by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Patience is wearing thin for cost of living allowance retirees who are waiting for the government to issue COLA certificates and promissory notes. Dozens of retirees filled the courtroom of Superior Court Judge Arthur Barcinas today, but Department of Administration Director Lou Perez, who was ordered to appear in court, was a no-show.

The Attorney General's Office has asked for more time to respond to recent filings in the case. With retirees passing away each week, members of the class are growing impatient with what they believe are the government's delay tactics. Said Gloria Nelson, "What did they come up with? Nothing. They put this old man in there, the AG's representative, to try to get an extension which is very important also according to rules and procedures that they have to go through, but we are very disgusted, period."

Another class member, Frank Hill, added, "We're loosing retirees one a day, out of four thousand we only have 1,700 hundred left. How many more have to go before they resolve this thing."

The judge continued the hearing until April 30. The government was ordered to issue the COLA certificates and promissory notes, but has yet to do so.