Puerto Rico News Digest For May 4, 2015

PUERTO RICO LEGALIZES MEDICAL POT

From RT:

The governor of Puerto Rico has signed an executive order to allow
marijuana to be permitted for medical uses. Alejandro Garcia Padilla
endorsed the move, which will come into immediate effect, following
a lengthy public debate on the US territory. Governor Padilla men-
tioned that Puerto Rico’s health secretary will have three months to
file a report about how the executive order will be implemented. The
order will also mean that some or all controlled substances that de-
rive from the cannabis plant will be permitted for medical use. "We're
taking a significant step in the area of health that is fundamental
to our development and quality of life," Garcia said in a statement,
cited by AP. "I am sure that many patients will receive appropriate
treatment that will offer them new hope."

PR SCIENTIST SAFE AFTER NEPAL QUAKE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

A young Puerto Rican scientist whose family did not know anything
about him after a strong earthquake hit Nepal last weekend was
reported alive Thursday. Secretary of State David Bernier said
Francis H. González “contacted his family and is alive and well.”
“We are very happy,” Bernier said. The family had been appealing
through social networks and the media for the past week for any
information about González. The earthquake that hit Nepal killed
thousands, with the death toll nearing 6,000 as of Thursday.

WATER CONSERVATION URGED AMID DROUGHT

From Caribbean Business:

Government officials are urging people to conserve water amid a
record-breaking heat wave. The Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer
Authority president said water levels are extremely low for the
season and noted that summer has not even started.

SURVEY: JOBS ARE OFF ISLAND

From News Is My Business:

A recent survey conducted by the Universia-Trabajando.com Labor Co-
mmunity revealed that more than half, or 69 percent, of respondents
from Puerto Rico believe that there are more job opportunities out-
side the island. Of the 593 participants, 46 percent think that
those options are in North America, particularly in the U.S. main-
land, 30 percent looks to Europe, and 11 percent to South America.

SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES BEGINS PR FLIGHTS

From NBC 2:

Service from Fort Myers to San Juan began Sunday according to airport
authorities at Southwest Florida International Airport. The nonstop
service to San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in
Puerto Rico got underway officially Sunday with two weekly flights,
Sundays and Thursdays. This was supposed to be a test run, however
there was so much positive feedback, Sun Country decided to make this
a permanent run right away.

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 27, 2015

PR MAN MISSING AFTER NEPAL QUAKE

As reported today by El Nuevo Dia, Francis H. González, a scientist
from Puerto Rico, is currently missing in Nepal, days after it was shaken
by a strong earthquake which has left thousands dead and injured. A
friend of the young man last heard from González via email on April 16,
two days after he arrived in Nepal during a tour of Asia which began last
year. González may or may not have left the country before the quake.
The Department of State will be holding a conference call with the Ne-
palese embassy in Washington DC today to discuss efforts to find the
scientist.

PERELLO: GOV'T SHUTDOWN OUT OF QUESTION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

House Speaker Jaime Perelló said Thursday that he doesn’t know
the exact date when the government could shut down operations
due to the lack of liquidity at the Government Development Bank
(GDB) “because we are working so that a government shutdown isn’t
even an issue under consideration.” “We are not willing to shut down
the government,” Perelló said. “We are not willing to fire one single
public worker. And we are going to approve what we have to approve
so that our public workers get paid on the 15th and on the 30th of each
month and for government services to continue operating. That is why
we are working with such seriousness.” Perelló was reacting to a letter
sent by the GDB board of directors warning lawmakers of a possible
government shutdown within the next three months as the bank is rea-
ching levels of insolvency with a  little more than $500 million left in
its portfolio.

PR DOWNGRADED TO CCC+ BY S&P

From CNBC:

Standard & Poor's downgraded Puerto Rico's general obligation rating
to "CCC+" from "B." The ratings agency said the downgrade - issued late
Friday and announced again Monday morning - was based on its view that
"the commonwealth's market access prospects have further weakened and
Puerto Rico's ability to meet its financial commitments is increasingly tied
to the business, financial, and economic conditions on the island." It also
placed the general obligation rating on CreditWatch negative.

CULINARY FEST TO BE HELD MAY 16

From Caribbean Business:

Universidad del Este's José A. (Tony) Santana International School
of Hospitality and Culinary Arts will hold its first food festival,
Gastroarte 2015. The event, which promises to exhibit the best of
Caribbean flavors, will take place May 16 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in
Carolina. It will feature music, restaurant exhibitions, artisans, coffee
growers and mixologists, as well as presentations by renowned Puerto
Rican chefs. Gastroarte is the first event to be held with the aim of de-
monstrating the school's academic excellence as the best in hospitality
and culinary arts in Puerto Rico.

OLIVE GARDEN TO HIRE 250 FOR SAN PATRICIO

From News Is My Business:

Looking to promote local economic development and job creation, Puerto
Rican company Restaurant Operators Inc., announced it is looking to fill
250 slots at its second Olive Garden restaurant expected to open this
summer in San Patricio Plaza in Guaynabo. The company is looking for
part-time waiters, service assistants, cooks, hosts and bartenders, among
other employees.