Oversight hearing sought for quarantine facility complaints

A request for an oversight hearing has officially been made to look into allegations of impropriety at the government's quarantine facility.

Department of Public Health and Social Services spokesperson Janela Carrera commented on the issue. 

"I think really at this point when they review it they have to sit down with all the parties involved discuss it with them and interview them and from there it's really the parties involved they investigate they discuss it and them from there it's a personnel issue at that point," she said. 

Minority Leader, Sen. James Moylan is requesting Speaker Therese Terlaje to hold an oversight hearing into allegations that have surfaced regarding inappropriate behavior at the government's quarantine facility perpetrated by certain Public Health nurses. Senator Terlaje is the oversight chair over the agency.

KUAM has received a copy of the complaint alleging certain nurses assigned to the government quarantine facility are logging hours for work they are not performing. Included in the complaint are allegations that certain nurses who are assigned suites in the hotel are sleeping on the job, drinking alcohol, or not even on-site.

The complaint cites an incident, during which a passenger complained of chest pain and shortness of breath, but no assessment was performed and the passenger was not offered to be transferred to the Guam Memorial Hospital - ER for evaluation. "She told the passenger to go to sleep, they're probably just nervous," the complaint stated.

One of the nurses also allegedly participated in the free community testing at the Micronesia Mall in December and mislabeled three people as negative. The supervisor had to call these individuals to inform them it was a mistake.

Earlier this week on The Link Public Health Carrera wouldn't say if the complaints were under investigation. 


"Um my understanding is that it's under review," she said. 

Under review and not under investigation, according to Moylan's letter to the Speaker "What concerns me most about these accusations is that it identifies specifics where the health and welfare of some passengers were in question, as well as the opening of greater liabilities for the government. If these charges are deemed to be accurate, there needs to be some accountability placed on those responsible.

Terlaje earlier this week said she was aware of the allegations and had discussed the matter with Public Health Director Art San Agustin who she hopes will act on the matter swiftly as Guam continues its battle against COVID.


"I hope of course that they just do what they need to do because we have many other issues to address we don't need these I call them these huge distractions of alternate behavior," she said. "We just need everyone to do what they're supposed to be doing and get this job done."

As for a reaction to Moylan’s request for an oversight hearing Speaker Terlaje responded to KUAM “Public Health has reviewed the matter and assured me that there are no pending issues but we are requesting for the Director to put his response in writing for formal consideration by the Committee.”