Puerto Rico News Digest For July 24, 2017

JARDINES DE COUNTRY KILL

Carolina neighborhood reports murder for 2nd weekend in a row

A man believed to be in his early 20s, who is so far unidentified, was shot to death at around 4:30 on Sunday morning in the Jardines de Country Club neighborhood of Carolina. The victim parked his car on 30th Street, between a basketball court and baseball field in the suburban neighborhood, and was apparently shot at several times as he sat in the vehicle. It is unknown whether he was pursued there before being killed. After shooting, the perpetrators presumably drove away in their own vehicle, while the victim left his bullet-riddled car and stumbled for a few feet before falling to the ground, where he died. A 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunfire, and they found the lifeless body soon afterward. This is the second murder reported in Jardines de Country Club inside of a week, and was one of eight violent deaths registered over the weekend across Puerto Rico.

TREASURY NET INCOME UP 1.7% FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico Treasury Secretary Raúl Maldonado Gautier reported that the net income to the General Fund from the newly concluded fiscal year 2016-17 (July-June) amounted to $9.334 billion, which represents $159.6 million, or 1.7 percent  more than the previous fiscal year 2015-16..."

ROSSELLO SIGNS PATIENTS' RIGHTS LAW 

From Caribbean Business:

"...Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on Sunday enacted Senate Bill 27, giving patients more say before health insurers and providing greater power to the Patients Advocate Office (OPP by its Spanish initials) when defending those who are  not covered by the government’s medical plan, Mi Salud..."

MORE PR DOCTORS GOING BANKRUPT 

From News Is My Business:

"During the first six months of the year, 17 medical doctors filed for bankruptcy protection, reporting more than $23.5 million in combined debt to the court, a report by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico confirmed..."

ROSSELLO TRIES TO PUT PR IN CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

From The Washington Examiner:

"Puerto Rico is throwing a wrench into the mainland's politics. The Caribbean island's government held a referendum on June 11 to gauge public support in what was the territory's fifth-ever plebiscite on statehood, and the vast majority  of voters said yes..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 29, 2016

TWO MURDERS REPORTED THIS MORNING

As reported by El Nuevo Día, two separate murders were registered in Puer-

to Rico this morning, with the first one occuring at around 12:52 AM at the 

Placita de Santurce in San Juan. After callers reported shots heard in the vic-

inity, Police found the body of 44-year old Mario Díaz Pérez, whose body was 

riddled with bullets. The second killing occured at around 8:11 AM this morn-

ing in the Barahona sector of Morovis, on Road PR-633. Police have yet to id-

entify the victim or release any other information. 

TROPICAL WAVE TO BRING WEEKEND RAIN

From Caribbean Business:

"The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami says a tropical wave, loca-

ted about 1200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles is moving westward at about 

25 mph. The associated shower activity is poorly organized, “and given the 

fast motion of the system any development should be slow to occur..." The 

chance of it forming into a tropical cyclone through the next 48 hours is low 

at 20 percent. Its formation chance through five days is still considered low 

but rises to 30 percent..."

PIP CANDIDATE DEFENDS PUBLIC EDUCATION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) gubernatorial candidate María de
Lourdes Santiago said Wednesday that as part of her electoral proposal, pu-
blic education must become the great democratizing element  and the most
important investment of a society in which public schools are faced with a
systematic campaign of discrediting and abandonment. “The public Depart-
ment of Education has been the object of a systematic campaign of discredi-
ting to pave the way for privatization,” Santiago said in a press conference
at PIP headquarters in Hato Rey, in which she told of a shortage of materials
and books despite a $3.2 billion budget..."

TREASURY REPORTS 2% REVENUE INCREASE

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Treasury Department collected some $9.1 billion in reve-

nue for the General Fund during Fiscal 2016, exceeding Fiscal 2015 numbers 

by $214.4 million or 2.4 percent, agency Secretary Juan Zaragoza-Gómez said. 

The increase was much greater considering that last year, there were revenues 

from legislative measures of nearly $468 million that were not recurrent for FY 

2015-16, he said. When comparing the revenue registered for the year to the re-

vised total estimate of $9.2 billion, the government achieved a 98.7 percent co-

llections rate..." 

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 26, 2016

HHS CHIEF TO VISIT PR, ADDRESS ZIKA

From The Washington Times:

"President Obama’s top health official will visit Puerto Rico this week to
get a firsthand look at how the island is combating the Zika virus, a trip
that coincides with Senate efforts to partially fund President Obama $1.9
billion request for emergency funding to stave off the mosquito-borne ill-
ness. On a two-day trip, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Ma-
thews Burwell will meet with Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla,
tour a blood bank and personally urge pregnant women and those of child-
bearing age to protect themselves against mosquito bites that could lead to
infection..."

PIP DENOUNCES DNA TESTING OF ACTIVISTS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The vice president and secretary general of the Puerto Rico Independence
Party (PIP) María de Lourdes Santiago and Juan Dalmau, respectively, con-
demned late last week the arrest of independence party activists by the FBI
to take DNA samples from them... The denunciation from both PIP leaders
came after reports circulated through social and mass media of the arrests of
Orlando González Claudio and Norberto Cintrón Fiallo after federal José Fus-
té issued orders against 16 independence activists to provide their DNA..."

TREASURY PAYS VENDOR, PRIMARIES TO PROCEED

From Caribbean Business:

"State Election Commission President Liza M. García announced that the
Treasury Department has paid its $1.6 million balance with Dominion Vo-
ting Systems, which is providing electronic vote count equipment for Puerto
Rico’s Ju- ne 5 primaries. Dominion Voting machine“We are pleased with
[Secretary] Juan Zaragoza’s engagement with suppliers and because the two
checks emitted have settled the remaining balance with Dominion Voting
Systems for this fiscal year,” the official said..."

PR RESTAURANT WEEK RETURNS IN JUNE

From News Is My Business:

"The 5th edition of “Puerto Rico Restaurant Week” will take place June
1-11, when premier restaurants will offer specially designed three course
dinner and/or lunch menus at a fixed price. These “prix fixe” menus are
the cornerstone of the event, that seeks to get foodies to try new establish-
ments and revisit old favorites, enticed by affordable multiple course me-
nus. The menu is set at either $28 or $38 for dinner and $20 for lunch, ex-
cluding beverages, tax, and tip. There are no tickets for the event, but re-
servations are required and must be booked directly with participating
restaurants.."

Puerto Rico News Digest For December 15, 2015

GOVERNOR GARCIA PADILLA WILL NOT SEEK REELECTION

From Caribbean Business:

"In a broadcast announcement Monday, Dec. 14, Gov. Alejandro García
Padilla said he will not seek reelection in 2016, saying the task  of help-
ing Puerto Rico out of its financial hole would require his full attention
and therefore cannot focus on a gubernatorial campaign. “I will not seek
reelection for governor. Big causes demand big sacrifices,” said the go-
vernor, noting that next year will bring “politically unpleasant decisions."
The governor is expected to leave early this week for Washington, D.C.,
where he will be speaking at a National Press Club speakers luncheon in
the U.S. capitol on Dec. 16..."

TWO INDICTED FOR BANK & WIRE FRAUD

From US Attorney's Office:

"On December 9, 2015, a Federal grand jury returned a seventy-nine count
indictment charging Miosotis Ribot-Figueroa (Ribot) with bank fraud, wire
fraud, and aggravated identity theft and charging Ribot and José F. Gonzá-
lez-Guzmán (González) with a total of four counts of monetary transactions
in property derived from specified unlawful activity, announced Rosa Emi-
lia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is in charge of the investigation.
The indictment was unsealed today upon the arrest of both defendants. The-
se charges stem from a scheme utilized by Ribot from approximately May
to October 2014 to make thirty four unauthorized bank transfers from the
bank account of her employer to bank accounts controlled by Ribot and/or
González totaling approximately $490,165.42..."

AUTHORITIES PREPARE FOR ZIKA VIRUS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"While there is no immediate threat, the island Health Department is pre-
paring for the arrival of the Zika virus, which is transmitted by the same
mosquito responsible for the dengue and chikungunya virus on the island,
State Epidemiologist Brenda Rivera said. “All Caribbean jurisdictions are
on the watch,” she said. Common symptoms of infection with the virus in-
clude mild headaches, rash, fever, malaise, conjunctivitis and others..."

PR REVENUES DOWN FOR NOVEMBER

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico General Fund collections reached $488.6 million in Novem-
ber, falling $15.4 million short of estimates, but $36.7 million above what
the government shored up during the same month in 2014, Treasury Secre-
tary Juan Zaragoza said Monday. The current decrease is 3.2 percent less
than the revenue projections included in the original $9.8 billion budget
for Fiscal 2016..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For November 4, 2015

SUSPECT KILLED IN SHOOTOUT WITH FEDS

From Yahoo! News:

"A man sought by federal authorities in Puerto Rico died on Tuesday
following a shootout that broke as he tried to evade arrest near the U.S.
territory's biggest mall, officials said. The unidentified 22-year-old sus-
pect was hit by a bullet as he tried to flee from agents who were about
to arrest him...The shooting occurred close to the popular Plaza Las Am-
ericas mall in the capital of San Juan in a heavily transited area near po-
lice department headquarters..."

TREASURY HEAD SAYS HOURS MAY BE CUT

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Commonwealth Treasury Secretary Juan Zaragoza confirmed Monday
that the government is contemplating reducing public workers’ working
hours, which the agency calculates could save about $90 million, a sum
that will allow the government to comply with the upcoming month’s co-
mmitments...The Treasury chief said a government shutdown is not on the
table for discussion right now, but there is a contingency plan for reducti-
ons of public workers’ daily working hours to six hours or half a day (four
hours)..."

PREPA FORBEARANCE EXTENDED FOR 48 HOURS

From Caribbean Business:

"A preliminary restructuring agreement between forbearing creditors
and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) has been put on
hold for 48 hours as a deadline set to expire Tuesday at 8 p.m. approa-
ched. The extension to the forbearance agreement is intended to provi-
de time for the filing of the Prepa Revitalization Act, which is expected
to take place within the next two days..."

LUFTHANSA OPENS FACILITY IN PR

From Fox News Latino:

"German airline Lufthansa's first center for aircraft maintenance, repair
and reconditioning in the Americas was inaugurated over the weekend
in Aguadilla, a city on Puerto Rico's northwest coast, officials said. The
Lufthansa facility will attract new investment from the aerospace indus-
try to the Caribbean island thanks to the development of business allian-
ces and the arrival of other companies in the sector, the Puerto Rican go-
vernment said in a statement..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For September 21, 2015

CARRAIZO WATER RATIONING ENDS

Alberto Lázaro, the President of Puerto Rico's water utility (AAA), has
announced that due to increases in the water level at the Carraízo reser-
voir, water rationing for users served by Carraízo is ending today, Mon-
day. Residents of Trujillo Alto, Carolina and parts of San Juan, Gurabo
and Canóvanas will no longer have to deal with water cut-offs, although
water pressure will be controlled as a precautionary measure. Starting at
9:00 AM today, service is being reestablished in full for all areas served
by Carraízo. La Plata, the other reservoir that serves the San Juan metro
area, is still under a rationing plan, despite some recent gains in the water
levels. In the Carraízo zones, fines for water misuse are still in effect, and
Lázaro discouraged users from watering lawns or washing cars. He also
indicated that the reservoir has enough water to avoid more rationing for
about three months.

TREASURY: MONEY TO RUN OUT IN 6 WEEKS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Describing the government as “an old car that doesn’t get good mileage
and is running with barely any gasoline,”Treasury Secretary Juan Zara-
goza said Thursday that in all likelihood, in about one month and a half
government coffers will run out of cash. The situation is such that the
Treasury chief said in a radio interview  that “this a chronicle of a death
foretold.” Zaragoza made his co- mments after the government’s liquidity
problems came into sharper  focus in an analysis drafted by Conway Mac
Kenzie (CM), which sets out that the government will have an overdraft
of $765 million by November.

NSF AWARDS $3.8M TO UPR MEDICAL SCIENCES

From Caribbean Business:

The Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) has
received a $3.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF)
for an international collaboration studying the neural mechanism of deci-
sion-making. The NSF funds are from its Partnerships for International Re-
search and Education (PIRE) program, which supports international activi-
ties across various disciplines. The program's primary goal is to support
projects in which advances in research and education could not occur with-
out international collaboration. PIRE focuses on investment in Science, En-
gineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES) to approach the challenges
of adapting to environmental, social and cultural changes associated with gro-
wth and development of human populations, and attaining a sustainable ener-
gy future, according to the NSF.

KIVA ZIP OFFERS 0% LOANS TO PR BUSINESSES

From News Is My Business:

Entrepreneurs looking to finance their ventures have the opportunity to
borrow from Kiva Zip, a technological platform that connects individuals
and businesses to provide loans at 0 percent interest. “The Foundation
for Puerto Rico, a local organization that works with Kiva.org and promo-
tes the visitor economy as a way to position Puerto Rico as a global des-
tination, has created a seed fund of $ 10,000 to match each dollar loaned
to a local entrepreneur through Kiva Zip,” said Denisse Rodríguez, pro-
gram manager of the Foundation for Puerto Rico. Kiva Zip, program of the
nonprofit Kiva.org, has the purpose of connecting individuals and organi-
zations through the Internet, to grant microloans directly to entreprene-
urs to facilitate and expand their opportunities through the financing of
their business, reduce capital costs and make a positive impact in society.

PREPA AT ODDS WITH INSURERS OVER DEBT

From Bloomberg:

The debt-restructuring agreement Puerto Rico’s main electric utility unvei-
led with great fanfare at the start of the month is turning out to be far from
a done deal. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, known as Prepa,
still needs to come to terms with about two-thirds of creditors, including
bond-insurance companies, or the agreement falls apart. An accord that
keeps the negotiations out of court expires late Friday. All forbearing cre-
ditors except insurer MBIA Inc. are part of that contract, called a forbear-
ance agreement. “They still have to do quite a bit of work,” said Mikhail
Foux, a municipal-debt strategist at Barclays Plc in New York. “They have
only about a third of the people on board. We’re talking about monolines
and bond funds that effectively bought at par.”

Puerto Rico News Digest For September 16, 2015

GDB, TREASURY OUT OF MONEY BY YEAR END

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The Puerto Rico Treasury Department’s single cash account and the Go-
vernment Development Bank (GDB) are each expected to exhaust their
liquidity before the end of calendar year 2015. The information was con-
tained in a liquidity update report by Conway-MacKenzie (CM) and in
the island government’s fiscal adjustment plan. Both documents were
made public last week. The Treasury has a treasury single account (TSA)
in which it deposits and disburses amounts related to the General Fund,
certain federal funds, government agencies, general obligation debt issu-
ances (GOs) and payments, net pension benefits, and other items.

PRASA REACHES DEAL WITH US GOVERNMENT

From Caribbean Business:

Under a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA), the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer
Authority (Prasa) has agreed to make major upgrades, improve inspecti-
ons and cleaning of existing facilities within the Puerto Nuevo system and
continue improvements to its systems island-wide, according to the Justice
Department. The Puerto Nuevo sewer system serves the municipalities of
San Juan, Trujillo Alto, and portions of Bayamón, Guaynabo and Carolina.
The settlement updates and expands upon legal settlement agreements rea-
ched with Prasa in 2004, 2006 and 2010.

COCAINE FOUND ON EAST PR COAST

From Caribbean News Now:

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Air and Marine Agents
on Friday night recovered 114 pounds (51.7 kilos) of cocaine inside four back-
packs that were ditched by smugglers on the east coast of the island. The esti-
mated value of the seized contraband is $1.4 million.  CBP units near Ceiba,
Puerto Rico found 30 individually wrapped bricks of cocaine inside two pie-
ces of luggage. “Our marine units patrol work with law enforcement partners
to detect and intercept criminal organizations that seek to introduce illegal nar-
cotics,” stated Johnny Morales, director of air operations for CBP’s Caribbean
Air and Marine Branch (CAMB). “This seizure is evidence that our persistence
 is fruitful.”

SALES TAX REVENUE OVER ESTIMATES

From News Is My Business:

Puerto Rico sales and use tax (SUT) revenues collections totaled $190.7 mi-
llion in August, the first month the new 10.5 percent rate was in effect, ex-
ceeding projections by $22.2 million, or 13.2 percent, Treasury Secretary
Juan Zaragoza said Monday. August 2015 estimates took into account the
possible effect of purchases made in advance of the rate increase. Neverthe-
less, the monetary values of the tax base subject to the SUT were very simi-
lar for August 2015 and August 2014, Zaragoza said.

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 17, 2015

WEEKEND RAINS RAISE RESERVOIR LEVELS

The rains that soaked much of Puerto Rico over this past weekend helped
raise the levels of several of the island's water reservoirs, including emba-
ttled Carraízo, which saw a rise of 31 centimeters. users of the Carraízo
reservoir, which serves much of the San Juan metro area, are still under
a water rationing plan which only gives them running water two days a
week, and which is expected to continue, according to the President of
AAA, Alberto Lázaro. The reservoir that made the biggest gains over the
weekend was Guajataca, which increased by 74 centimeters. However, La
Plata reservoir did not see any level rises during the period of rain. La Plata's
users are currently under a 48-hour water rationing plan, which may soon be
extended.

DOZENS TIE THE KNOT AT MASS GAY WEDDING

From Caribbean Business:

More than 60 same-sex couples are marrying Sunday in Old San Juan,
the first time an event of this nature takes place on the island after the
recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage, fo-
llowed by Gov. Alejandro García Padilla’s executive order to change
local laws accordingly. “It’s a historic day for Puerto Rico, since we
show diversity,” lawyer Ada Conde, a long-time civil rights advocate,
told Inter News Service. Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision
in Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage throughout the na-
tion, including Puerto Rico, where Article 68 of the Civil Code defined
marriage as the union “between a man and a woman.”

TREASURY COLLECTS $626.5M IN JULY

From News Is My Business:

The Puerto Rico Treasury Department announced Friday that General Fund
net revenues totaled $626.5 million in July 2015 — the first month of Fiscal
2016 — representing a $2.3 million increase when compared to July 2014.
Collections were $21.1 million above estimates, Treasury Secretary Juan Za-
ragoza said. Sales and Use Tax (SUT) collections totaled $154.3 million in
July 2015, a $40.6 million, or 35.7 percent, year-over-year increase and the
highest amount of revenues for any month since the inception of the SUT.

TURTLE EGG DESTRUCTION INVESTIGATED

From Fox News Latino:

Environmental agencies in Puerto Rico are investigating the destruction of 99
eggs of the endangered leatherback turtle that were found in a nest on a beach
in San Juan, activist Deborah Feliciano told EFE Friday. Feliciano, a member
of the government-sponsored 7 Quillas group that is charged with keeping wa-
tch on the beaches of Condado and Ocean Park, found that the eggs were rotten,
the nest was inundated with water, and there was a distinct smell of excrement
in the air. She said the group reported the situation to Puerto Rico's Natural Re-
sources Department, or DRNA, and to the Board of Environmental Quality.

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 24, 2015

GDB CHAIR DAVID CHAFEY RESIGNS

From Caribbean Business:

"Government Development Bank (GDB) Chairman David Chafey Jr. has resigned 

from his post, effective June 30, Vice Chairwoman & President Melba Acosta con-

firmed Wednesday. His exit from the debt-ridden and cash-strapped government 

bank comes amid much discussion over the tough decisions it faces in the near fu-

ture as it maneuvers through the fiscal challenges affecting the commonwealth, par-

ticularly during fiscal year 2016, which begins July 1. Moreover, Senate Bill 1350, 

which aims to enhance oversight faculties and  immunity protections for GDB offi-

cials, secured legislative passage late Tuesday and now moves to the governor’s 

office for its enactment. The much-debated immunity language came amid reports 

that several GDB directors were threatening to leave the bank if they were not pro-

vided with the enhanced protections."

POLICE REPORT SMOOTH 'NOCHE DE SAN JUAN'

Puerto Rico Police have said that last night's traditional 'Noche De San Juan' festivi-

ties went relatively smoothly at beaches all over the island, and that no major inci-

dents were reported. There were no reported instances of drownings or violence, al-

though attendance at island beaches seemed to have been down compared to last 

year. Despite the fairly quiet night, Victor J. Vega Sterling (aka "Goliat"), one of 

Puerto Rico's most wanted criminals, was arrested at a Río Grande resort where he 

was celebrating Noche De San Juan. Sterling, who has been linked to a brutal San 

Juan drug gang, was wanted on murder and firearms charges. 

TREASURY 'READY' TO HANDLE LARGER IVU

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Treasury Department is prepared to handle the change rate of the 

Sales and Use Tax to 11.5 percent, from the current 7 percent, when it goes into e-

ffect July 1, agency Secretary Juan Zaragoza said Tuesday.“At Treasury, we’re rea-

dy to work the applicability of the changes established by Act 72 that amended se-

veral sections of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011. Monthly SUT fi-

ling and programming aspects in the Integrated Merchant Portal (known as PICO) 

have been reviewed,” he said.“I must emphasize that we will continue strengthe-

ning oversight efforts so that the level of SUT uptake continue to increase,” he 

said."

PREPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RESIGNS

From ABC News: 

The executive director of Puerto Rico's heavily indebted public power company 

has stepped down. Juan Alicea Flores resigned Tuesday after spending two years 

overseeing the Electric Energy Authority.

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 5, 2015

FOOD TRUCK OWNER SHOOTS ROBBERS, KILLS ONE

As reported this morning by El Nuevo Dia, a would-be robber was shot
to death overnight by the owner of a food truck selling tripleta sand-
wiches and bakes potatoes in front of the Naguabo Municipal Cemetery.
According to police, two armed individuals arrived at the place at a-
round 12:50AM in a vehicle and announced the robbery immediately
after getting out of the car. The owner, a licensed firearms carrier, repe-
lled the attack by shooting at the assailants. One man was wounded and
attempted to run towards a drug store, but collapsed to the ground. He
was later declared dead at Ryder Hospital in Humacao. Police later arr-
ested two individuals linked to the robbery at a Gulf gas station in Las
Piedras, where the police also seized the vehicle that the food truck ow-
er had described. The suspects, who have yet to be identified by police,
are also linked to a recent robbery in Gurabo.

GOVERNOR BACKS PRIVATE POWER PRODUCTION

From ABC News:

Puerto Rico's governor said Wednesday that he supports privatizing electri-
city production in the U.S. territory as officials seek to restructure the is-
land's troubled public power company. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla told
reporters that he is fine with the idea of privatization as long as there will be
no layoffs at the publicly owned Electric Energy Authority and if it will help
lower electricity bills. "These are measures that have never been ruled out,"
he said. "The authority's transformation has to be a profound one."

CUBAN MIGRANTS NABBED ON MONA

From Fox News Latino:

Eleven undocumented Cuban citizens were detained this week by U.S. autho-
rities when they landed on the tiny Puerto Rican islet of Mona located in the
strait between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, authorities said in a
statement released Thursday. Customs and Border protection reported the de-
tention of the group consisting of eight men and three women.

IVU-FREE SCHOOL SHOPPING JULY 17-18

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Treasury Secretary Juan Zaragoza announced Wednesday the days during
July, as well as January 2016, when consumers will be able to make sales and
use tax-free purchases of school uniforms and materials.“The first of the two
periods, will begin at 12:01 a.m. July 17 and will conclude at midnight July 18
and the second will begin on January 8 at 12:01 a.m. until midnight January 9,
2016,” Zaragoza said. “Although both consumers and businesses are familiar
with how this works, we always call on everyone to verify the information and
the detailed list of IVU exempt articles.” To obtain more information, consu-
mers are urged to visit the Treasury Department’s website www.hacienda.pr.
gov and then click on the publications link under the Internal Revenue area and
tax policy area, where they will find circular letter 15-07 of June 1, 2015.

EX-BANKER TO ASSIST US TREASURY ON PR

From Bloomberg:

Former Lazard Ltd. investment banker Stephen Campbell is joining the U.S.
Treasury to work on domestic finance issues including Puerto Rico’s fiscal
crisis, a department spokesman said. Campbell began June 1 as a counselor
in the Treasury’s domestic finance office, working with Antonio Weiss, also
a former Lazard banker. Weiss serves as an adviser to Secretary Jacob J. Lew
after failing to win Senate confirmation to be undersecretary for domestic
finance. Weiss and other Treasury officials have traveled to Puerto Rico re-
cently as the commonwealth faces a potential cash crunch and struggles with
$72 billion in debt.

CARRAIZO RESERVOIR LEVELS FOR JUNE 5

From Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados:

Carraizo is on the far left, in yellow. AAA may be instituting 48-hour rationing
soon.

Puerto Rico News Digest For March 16, 2015

ATHLETES INJURED DURING SHOOTOUT

Photo: Puerto Rico Police Dept.

From Yahoo News:

Two competitors in a Puerto Rico Ironman triathlon were injured by
gunfire exchanged between occupants  of two cars as they sped past
the bicycling part of the Sunday event in an  upscale area of the U.S.
island's capital. Puerto Rico police identified the  wounded compe-
titors as Wisconsin woman Liz Boivin, 26, and island  resident
Miguel Arroyo Ramos, 49.  Boivin was hit in the left calf while
three bullets struck Arroyo in the  left side while they raced on bi-
cycles through the San Juan district of  Miramar. The triathlon in-
volves biking, running and swimming.

OIL TAX HIKE WENT INTO EFFECT SUNDAY

The increase in the crude oil tax to $15.50 per barrel, colloquially 

known as "La Crudita", went into effect yesterday across Puerto Rico. 

Immediate rises in the price of gasoline were expected and have 

already been seen. But, as of Sunday afternoon, many gas stations 

across the island were still selling fuel at the "old price". However, 

across the board gas price hikes are inevitable and will likely start 

to be seen more consistently over the next few days.

GUAYANILLA MAYOR DENIES SEX ALLEGATIONS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The suspended mayor of Guayanilla, Edgardo Arlequin Vélez,  on 

Thursday expressed hope he will be vindicated in the end  after the 

Special Independent Prosecutor (SIP) Panel suspended him last week 

from the mayoral seat for allegedly sexually harassing a municipal 

female employee. “All these  actions against me were based solely 

on statements by another party,” Arlequin Vélez said in a written 

statement. “I flatly deny the facts alleged against me. My family is 

accompanying me right now firmly and with serenity and  gratitude, 

and the people overwhelmingly have expressed solidarity with me. 

At the end of the process, I will prevail and continue to serve my 

people as usual.

TREASURY COLLECTIONS UP FOR FEBRUARY

From News Is My Business: 

The Puerto Rico Treasury Department collected $709.3 million in 

February for the General Fund, a figure that was up $39.4 million, 

or 5.9 percent when compared to the same month last year, and $6.5 

million, or 0.9 percent, below estimates. One of the main revenue 

drivers was $319 million collected in income taxes, which exceeded 

February 2014 collections by $35 million. All components of this 

category reflected increases when compared to February 2014.

WOMEN'S NAVY TENNIS TEAM TO PLAY IN PR

From Navy Sports:

The Navy women's tennis team (11-6) will open a three-match spring 

break trip in Puerto Rico on Monday against Augustana College (S.D.)

at 12:30 PM (ET). The Mids and the Vikings will meet in Palmas del 

Mar on the southeastern coast of  Puerto Rico. The Mids have won 

three straight matches and are coming off a 4-3 win over Delaware 

on Thursday. Navy has also recently defeated Towson, 5-2, and Marist, 

5-2.

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