Cruz probes GFD’s federal grants

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - While the Guam Fire Department is attempting to repair its ailing fleet of ambulances, Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz wants answers about the department's federal grant applications.

In a letter to Fire Chief David Peredo, Cruz is worried that GFD may be not be getting their fair share of federal grants for which they are eligible. 

The vice-speaker has requested a list and status of federal grants the department applied for in the last four years.  Cruz said, "I wanted to find out was GFD just depending on Compact impacts, were they applying for these grants, if so how much have they received for the last several years. I would like to see what the grant applications look like to determine how we're writing our grants."

Cruz says he's hoping that the fire department did, in fact, apply. 

GFD, meanwhile, is also working on five separate USDA grants to purchase additional ambulances for the department.