New center devoted to care for island's beloved elderly

As chair to the Committee on Senior Citizens, Senator Amanda Shelton said, "Caring for our man'amko is at the heart of our island's culture." What better way to celebrate Senior Citizens Month than with the establishment of a center and law that will provide legal services to our elders.

We take you over to Mangilao where a ribbon cutting ceremony and proclamation signing was held.

It's not a time to go to bed, but a time to celebrate, as the governor said.

"Officina para agredicy para ta supporti ya para ta setbi I manamko ni todo I poblema nai," she noted, saying in native CHamoru, "We open the office with gratitude and to support our senior citizens in all their problems."

It's been a long time coming. On Monday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in celebration of the establishment of Guam's Elder Justice Center which will provide necessary legal aid to more than 400 of Guam's elderly population in waiting. Our man'amko are the greatest economic and social need of representation. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero.

"Our man'amko are the ones that give us the guidance. They give us the direction. They reinforce our values as a people, our values as a community, and our values as an island," announced the island's chief executive.

Bill 100-36 was authored by Senator Amanda Shelton. What is now known as Public Law 36-19 authorizes the Public Defender Service Corp. to provide legal assistance to Guam's elderly population. Attorneys Kathy Siguenza and David Highsmith have already been assigned to the Center. The new law comes just in time for the celebration of Senior Citizens Month and the grand opening of the Elder Justice Center.

Shelton said, "I cannot think of a better way for us all to kick off Senior Citizens Month and celebrate this time for our man'amko."

According to the governor, there's been a rise in senior citizens abuse, financial, land and property disputes. Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio says that the biggest thing the Center offers to our elders is access to services. He shared, "Nana didn't realize that she was signing over the property. She thought she was only allowing them to survey the property. Different things like this present different problems, and this Elder Justice Center is going to do so much to really avoid and resolve those problems."

Several members of the Mayors Council of Guam, the 36th Guam Legislature, the Judiciary of Guam, and Public Health joined in the ribbon cutting ceremony, marking the opening of the Center.

"Biba man'amko. Biba!" the participants said in unison enthusiastically.