Puerto Rico News Digest For July 22, 2015

WATER RATIONING COMES TO THE SOUTH

Puerto Rico's water utility, Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados  (AAA), 

has announced the implementation of a water rationing program for sectors of the 

municipalities of Coamo, Santa Isabel and Salinas, as the island's worst drought in 

decades threatens underground aquifers in the region. Twelve-hour rationing, where

water flow is cut off to users for 12 hours at a time, begins Thursday, July 23. The 

rationing area is divided into two zones, A and B (see the map above to find out

which neighborhoods are in which zones). Zone A will be the first to see the water

stop flowing at midnight tonight. Water will be reestablished at noon, and then Zone

B will have its water cut off for 12 hours. AAA will not run water oases in these towns,

as rationing will initially only be 12 hours. 

PREPA APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

From Caribbean Business:

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) announced Tuesday the designa-

tion of Javier Quintana Méndez as the new executive director of the financially trou-

bled utility, effective Aug. 3. "The successful transformation of Prepa is crucial for 

Puerto Rico and its citizens. The Governing Board of Prepa selected Dr. Quintana as 

executive director at this important moment, because we believe that his experience 

and background in the energy field will help Prepa reach its goal of becoming a self-

sustaining corporation. Now is the time for the crucial decisions that require great lea-

dership," said Harry Rodríguez, chairman of the utility’s board. Quintana Méndez, 

who has been vice president of Prepa’s board for the past two years, is currently the 

dean of the engineering school at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Baya-

món campus, and a member of the Interamerican Board of Energy Resources Direc-

tors. Moreover, he is a former executive director of the Solid Waste Authority (2005-

2008).

TWO MORE SENATORS BACK CHAPTER 9 BILL

From News Is My Business:

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced Tuesday that Senator Patrick Leahy 

of Vermont, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will cosponsor S. 

1774, the identical companion bill in the Senate to HR 870, the Puerto Rico Chapter 9 

Uniformity Act, which Pierluisi introduced in the House of Representatives in February.

Senator Leahy’s office advised Pierluisi’s office and Leahy will be formally added as a 

cosponsor. In addition, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a moderate who sits on the 

Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, has also agreed to co-

sponsor S. 1774, which was introduced last week by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Co-

nnecticut, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, and 10 other U.S. Senators, including 

Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

PR BASKETBALL TEAM LOSES PAN AM OPENER

From The Courier-Journal:

Rick Pitino's international coaching debut on Tuesday morning was an forgettable 

one. Pitino, coaching Puerto Rico's national team at the Pan Am Games here in Ca-

nada, saw his squad fall behind by 25 points in the first quarter, shoot 33 percent 

and lose 92-59 in a lopsided opener against Brazil at the Mattamy Athletic Centre 

on Ryerson University's campus. The 33-point loss matched a 2009 U of L loss at 

Notre Dame for the worst defeat by a Rick Pitino-coached team in at least the last 

15 years.