doubt on whether IPI will hit its October deadline. He noted the lack of workers needed to build the high rise casino facility.

“Even those tower crane operators are not easy to find,” Reyes said, according to the news report. “It was indicated that efforts are taking place in trying to bring U.S. workers here… I give [IPI] credit for that.”

Aside from the lack of manpower, Reyes also noted that the weather conditions also contributed to construction delays of Imperial Casino.