Nestor Licanto

1 week ago | postguam.com | Nestor Licanto

The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority testified at a budget hearing Monday that it is $21.9 million short of what it will need to cover projected operational costs for fiscal year 2026. The hospital also said it is working on a cost reduction plan that would include reducing its 1,200 full-time and part-time positions by 10% to save up to $10-13 million annually in personnel costs. GMHA presented a spending plan of $213.6 million, but identified only $191.7 million in anticipated funding.

2 weeks ago | mvariety.com | Nestor Licanto

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Guam has the second-highest number of rapes per capita, according to statistics made available to the University of Guam's Violence Against Women Prevention Program. The data indicates there are some 64 reported rapes per 100,000 people on Guam, compared to the national average of 25 per 100,000 people. The grim statistics were quoted by Sen. Shawn Gumataotao during a public hearing on Bill 33-38 by Vice Speaker Tony Ada.

3 weeks ago | mvariety.com | Nestor Licanto

HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The local business community continues to struggle, according to the Guam Chamber of Commerce, which is once again seeking a rollback of the business privilege tax or BPT to help provide some much-needed relief. "Without immediate and decisive action, Guam’s government budget is projected to reach $1.5 billion by fiscal year 2027 — an amount that risks becoming a permanent burden on future generations," the Chamber said in a news release Tuesday.

1 month ago | postguam.com | Nestor Licanto

A public hearing was held on Monday to stamp out a law that would legalize consumer-grade fireworks before it can be fully implemented. Bill 20-38, introduced by Sen. Telo Taitague, would repeal Public Law 37-47, authored by former Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas and signed by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Nov. 10, 2023. "Let me be clear. Consumer-grade fireworks are dangerous, often fatal and come with devastating consequences when mishandled," Taitague said.

1 month ago | postguam.com | Nestor Licanto

A measure that that extends the minimum term of a government lease to 15 years, and another that allows homeowners to build separate housing units on their primary home lot, were among the eight new laws passed by the 38th Guam Legislature and signed by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Saturday. Public Law 38-1 by Sen. Jesse Lujan extends the minimum government lease from five years to fifteen.