By Ben Blaschke
The head of the Northern Mariana Islands’ gaming regulatory body, Edward Deleon Guerrero, says he is satisfied that casino operator Imperial Pacific has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the death of a construction worker on the site of its new Imperial Pacific Resort last month.
But he gave no indication of when his organization, the Commonwealth Casino Commission, would issue the building occupancy license Imperial Pacific needs to open casino operations to the public – despite the Saipan resort holding its “soft opening” on 31 March.
Speaking to the Marianas Variety, Executive Director Guerrero said, “My understanding was there was a search warrant issued for the contractors, not Imperial Pacific International or Best Sunshine. It is also my understanding that it has not affected the ongoing construction project.”
“It’s my understanding, too, that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration came after the accident, and there was no citation.”
A Chinese national was killed after falling from scaffolding on 22 March while working at the Imperial Pacific Resort site. A week later FBI agents raided the offices of site contractors MCC International, arresting two people for unlawfully employing 189 illegal workers.
While early reports suggested the raid was on Imperial Pacific, whose offices are in the same building and on the same floor as MCC International, Guerrero said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had in fact commended Imperial Pacific on its safety measures.
However, he hinted that Imperial Pacific Resort was still some time off welcoming their first casino guest.
“They cannot open the facility until the Department of Public Works issues the building-occupancy permit,” he said.
The Commonwealth Casino Commission, “will be the final agency to give the green light regarding the casino operation, but only after the casino secures all the other required permits.”
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