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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Puerto Rico News Digest For September 30, 2015


US SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON PR 


















From Caribbean Business:

If one thing was made clear after the two-hour Senate Finance Commi-
ttee hearing on Puerto Rico’s fiscal and economic issues, it is that the
Republican-controlled Congress wants more-transparent financial data
on the commonwealth in order for U.S. lawmakers to be in a better po-
sition to make decisions that will help the island tackle its fiscal and
economic woes. “I believe Puerto Rico faces a number of specific eco-
nomic challenges, and these challenges will not go away if the strategy
is simply to shave obligations to debtors and obtain more federal tax in-
centives and funds for various benefit programs. So I’m looking for pro-
growth policies that can promote economic activity in Puerto Rico,” co-
mmittee Chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch (R.,Utah) stressed during the hear-
ing. It remains to be seen if it is yet another pro forma exercise by a Con-
gress that seems each day more unlikely to move forward on such topics
as granting Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection to the island and increasing
federal healthcare spending in the commonwealth...


10 COPS ARRESTED FOR CORRUPTION


From FBI:

Ten Puerto Rico police officers have been indicted for their alleged parti-
cipation in a criminal organization, run out of the police department, that
used their affiliation with law enforcement to make money through robbe-
ry, extortion, manipulating court records and selling illegal narcotics, ann-
ounced U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez of the District of Pu-
erto Rico. The indictment, returned on Sept. 24,  2015, by a federal grand
jury in the District of Puerto Rico, includes 11 charges against the follow-
ing police officers: Shylene López-García aka “Plinia;” Ángel Hernández-
Nieves, aka “Doble;” Xavier Jiménez-Martínez, aka “Negro;” Alvin Mon-
tes-Cintrón, aka “Vinillo;” Ramón Muñiz-Robledo, aka “Marmota;” Gui-
llermo Santos-Castro, aka “Caco Biftec;” Luis Flores-Ortiz, aka “Piquito;”
José Neris-Serrano; Manuel Grego-López; and David Centeno-Faría, aka
“David Bisbal”.

The defendants are charged with conspiring to violate the Racketeer In-
fluenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Other charges against
certain defendants include extortion under color of official right, narco-
tics trafficking, civil rights violations and false statements to federal ag-
ents. According to the indictment, the officers charged with RICO cons-
piracy were members of a criminal organization who sought to enrich
themselves through a pattern of illegal conduct. The officers worked to-
gether to conduct traffic stops and enter homes or buildings used by per-
sons suspected of being engaged in criminal activity to steal money, pro-
perty and narcotics...


TRUCKERS PROTEST AGAINST TAX, CSP


From The San Juan Daily Star:

A group of truckers held a demonstration early Monday against the Pu-
blic Service Commission (CSP by its Spanish acronym) and the four
percent business-to-business (B2B) tax. The protest, a caravan of trac-
tor trailers and tow trucks that began in theSan Juan ports area and pro-
ceeded to the Capitol building in Puerta de Tierra, caused a fairly large
morning rush hour traffi c jam, mainly on the José de Diego Highway
and Kennedy Avenue. The demonstration was headed by the Authentic
Central Transportation Union (CAT by its Spanish acronym), which is
calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that would remove them from
CSP jurisdiction. They are also protesting the implementation of the bu-
siness-tobusiness tax, which could be approved by the island Legislature
on Thursday...


WOMEN'S SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE IN SAN JUAN


From News Is My Business:

More than 500 women will meet in San Juan, Puerto Rico, this Friday to
participate in Animus, an innovation platform designed to maximize wo-
men’s economic and personal development. Inspired to search solutions
to effect significant positive change, entrepreneurs Lucienne Gigante and
Carlos Cobián have joined forces to launch Animus and its first summit
Oct. 2, at the Caribe Hilton Hotel from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 30 sp-
eakers — world-class professionals and leaders — will share their stories,
teachings and advice in three main areas: “Mindset and  Mindfulness,”
“Innovation,” and “Entrepreneurship.”...






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