Puerto Rico News Digest For October 16, 2015

GOVERNOR IN DC FOR FISCAL MEETINGS 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla left for Washington, D.C. on Wednes-
day to discuss alternatives for helping Puerto Rico deal with its debt,
which as of July was $69.7 billion, including allowing the island to be
covered by the federal bankruptcy law. The Government Development
Bank (GDB) is facing a $354 million debt payment on Dec. 1 and the
commonwealth government is expected to make a huge payment on
its general obligations (GOs) in January. The White House has made
it clear it won’t bail out the  commonwealth and Congress appears not
to be willing to help either. On Oct. 22, the Senate Natural Resources
Committee is slated to evaluate the government’s fi scal state in a hea-
ring that is expected to include options for Congress moving forward..."

CARJACKING RAPIST FOUND GUILTY BY JURY

From US Attorney's Office:

"Carlos Cruz-Rivera, aka “Cano Llorens,” was found guilty on all
counts of carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of vio-
lence (carjacking) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon,
announced United States Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez.
United States District Judge José A. Fusté presided over the trial.
The convict had pled guilty to three counts of carjacking  in the sa-
me accusation on October 6, 2015. On September 9, 2015, a fede-
ral grand jury returned a seven-count superseding indictment char-
ging a Cruz-Rivera with three counts of carjacking, three counts
of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime
of violence, and one count possession of a firearm by a convicted
felon. During the three day trial, the government presented pictu-
res and witness’ testimonies that narrated the criminal incidents
of rape, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery that that the defen-
dant perpetrated against the innocent victims..."

SENATE PASSES EDUCATION REFORM

From Caribbean Business:

"The Puerto Rico Senate approved Bill 1456, authored by the body's
president, Eduardo A. Bhatia, which intends to bring about educa-
tional partnerships to operate public Lider (Spanish acronym for
charter) schools, grant schools greater autonomy and to have more
of the budget’s allocation for education reach the classroom..."

GOVERNOR SUBMITS FISCAL BOARD BILL

From News Is My Business:

"Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla submitted late Thursday to the legis-
lature the bill that will give way to the creation of a five-member fis-
cal oversight board that among other things, will be responsible for
enforcing compliance with approved budgets. The proposed “Fiscal
Responsibility and Economic Revitalization of Puerto Rico Law” es-
tablishes the independent, non-partisan entity will also be responsible
for approving the proposed Economic and Fiscal Growth plan and en-
sure that future Commonwealth and agency budgets comply with the
provisions of that plan..."