War claims check processing begins Friday

Calling it a great day for the people of Guam and especially the island's manamko', Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero signed off on an agreement with the Treasury Department that allows for war claims to finally be paid out locally.

The administration will begin processing adjudicated claims starting Friday with the opening of the Guam War Claims Processing Center at 9 a.m. It will be located on the first floor of the former Hakubotan Building, directly across from the Tamuning Post office.

"Signing of this memorandum of agreement is going to clear the pathway so that we can really truly go on with our process to pay our manamko'," the governor said. "And I know that I had set a really aggressive deadline and I thank my cabinet members and my team for making us able to meet that deadline."

The governor had plenty of thank you's to hand out. Like to Speaker Tina Barnes, the main sponsor of the legislation.


"Faith, I think is what it is for our manamko's," the speaker said. "Faith to believe that the greatest generation that ever lived, that they would be given what was rightfully due to them."

The governor also gave credit to her chief of staff, Tony Babauta.

"And we were trying to figure out how to get money to them and still work with the federal government and Tony came up with a great idea, and we ran with it," she said.

She also had praise for past congressional delegates Antonio Won Pat, Ben Blaz, Robert Underwood and Madeliene Bordallo.

"These people paved the road and they made our journey a lot easier so that we can get to where we are today," she said.

She did mention current Del. Michael San Nicolas when referencing her continued support for his Bill HR1365.

"We will use whatever connections we can to help Congressman Mike San Nicolas move forward his piece of legislation so we can pass it, and so we can all work together and end this great journey on a positive note," she said.

The San Nicolas Bill corrects a technical error that will allow Treasury to release some $24 million in war claims funding. Meanwhile, the governor says she's anxious to start writing the local checks.

"And my deadline is still that the first check will be given out on January 31st, and I know that we can meet that deadline," the governor said.

Some $14 million dollars has been set aside for the local payments.

The War Claims Processing Center's office hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are advised to bring a government-issued photo I.D., letter from Treasury or your Adjudication Letter.

The administration says plenty of staff will be on hand to assist claimants with any questions they might have. You can also call the center at (671) 482-0792. 

A website has also been created: http://warclaims.guam.gov. And the administration has released a public service announcement on youtube with a lot of the basic information you need to know.