Puerto Rico News Digest For April 23, 2015

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN THREE MONTHS 

From Reuters:

Puerto Rico's top finance officials said the government of the U.S.
territory will likely shutdown in three months because of a looming
liquidity crisis and warned of a devastating impact on the island's
economy. In a letter to leading lawmakers, including Governor Ale-
jandro Padilla, the officials said a financing deal that could po-
tentially salvage the government's finances currently looked unlike-
ly to succeed. It warned of laying off government employees and re-
ducing public services."A government shutdown is very probable in
the next three months due to the absence of liquidity to operate,"
the officials said. "The likelihood of completing a market transac-
tion to finance the government's operations and keep the government
open is currently remote."

THOUSANDS WITHOUT MEDICATION DUE TO BUDGET

From Fox News Latino:

Thousands of Puerto Ricans with serious medical conditions enrolled in
the government-sponsored Mi Salud program are not receiving the medica-
tions they need because of the financial problems at state-owned insurer
ASES, which owes millions of dollars to providers. Lawmaker Jose Aponte,
a leader of the main opposition PNP party, told Efe that because ASES
owes money to the insurance companies that provide health-care services,
the companies, in turn, do not authorize payments to pharmacies for medi-
cations.

TAX REFORM BILL STILL LACKS VOTES

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The amended version of Tax Reform that has been filed in the island 

House of Representatives appears not to have the needed votes for 

approval for reasons rangingfrom the proposed 14 percent rate for the 

value-added tax to the payment mechanism to give municipalities their 

share of the tax. As of Tuesday, at least four legislators still opposed 

the measure. Majority Leader Carlos Hernández said at a news con-

ference held a day earlier that no vote count had been taken. Some 

lawmakers said they will not decide on their vote until they read and 

evaluate the whole bill with changes included to enable a better ana-

lysis. 

SEVEN MIGRANTS APPREHENDED IN AGUADILLA

From Latin Post:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended seven Domini-

cans attempting to enter Puerto Rico illegally with a boat, according to 

a CBP press release. A local resident notified Puerto Rico Police about 

a boat approaching Bienvenidos beach in Aguadilla. Police contacted 

CBP reporting that a "yola," a powered makeshift  raft, had been spotted 

with an unknown number of passengers in the area. When CBP officials 

and police officers arrived at the scene they found a 20-foot yola powered 

by a 40 horsepower outboard motor. However, the passengers were not 

in sight. With the help of patrol aircraft, CBP and police found the seven 

immigrants in a near by area.

TROOPS FROM FORT BUCHANAN DEPLOYED TO M.E.

From Caribbean Business:

Approximately 21 soldiers assigned to the 271st Human Resources Company, 

U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, departed the island Wednesday on their way 

to a mobilization station in Texas before arriving to the Middle East. "I 

believe in all of you. We did an excellent job during our pre-mobilization 

training and I know we will accomplish our mission," said 1st Lt. Ayesha 

Jiménez, officer in charge of the detachment. The unit will manage the 

Theater Casualty Assistance Center, which oversees casualties across the 

Middle East.