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Bill exempts GSA from hiring freeze

by Nick Delgado

Guam - The General Services Agency was in dire need of more manpower in order to handle the entire Government of Guam's purchases especially with limited resources. Having met with GSA recently and learning of their need to hire additional staff, Senator Mana Silva Taijeron has written Governor Eddie Calvo seeking his support in related legislation that will exempt GSA from the current hiring freeze and allow them to fill the staff positions they feel are necessary to effectively carry out GSA's mandate.

While he hasn't officially responded to her on the matter, Calvo says he is looking into the request, saying, "We are in a difficult financial position; we have been for several years. We want to be very careful as move forward to ensure that we don't spend more than we take in, but I will look towards the request by the senator to see what we can do alleviate some of the issues she has brought forward."

Taijeron's letter states that she is worried that the workload may get burdensome and overwhelming for GSA's five buyers. GSA chief procurement officer Claudia Acfalle told KUAM News she hopes GSA can get some help by having employees from other agencies transfer to GSA temporarily to help with the workload.