The Mayors’ Council of Guam is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting on April 19 at its headquarters in Hagatna to discuss how funeral escorts will happen moving forward, among other topics.
It’s an age-old issue for the MCOG – funeral escorts.
For years, the mayors of all 19 villages have been escorting funerals for island residents from and to a loved one’s final resting place.
Piti Mayor Jesse Alig, who is also the president of the MCOG, said that the larger villages are most affected, during an interview on Newstalk K57 with Patti Arroyo.
Doing funeral escorts, and the amount of resources it uses, Alig said it takes time away from staffers other duties like maintenance. He also said that funeral escorts are a liability issue when it comes to stopping traffic and ensuring every staff is trained properly to do so.
After a meeting, both the MCOG and funeral homes have agreed that the mayors will escort funerals only on a one way trip.
“Meaning the mayors will escort from the church to the cemetery, or wherever they are having their final viewing to the cemetery to the place of their internment,” said Alig.
The MCOG has not come to a consensus on the matter and will further consider and discuss options tomorrow.
Other items on the MCOG’s agenda are: the University of Guam Bookshelf Competition, 79th liberation festivities, and foster care campaign. For new business, the MCOG will discuss GVB board representatives, and senior citizens month.
It is set for 10 a.m. April 18 at its office in Hagatna.
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