This was based on the memorandum issued by Gov. Benigno R. Fitial who stated that critical healthcare personnel will “only work when scheduled and should be the only employees working.”
But there seems to be a “disparity” in the way the governor selected the essential health workers for Rota, according to Efren Atalig, chief of staff of the Rota mayor’s office.
He noted that the governor listed almost all of the personnel of the Tinian Health Center as essential.
These include a cashier, an accountant, a dental assistant, a dentist, a family nurse practitioner, housekeeping, a laboratory technician, maintenance, medical records, a physician assistant, pharmacy, radiology and staff nurse.
Atalig said perhaps the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino is providing the island additional revenue for its municipal employees.
But he still wants to know how the governor came up with the guidelines in selecting the essential medical personnel for Rota and Tinian.
Atalig said the memorandum will “obviously make it hard for the Rota community, especially the sick.”
He said the mayor’s office will ask the governor to reconsider the list of “essential” Rota Health Center personnel.
“We want to ask for further review to increase the staffing at the center,” he said.
“We are also hoping the Legislature will come up with an agreement regarding the budget to avert a government shutdown,” he added.
