Dept. of Parks and Recs crew and Dept. of Corrections inmates continue at Tiguac after contract not fulfilled

When the grass grows too high, so does the public outrage. 

The final resting place of loved ones in Tiguac Cemetery is at the center of controversy. 

KUAM gets the pulse on what DPR Director Angel Sablan says is the last straw, and why his agency is stepping in, contract or not.

“It's been too long. contract not fulfilled. and it's my responsibility that with or without a contract, we need to do something,” said Sablan regarding Tiguac Cemetery on Nimitz Hill. 

As KUAM reported on Wednesday, calls from upset residents prompted a check of the cemetery and the condition. Overgrown vegetation hiding the gravesites and headstones of loved ones. 

Although the cemetery falls under the purview of DPR, Comfort Cuts holds the contract for lawn and ground maintenance and has held it for the past few years.  

The business is owned by Frankie Rosalin and Charissa Tenorio, two of seven indicted in a high profile Pandemic Unemployment Assistance fraud case.

A video shot last week, unfortunately, showed the lack of upkeep of the cemetery. And sablan has had enough.

“We've been asking the contractor to see what they can do to fulfill their contract, for whatever reason, whether lack of employees or sometimes they use the weather but we can no longer wait,” said Sablan. 

On Thursday, at the request of acting Parks Administrator Joey Terlaje, several DPR employees alongside DOC minimum out inmates were at the cemetery tackling the tough task

Sablan confirmed, “Comfort Cuts has not been paid since January…Because they have not invoiced us for anything. So without an invoice we don't pay. And just because they are up there now cutting the grass, our guys are there, inmates are there, they have not fulfilled the contract. So as far as my office is paying, we have not paid one red cent.”

Sablan adds that DPR has been repeatedly contacting Tenorio after numerous complaints were coming in

“We have emails, we have text messages where we tell them, 'Hey, what's going on? The grass is not being cut.’ And the response we get from them- we'll get to it. And when our people go up there and see it's not cut, I’m not happy, because in the end we're going to get blamed for it,” said Sablan. 

Sablan says when Comfort Cuts does finally show up, it is only four workers who are to cut the 30 acres and it is rarely completed.

In a release issued on Wednesday, Rosalin contradicted Sablan, saying, “The company is committed to correcting inaccuracies and clarifying its responsibilities under the current contract. Comfort Cuts has fulfilled and continues to fulfill its scheduled lawn service obligations.”

Adding, "Rapid grass growth during, excessive rain and rainy seasons are typical in Guam and does not indicate neglect."

“The contract is up this September 30, it's not going to be renewed and it will be a new contractor,” added Sablan. 

In the meantime, DPR employees and DOC inmates made significant progress as of Friday morning, a much different site from last week.