Judge considers writ of mandate request

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Superior Court Judge Vern Perez is now reviewing the Government of Guam Retirement Fund's writ of mandate against the Guam Memorial Hospital. GMH does not deny that it owes $7,000,000 in employee and employer contributions to the Fund, but its defense is that they just don't have the money. 

The Retirement Fund's board of directors, however, has asked the court to order the payment to the Fund, saying time is of the essence. GMH officials have said they set aside $4,000,000 from recent loan proceeds to pay some of the unpaid retirement fund contributions. 

Additionally, the new management has made it a priority to pay gross payroll each pay period.