Puerto Rico News Digest For March 20, 2015

PRODUCE FROM DOM. REP. QUARANTINED

From Caribbean Business:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP), through its Field Operations
Office, announced Wednesday the implementation of a federal quaran-
tine order suspending imports of fruit and vegetables from the
Dominican Republic due to the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a federal order
(FO-2015-14) to immediately prevent entry or the introduction of
vegetables and fruits from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. to
avoid the introduction of the fruit fly, a very damaging pest.

CROWLEY ADDS FREIGHT CAPACITY FOR PR

From News Is My Business:

Just as Puerto Rico businesses are starting to feel the pinch of a
slowdown in merchandise imports in the wake of Horizon Lines’ exit
from the market, maritime shipper Crowley announced Thursday the
addition of a new flat-deck barge capable of carrying up to 400 loads.
The barge is scheduled to arrive in San Juan on Monday with a full
load of cargo for the island. The vessel’s deployment “marks an
important milestone in Crowley’s rapid response to the sudden depar-
ture of Horizon Lines from the Puerto Rico trade,” the company said.

HOUSE SPEAKER: 12% IVA MOST VIABLE OPTION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

House Speaker Jaime Perelló said Wednesday that in all probability
the value added tax would be 12 percent and not 16 percent as pro-
vided in the Tax Transformation Act legislation fi led by Gov.
Alejandro García Padilla. The Puerto Rico House of Representatives,
after listening to more than 100 agencies and individuals, is now
in the process of amending the proposed reform. The House is eva-
luating establishing different rates of the value-added tax (IVA
by its Spanish acronym), but on Wednesday Perelló said lawmakers
are leaning toward a 12 percent rate.

MAN WHO KILLED HIGLER COULD GET 8 YEARS

Gerardo De La Paz, the driver who killed Dutch globetrotter Laurens

Higler in a hit and run last week, could face up to 8 years of jail time

without parole for leaving the scene of the accident. Police are conti-

nuing their investigation in Guayama.

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