The planned transfer of inmates and detainees to a new prison in Saipan in the Northern Marianas has been delayed by damage to the facility's air-conditioning units.
The Saipan Tribune reports that frequent power outages have damaged five of the nine air-conditioning compressors at the new state-of-the-art prison in Susupe.
As a result, the planned transfer of inmates and detainees to the new prison at the end of this month will be delayed by two to three months.
The new prison, officially named Vicente Taman Seman Memorial Building, was unveiled in February.
Construction of the 100,000 square-foot facility began in 2002.
The target opening date was either February or March 2006.
Contractual issues are said to have caused the long delays.
