by Nick Delgado
Guam - Senator Tina Muna Barnes introduced legislation that would help compensate firefighters at the Guam International Airport who have received their EMT-b certifications. Bill 4 states that many times a call needs to be made to the Guam Fire Department in order for emergency medical technician services to be provided, as a result it causes a delay in response time.
Senator Barnes says the AARF Unit should be given the 15% differential pay so that more firefighters are encouraged to become EMT-b certified. "I think what's important to bring to the table is to bring this conversation up again so that differential pay for those who are doing EMT services within the airport be allotted the opportunity to be paid that difference due to them," she said.
However, the bill is not sitting well with local firefighters, because they're only given the differential pay when they work on the ambulance. GFD spokesperson Lieutenant Joey San Nicolas says they are mandated by law to all be EMT certified, noting, "If they should get it we feel that we should also be included since we are providing the services and in fact the GFD is the primary authority that has jurisdiction on all EMS responses."
Senator Barnes says she is aware of the concerns from GFD and will work with them to ensure that they too get equal treatment as the airport firefighters.