by Mindy Aguon

Guam - While the Guam Memorial Hospital seeks some legal advice on whether more than a dozen of its security guards are eligible for a 40% increase that was mandated by Public Law 29-105, Public Safety Committee chairman Senator Adolpho Palacios has done his own review and doesn't believe the guards are eligible.

Palacios reviewed the law and looked at the job description pertaining to hospital security guards but believes they don't qualify under the definition of a peace officer. "The intent is to include those who are sworn and have the authority to issue citations such as the security guards at the airport, which is actually another classification and the enforcement of regulations and statutes of the DOC guards and they have correctional officers and security officers, and again, the Port Authority. Those are the security that's mentioned in the statute," he explained.

The previous hospital board approved the raises for the security guards and a single payment was made during the last pay period. The new hospital management however has suspended the raises pending further legal review.

Palacios adds the board can choose to implement its own increases for the guards, but not under the guise of the Public Safety Raises Law.