Puerto Rico News Digest For April 17, 2017

FEDS WANT COMMONWEALTH IN STATUS REFERENDUM

From Caribbean Business:

"Including the commonwealth in the June 11 political-status plebiscite, as demanded by the U.S. Justice Department, has affected work procedures for the Puerto Rico State Elections Commission (CEE by its Spanish acronym)...Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and his advisers evaluated Saturday U.S. Deputy Attorney General Dana Boente‘s observations, in which he overrode the referendum as enacted for excluding the territorial status as a viable alternative. The governor said his administration will make the necessary adjustments to be backed up by the federal government, and Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz affirmed these amendments will be approved as early as next Tuesday..."

PREGNANT WOMAN GUNNED DOWN IN VIEQUES

Brenda Concepción Gerena, age 19 and four months pregnant, was shot at around 2:15 on Sunday morning along with her 17-year-old stepsister in front of their house in the Esperanza sector of the island municipality of Vieques. The pregnant woman died at Centro Médico in Río Piedras about four hours later, after both women were taken there by helicopter. The deceased victim's stepsister, María Jiménez Gerena, was not critically injured. The two victims had been involved in a dispute with unidentified people in a different part of town earlier that evening. So far in 2017, Puerto Rico has tallied 188 reported murders.

POLICE DETAINS FOUR MIGRANTS IN MONA PASSAGE

From AP/NZ Herald:

"Police say they have detained four migrants in a northwest coastal area commonly used by people from the Dominican Republic to get into this U.S. territory. Officers said they detained a man and a woman Saturday afternoon aboard a 28-foot wooden boat with an outboard motor just off an area beach. They said another man and a woman were detained at a nearby landing area on the beach. The travelers' country of origin was unknown..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 4, 2016

CARIBBEAN CONCERNED OVER ZIKA EFFECTS

From Caribbean Business:

"As an increasing number of Caribbean holidays and conferences are
cancelled due to the growing concern over the Zika virus, regional health
officials are sounding the alarm about the negative consequences that this
may have on the heavily tourism-dependent region. “We would like to send
a message to travelers coming to the Caribbean: Don’t let the mosquitoes ruin
your travel,” exhorted Dr. Lisa Indar of the Caribbean Public Health Agency
(CPHA). While there is no vaccine to prevent contracting Zika or medicine to
treat Zika, travelers can protect themselves against Zika and other mosquito-
borne infections like Chikungunya and dengue by preventing mosquito bites..."

PANEL WARNS ON PR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

From News Is My Business:

The prognosis for Puerto Rico’s health system is already critical and will only
get worse if Congress doesn’t act fast, warned a panel of doctors and finance
experts meeting on Capitol Hill this week. The briefing, organized by the Puerto
Rico Health Care Crisis Coalition (PRHCC) and the Congressional Hispanic Cau-
cus, also featured comments by three sympathetic Democrats: House Minority
Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Rep. José Serrano of New York, and Puerto Ri-
co’s non-voting Resident Commissioner, Pedro Pierluisi. “Congress has held se-
ven hearings on the island’s fiscal crisis in the last 12 months, including one this
morning in the House Natural Resources Committee,” which will soon draft a le-
gislative package on Puerto Rico, said Pierluisi..."

WAL-MART SUES PR OVER TAX HIKE

From Retail Dive:

"Puerto Rico, in the midst of a financial crisis, is in federal court battling Wal-
Mart Stores Inc. over a new hike in taxes on goods that retailers bring to the
island to sell. The island government raised the tax from 2% to 6.5% in May,
and Wal-Mart responded with a lawsuit contending that the tax is aimed at it
in particular and effectively makes its income tax burden 91.5%..."

13 CUBAN MIGRANTS DETAINED NEAR PR

From Voice of America:

"Authorities in Puerto Rico have detained 13 migrants from Cuba who were
found on an uninhabited island. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Tues-
day that the group was found on Mona Island just west of the U.S. territory. The
seven men and six women detained Monday are expected to appear before an
immigration judge soon..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For November 6, 2015

GOV. FILES BILL TO OVERHAUL PREPA

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla on Thursday submitted a bill
to the legislature that proposes a sweeping overhaul of the Puerto Rico Elec-
tric Power Authority, with the goal of “providing clean and reliable energy
at the lowest possible cost.” The 159-page PREPA Revitalization Act pro-
poses: Enhancements to governance processes so that PREPA..."

25,000 TO GET ENERGY BILL HELP

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced Wednesday that, for
the third consecutive fi scal year, Puerto Rico will receive over $15 million
from the federal government to help island families pay their electricity bills
as a result of a change in the funding formula that he secured for the comm-
onwealth and the other U.S. territories in late 2013..."

NYC POLS JOIN PR HEALTH CARE RALLY

From Caribbean Business:

"Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced Wednesday that, for the
third consecutive fi scal year, Puerto Rico will receive over $15 million from
the federal government to help island families pay their electricity bills as a re-
sult of a change in the funding formula that he secured for the commonwealth
and the other U.S. territories in late 2013..."

20 MIGRANTS CAUGHT ON PR'S WEST COAST

From Caribbean News Now:

"US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol, air interdiction ag-
ents and Puerto Rico Police officers have apprehended 20 undocumented mi-
grants from Haiti and the Dominican Republic during the process of disem-
barking near the coastal town of Aguada...”

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.

Puerto Rico News Digest For March 13, 2015

CUBAN MIGRANTS RESCUED FROM MONITO

Photo: U.S. Coast Guard

From Local 10:

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued eight Cuban migrants from Monito Island,
Puerto Rico Wednesday afternoon, following a two-day rescue effort in the
Mona Passage. Authorities said the seven men and woman were spotted
Tuesday afternoon by a Coast Guard  pilot who was on a routine patrol
in the Mona Passage. Authorities said the group was stranded at the
bottom of a 150-foot  cliff of the uninhabited island, which is a natural
reserve and serves as a bird habitat.

DUTCH TRAVELER KILLED IN HIT AND RUN

Globetrotter and sailor Laurens Higler, age 26, was killed this
morning on Road 3 in Guayama after being struck by a car. The
driver fled the scene after the incident.  The deceased, who was
from Holland, was stopping off in Puerto Rico during his travels
around the globe.  Police have stated that they have recovered
physical evidence which could lead them to the driver who struck
Higler.

GOVERNOR DEFENDS IVA TV MESSAGE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla on Wednesday defended his most recent
pre-recorded televised message, in which he justified his proposed tax
reform and the 16 percent value added tax. “What this message was
about, at the end of the day, is to be  able to speak to people directly,
and there is a public purpose that is priceless,” García Padilla said in
TV interview. “We are talking about a profound transformation and
all transformations convey resistances.”

EIGHT MURDER VICTIMS IN LESS THAN A WEEK

As reported today by El Vocero, eight people were killed -- mostly in
shootings -- between Tuesday afternoon and early Friday morning.
The incidents were reported in Hato Rey, Santurce, Yabucoa, Bayamón
and San Lorenzo. This week's murders bring the total for the month to
20, five more than at this time last year. So far, 103 violent deaths have
been registered in Puerto Rico, 27 less than last year.

MOODY'S DOWNGRADES UPR BONDS

From Caribbean Business:

Moody's Investors Service said it downgraded $489 million of  University
of Puerto Rico University system revenue bonds to  Caa2 from Caa1 and
$73 million of educational facilities revenue bonds, 2000 Series A issued
through AFICA to Caa3 from Caa2. The outlook is negative.

The rating differential between the university system revenue bonds and
the educational facilities revenue bonds reflects the subordinate pledge
and lease structure of the educational facilities revenue bonds.

DORAL BANK GOES TO CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY

From Reuters:

Doral Financial Corp filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection  on
Wednesday to wind down its remaining operations two weeks after its
Puerto Rico-based bank subsidiary was seized by regulators. Doral
Financial's bankruptcy is the latest reminder of the financial crisis on
the island, a U.S. commonwealth, which has been mired for years in
an economic slump. The bank has also been dogged by accounting
problems and an employee was recently indicted for money laundering.



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CUBAN BASEBALL PLAYERS DEFECT IN PR

From ABC News:

Two Cuban baseball players in Puerto Rico for the Caribbean Series
apparently have abandoned their team mid-tournament, Cuba's team
said Wednesday. The missing players were identified as 19-year-old
pitcher Vladimir Gutierrez and 29-year-old shortstop Dainer Moreira.
Gutierrez had not yet played in the series, while Moreira batted in
Cuba's only run against the Dominican Republic.

Cuba was scheduled to play against Puerto Rico Wednesday night after
losing its first two games against the Dominican Republic and Mexico.
The players' apparent decision to abandon their team to stay on
American soil comes amid moves to improve US-Cuba relations, with the
MLB on Tuesday eliminating its requirement that Cuban players obtain
a license from the U.S. government before they are eligible to sign
with big league teams...[MORE]

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 3, 2015

CELAC CALLS FOR DECOLONIZATION

Photo: The Costa Rica News

From The San Juan Daily Star:


With the support of Cuba and Venezuela, the heads of state and
government of the 33 member countries of the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States (CELAC) have ratifi ed their call
for the decolonization of Puerto Rico to free the Caribbean of
colonies. Their common stand was included in the final decla-
ration of the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of
CELAC, adopted late last week in Belén, Costa Rica and posted
on the group’s website. The leaders also reiterated the Latin
American and Caribbean nature of Puerto Rico, in line with the
stand assumed previously in the Declaration of Havana at the
end of the 2014 CELAC Summit.

MIGRANTS MISSING AFTER BOAT SINKS

From Fox News:

Twelve Dominican migrants were detained and an undetermined
number are still missing after the boat they were on sank
off a beach in the northwestern Puerto Rican town of Camuy,
authorities said Monday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection official in Puerto Rico
Jeffrey Quiñones on Monday told Efe that the homemade boat
was 9 meters (29.5 feet) in length and sank last Friday off
the coast at Camuy.

NINE INDICTED OVER KILLING OF PRISON GUARD

From Inquisitr:

According to Fox News, nine different men from Puerto Rico have
been convicted for the murder of Lt. Osvaldo Albarati on February
26, 2013. All nine of them were inmates at the Metropolitan
Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, when the incident
occurred. Albarati had confiscated cellphones and other contraband
from the inmates. This provoked the nine inmates to retaliate.

The United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa
Emilia Rodriguez, claimed that this was the first murder of a
United States federal agent in Puerto Rico. Rodriguez spoke at a
press conference on Friday, explaining that the nine defendants had
carefully planned to kill the Puerto Rican correctional officer as
a direct result of the confiscated items.

VENEZUELA, MEXICO WIN 1ST CARIBBEAN SERIES GAMES

From The Idaho Statesman:

San Diego Padres utilityman Alexi Amarista hit a two-run triple to
lead Venezuela to a 5-2 victory over host Puerto Rico and Mexico beat
Cuba 2-1 Monday in the opening games of the Caribbean Series. Cinci-
nnati Reds prospect Daryl Thompson gave up a run in six innings and
struck out five for the Venezuelan team, Los Caribes de Anzoategui.
Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Giovanni Soto got the loss for the
Puerto Rican team, Los Cangrejeros de Santurce.

PR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FALLS 1.4% IN DECEMBER

From Reuters:

Puerto Rico's economic activity fell 1.4 percent year-on-year in
December, the U.S. Commonwealth's Government Development Bank
(GDB) said on Friday. The GDB's Economic Activity Index, which
tracks employment, gasoline sales and other indicators on the
island, slipped to 125.3 in December, 2014.