Puerto Rico News Digest For April 10, 2015

FATAL ACCIDENT ON EXPRESO LAS AMERICAS

Huge traffic jams are being experienced this morning by commuters
on Expreso Las Americas (PR-18), following a fatal auto accident
early this morning on the Caguas-bound side of the roadway. Traffic
had to be rerouted around Jesus T. Piñero due to lane closures. The
traffic back-ups have created a domino effect, and several nearby
roads and highways are severely congested as well. Police are reco-
mmending as alternate routes Avenues Piñero, Roosevelt or Domenech.
The accident responsible for the traffic involved a truck and five other
vehicles. The truck reportedly hit a Hyundai sedan, which was being
driven by a man who later died.

12 ARRESTED FOR CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

From Fox News:

Twelve suspects have been arrested on charges of child pornography
across Puerto Rico in the largest such operation in the  U.S. territory,
federal authorities said Thursday. Among those arrested were a former
police officer, a high school teacher and an Internal Revenue Service
employee, said Angel Melendez, special agent in charge of Homeland
Security Investigations in San Juan.

DRAG COMEDIAN ALEX SOTO DIES

From Int'l Business Times:

A popular Puerto Rican comedian and drag queen died Thursday
night from a heart attack after he underwent surgery from a foot
infection. Alex Soto had been recovering from the amputation of
his left foot when his heart gave out, said actress Veronica Ojeda
Rubio, a member of the Board of Actors Association Puerto Rico.

MERCK FINDS BUYER FOR CLOSING PLANT

From Fierce Pharma Mfg:

Merck ($MRK) put two of three plants in Puerto Rico on a hit list in
2013 as part of its efforts to cut costs and headcount. But after selling
one last year to Sanofi's ($SNY) animal health unit Merial, it has
found a buyer for the second, efforts that together will have saved
about 400 jobs on the island. Merck will sell its plant in Arecibo to
American Industrial Acquisition Corporation (AIAC), which will add
it to the 5 dozen other plants it has around the world making industrial
products.

MIGRANTS NABBED ON MONA ISLAND

From Jamaica Observer:

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency
says its agents apprehended 10 undocumented Cuban and Dominican
Republic immigrants after they landed on a remote island off the
coast of Puerto Rico. The US Coast Guard also found a body floating
near the shore of Mona Island.

DONAHUE CITED FOR SENATE HEARING ON PREPA

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The Senate Energy Aff airs and Water Resources Committee cited
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Chief Restructuring
Officer Lisa Donahue for a public hearing this Friday to question her
about the utility’s debt restructuring plan. Donahue, who has not
completed the restructuring plan, has kept mum about details of the
plan, although she did say it entails $400 million in savings in the area
of operations at the utility.

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 8, 2015

PR GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN POSSIBLE 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The possibility of a government closing like the one that took place
in 2006 in Puerto Rico is real because of falling revenues, Treasury
Secretary Juan Zaragoza said Monday. “The turning point is April.
That is when we will know,” he said. “So far, we are positive. We co-
llect through tax withholdings over the course of the year, but the
important part of the year is April.” Zaragoza said in a radio inter-
view that the budget is expected to end in deficit. The revenues ob-
tained by April 15 through income taxes will be crucial in determi-
ning  if the government will have to close or not before the end of
the current fiscal year in June.

AUTOEXPRESO FINE AMNESTY STARTS TOMORROW

The Transportation and Roads Authority will begin an amnesty program

on April 9th for drivers who have incurred fines for non-payment of tolls

on AutoExpreso lanes. Fines will be reduced to $15 for each violation,

plus the cost of the toll that was originally unpaid. The program will be 

available until October 5 of this year. Payments can be made at CESCO

or AutoExpreso offices across the island. For questions, call 787-494-0935 

or email autoexpresoact@dtop.gov.pr.

MALL OF SAN JUAN LOOKS FOR NEW GM

From Caribbean Business:

Manuel Vázquez, the general manager of The Mall of San Juan, a nearly
half-billion-dollar high-end shopping center recently opened in the
Puerto Rico capital, has reportedly left the company. Vázquez, a retail
industry veteran, was responsible for all shopping center operations
as well as retailer and community relations, marketing, sponsorship
and grand opening preparations for Taubman Centers’ only mall in the
Caribbean.

FAKE NAVY SEAL CAUGHT IN PUERTO RICO

From WFAA:

Carlos Luna-Gonzalez wore a Navy lieutenant junior grade uniform with
a SEAL trident, a Purple Heart, and jump wings. He was arrested on
charges of impersonating a ranking officer and theft in a sting operation
in November 2014 after he accepted a "firearm of appreciation" for his
allegedly false service. But police say Gonzalez jumped bond and took off
for Puerto Rico. "That's a touchy subject with a lot of us vets," said
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler on Tuesday. Sheriff Fowler asked
Puerto Rico police for help. Monday night, he got word they had his man.

PR RESIDENTS GET DISABILITY FOR NO ENGLISH

From ABC News:

A federal audit has found that some Puerto Ricans living in the U.S.
territory have received disability benefits in part because they could
not speak English. The Office of the Inspector General for the Social
Security Administration said in a report issued this month that there
were 218 cases from 2011 to 2013 in which benefits were granted under
those circumstances.

AEROSTAR PUMPS $800M INTO LMM AIRPORT

From News Is My Business:

In its first two years as the operator of the Luis Muñoz Marín Inter-
national Airport, Aerostar Airport Holdings has pumped $800 million
into the facility that is already showing an improved and more modern
look and feel, and saw a 3 percent increase in passenger traffic last
year. During a meeting with members of the media, Aerostar CEO Agustín
Arellano offered a rundown of the projects completed since the company
took over the management of the LMM in February 2013.

Puerto Rico News Digest For March 27, 2015

LUGARO'S OFFICE RAIDED BY AUTHORITIES

El Nuevo Dia

The Truillo Alto offices of América Aponte & Associates, the educational
company led by independent gubernatorial candidate and  lawyer Alexandra
Lúgaro, has been raided this morning by agents  from the FBI, ICE and the
Department of Education. The action is part of 17 such raids being conduc-
ted today on businesses across the island, and may have to do with a fraud
investigation involving companies that provide services to the Department
of Education. An FBI spokesman would not specify what the exact reason
for the raids was.

Lúgaro, who had  announced her candidacy on March 17, stated that she
was willing to cooperate with law enforcement: "I've always acted within
the law. They can take everything. I don't have anything. I've done things
correctly."

Follow our Twitter feed, @ThePRMonitor for the latest developments.

TRAFFIC HEADACHES ON PR-52 THIS MORNING

Photo: @portotay (Twitter)

The reversible lane on Luis A. Ferré Expressway (PR-52) from Caguas
to San Juan is closed this morning, causing massive traffic jams on that
stretch of road. Drivers are advised to take Road PR-1 as an alternate
route. The reason given by the Roads & Transportation Authority for
the closure was that a part in the equipment that moves the barriers to
change the lane's direction is broken. However, the agency's director
also admitted this morning that they owe money to the company that
manages the expressway, although she added that the financial issues
have "nothing to do" with today's situation. No exact time has been
given for the lane's reopening.

NPP REP: LISTEN TO MAYORS ON IVA OPPOSITION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló on
Wednesday called on Gov. Alejandro García Padilla to “use his
conscience” after mayors of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP)
who oppose the 16 percent value-added tax met with him Tuesday
at La Fortaleza and were left unconvinced by the governor on
why the tax should be implemented and why it would be good for
the salaried middle class. “I invite the governor and the PDP
majority to set aside the improvisation and work on the economic
issues with seriousness and moderation,” Rodríguez Aguiló said.

COAST GUARD SEIZED 1,100 LBS OF COCAINE

From Latin Post:

The U.S. Coast Guard last week seized a shipment of about 1,100
pounds of cocaine worth some $16 million off the coast of Puerto
Rico, Miami ABC affiliate WPLG reported. The USCGC Tahoma on
March 18 intercepted a suspicious go-fast, which had been detected by
a Joint Interagency Taskforce South maritime patrol aircraft and was
heading towards the U.S. territory, Fort Myers' Fox 4 detailed. Once
the Tahoma seized the contraband,  Coast Guardsmen arrested three
citizens of the Dominican Republic,  who were later transferred into
the custody of Drug Enforcement  Administration special agents in
Puerto Rico and are now facing charges.

PR TO RECEIVE WORLD'S TWO BIGGEST CRUISES

From UT San Diego/AP:

Puerto Rico is preparing to welcome the world's two largest cruise ships
for the first time next year. The executive director of the island's Tourism
Company says Royal  Caribbean's Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas
will bring an estimated 60,000 passengers to San Juan in 2016. Next year's
visits are expected to generate an estimated $6.4 million in revenue.

Puerto Rico News Digest For December 22, 2014

POLICE MISS WORK IN PROTEST

El Vocero reports that many police officers across Puerto
Rico have not reported to work, with absences per shift
numbering about 500 across the island over this past
Sunday. The sick calls and absenteeism have been arranged
unofficially by police over social media in protest over
working conditions and recent salary adjustments. Police
upper management have allegedly begun requesting doctor's
notes from officers who miss work. The worst affected
precints in San Juan have been in Rio Piedras and Calle
Loiza.

TWO YOUNG WOMEN RUN OVER

Two 24-year-old cousins, Stephanie Hernández Rosa and
Jeandelize Soto Rosa, were participating in a Christmas
"parranda" at 12:45AM on Saturday morning, when they were
hit by a car as they crossed Road 111 in Moca, El Nuevo Dia
is reporting. Both were taken to San Carlos Hospital, where
Hernández Rosa died. Soto Rosa has been transferred to Centro
Medico, where she is reported as stable. The stretch of 111
where the women were hit is described by Police as the
"road of death" due to its high rate of accidents and
fatalities.

LIFE WIRELESS OPENS TWO STORES

From News Is My Business:


Life Wireless, a cellular provider offering free phone service
to eligible customers through the federal Lifeline program, has
opened its first retail locations in Puerto Rico to better serve
its fast-growing customer base.

The customer service centers, located in Bayamón and
Santurce, provide a place for customers to get their phones
serviced,  replace lost handsets, and re-certify their eligibility
in the Lifeline program without having to mail in verification
documents.

“We are excited to serve Puerto Rico more effectively and
efficiently by opening these two storefronts,” said Marta
Rivera, marketing manager at Easy Wireless, Life Wireless’s
exclusive distribution partner in Puerto Rico. “Having a retail
presence makes it so much easier to meet the needs of our
customers.”

PELLE SANTIAGO REQUESTS RETURN TO NPP

From The San Juan Daily Star:


New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Pedro Julio ‘Pellé’ Santiago
said he will ask the party to reconsider its  decision to suspend
him permanently from party positions for voting in favor of the
crude oil tax hike.

Santiago said he has received unofficial notice from the NPP
caucus informing him of the expulsion. “I have not been taken
out of the committees nor been given the order to remove my
House bench, but since I got the letter I will ask for the bench
to be separated from the delegation,” he said. Santiago reiterated
that he is not sorry for voting in favor of the crude oil tax hike.