Guam senators press GOVA on cemetery staffing, headstone backlog and grant timetable

Guam senators and veterans groups used a Nov. 13 oversight hearing to press the Guam Office of Veterans Affairs (GOVA) for concrete progress on cemetery operations and the status of a large federal grant application.

OPA auditors and GOVA officials described persistent workforce shortages at the Guam Veterans Cemetery that limit maintenance and installation of head markers. OPA noted that at the time of the audit 19 head markers remained uninstalled; Director Jose 'Joe' Saint Augustine told the committee he had ordered cemetery staff to install as many markers as possible and estimated roughly 10 large ground markers and about 10 columbarium markers still required placement.

Senators raised concerns about job‑spec requirements that had limited applicant pools. Administrative officer Joe Meno explained current cemetery‑worker specifications require two years’ experience or equivalent and a chauffeur’s license; he said an amended job description that relaxes chauffeur‑license language has been approved by the director and governor and will mature in the DOA process around February–March 2026 to expand applicants.

Lawmakers sought details about equipment and burials. GOVA reported having two pickup trucks, one backhoe (operated by Parks and Rec), one lifting device, and two lowering devices. The office said it can accommodate up to three burials per day: one full‑ground grave (four‑person crew), one crypt burial (three‑person crew) and morning internments of cremated remains (one person).

On the $13.6 million figure, Director Saint Augustine said the amount reflected a revised pre‑application request to the VA National Cemetery Administration and that no award had been received. He told senators the agency refiled a pre‑application after grantors rejected one of five initially identified sites and directed GOVA and the Department of Public Works to refocus the scope on a single hill location; that change required reworking the A/E RFP and delayed the timeline. The federal government shutdown also paused grantor responses, he said.

Committee members asked whether GOVA has funds set aside for architecture and engineering procurement required to qualify for the grant. Saint Augustine said $1.3 million has been appropriated from American Rescue Plan allocations to support advertisement of A/E services and that the office prepared a requisition for A/E advertisement. Senators warned GOVA must coordinate closely with DPW and the AG’s office to issue a compliant RFP and meet grant milestones once federal grantors resume operations.

Veterans leaders told the committee they appreciate the administration’s intentions but urged faster results. "If we want good quality personnel, those individuals must reap the financial benefits to match the amount of work that is required," Roy Gamboa, chair of the Guam Veterans Commission, said, calling for better pay and clearer hiring timelines. The committee asked GOVA to return with an updated inventory of remaining head markers, a timeline for installation, and the revised RFP schedule for architecture and engineering work.

Next steps: GOVA will report back on the amended job‑spec status, the count of uninstalled head markers, equipment procurement timelines, and the DPW‑issued RFP status for the cemetery expansion grant application.