The clock is ticking until the next governor of Guam takes office in January 2027.
At this moment, in December 2025, where and if Guam will move forward to choosing a site for a new public hospital for its residents seems increasingly unlikely.
This paper has written about Guam Memorial Hospital for decades, lamenting the state of the hospital, its faults and its age.
Nobody is denying the need for a new hospital, no matter how much money through the years has been spent on keeping it functioning, but sometimes barely functioning.
Nobody is denying the intestinal fortitude of its staff, or the care extended to patients.
Staff at this paper have witnessed the ceiling leaks, written about the lack of air conditioning in the morgue, and more.
We have reported on task forces, engineering studies, earthquake studies on Tamuning, and opinions on where any new hospital
should be.
The Superior Court’s recent decision limiting the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority’s ability to acquire land in Mangilao for the development of the new Medical Campus, drew the following response from the Office of the Governor. “The Court’s decision applies only to GHURA’s use of eminent domain and does not prevent GHURA from purchasing land for the Medical Campus. GHURA is reviewing the ruling and is exploring all available legal remedies, including appeal.”
Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero is clearly not giving way yet.
The 38th Guam Legislature and Attorney General Douglas Moylan seem resolute that Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero will not move forward with utilities installation in Mangilao, her chosen site.
The sad fact is that the people of Guam are the losers.
They can only watch and listen to a war of words, actions and a continuing saga that seems to have no middle ground that the stakeholders can come together on for the greater good.
If there is no imminent progress, the pattern of decades will be repeated.
Once again, the prospect of a new hospital will be kicked down the road to the next administration. mbj
At this moment, in December 2025, where and if Guam will move forward to choosing a site for a new public hospital for its residents seems increasingly unlikely.
This paper has written about Guam Memorial Hospital for decades, lamenting the state of the hospital, its faults and its age.
Nobody is denying the need for a new hospital, no matter how much money through the years has been spent on keeping it functioning, but sometimes barely functioning.
Nobody is denying the intestinal fortitude of its staff, or the care extended to patients.
Staff at this paper have witnessed the ceiling leaks, written about the lack of air conditioning in the morgue, and more.
We have reported on task forces, engineering studies, earthquake studies on Tamuning, and opinions on where any new hospital
should be.
The Superior Court’s recent decision limiting the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority’s ability to acquire land in Mangilao for the development of the new Medical Campus, drew the following response from the Office of the Governor. “The Court’s decision applies only to GHURA’s use of eminent domain and does not prevent GHURA from purchasing land for the Medical Campus. GHURA is reviewing the ruling and is exploring all available legal remedies, including appeal.”
Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero is clearly not giving way yet.
The 38th Guam Legislature and Attorney General Douglas Moylan seem resolute that Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero will not move forward with utilities installation in Mangilao, her chosen site.
The sad fact is that the people of Guam are the losers.
They can only watch and listen to a war of words, actions and a continuing saga that seems to have no middle ground that the stakeholders can come together on for the greater good.
If there is no imminent progress, the pattern of decades will be repeated.
Once again, the prospect of a new hospital will be kicked down the road to the next administration. mbj
