Puerto Rico News Digest For September 19, 2016

CONGRESS COULD MAKE PROGRESS ON ZIKA

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"A long impasse that has delayed money to combat Zika for months neared an
end Thursday as congressional aides said Republicans would relent and let Pla-
nned Parenthood affiliated clinics share in new funding to fi ght the virus. The
potential deal would ease the way for Congress to quit work until after the Nov.
8 election. Democrats welcomed the move, which would address their chief
complaint to a GOP plan intended to fight the virus..."

PR WAR VETERANS VISIT SOUTH KOREA

From Yonhap:

" South Korea has invited Puerto Rican soldiers who fought during the Korean
War (1950-53) to visit the country 66 years after hostilities ended, military offi-
cials said Monday. Sixteen Puerto Rican war veterans are scheduled to make a
six-day trip to South Korea from Tuesday to Sunday as part of the 131 veterans
and their families from the United States and Puerto Rico. This marks the first
time that the veterans from the Caribbean island will be visiting the country, the
Ministry of Patriots & Veterans Affairs said. While here, they will visit the truce
village of Panmunjom, the Joint Security Area (JSA), the Seoul National Ceme-
tery and historic palaces, the ministry said in a statement..."

LUGARO ENCOURAGES VOTER REGISTRATION ON FB

From Caribbean Business:

"n a Facebook video that she appeared to have recorded in her residence, indep-
endent gubernatorial candidate Alexandra Lúgaro urged people to register to vote
before the deadline Monday, Sept. 19. In her Sunday evening video, Lúgaro em-
phasizes the importance of voting with, among other examples, speaking about
the massive electoral campaigns that focus on voting as a priority in some coun-
tries...In her message, which she also recorded in sign language, Lúgaro urged
voters to record a video or post anything, “even art,” that expresses the importa-
nce of voting, adding she would share these and that some 300,000 people would
be seeing them..."

MESON SANDWICHES TO EXPAND IN CENTRAL FL

From News Is My Business:

"Mesón Sandwiches, a Puerto Rico-based fast casual restaurant that marries
the flavors of the Caribbean with an American staple, will open this week its
third Central Florida location at the Premium Outlets Vineland in Orlando. Two
other Mesón restaurants are scheduled to open next year in Lee Vista Promenade
and the Gardens on Millennia, also in the Metro Orlando area, for a total of five
locations by the fall of 2017..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 16, 2016

PUERTO RICO ZIKA CASES SEE BIG JUMP

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Health Secretary Ana Ríus announced Friday that for the epidemiological week
number 30 some 1,914 new cases of Zika were confirmed in the island, for a total
of 10,690 accumulated cases since the virus first arrived in Puerto Rico. The new
data includes 134 pregnant women for a total of 1,035. In addition, two more peo-
ple have been hospitalized for a total of 90 and there are three new cases of Guilla-
in-Barré syndrome for a total of 30 confirmed cases in laboratories. “We have in
our hands the necessary tools to avoid being infected with the Zika virus,” Ríus
said in a written statement. “Even if we don’t feel sick, we need to protect our-
selves..."

MURDERS IN AGUAS BUENAS & LAS PIEDRAS

As reported by El Nuevo Dia, a man between 20 and 25 years of age was murde-
red on road PR-173 in Aguas Buenas. The killing was reported at around 2:50 AM
this morning, and police found the body 15 minutes later. The man, of approxima-
tely 140 pounds, with black hair and beard, has yet to be identified. A second mur-
der was reported at approximately 5:50 AM on road PR-916 in Las Piedras. A 911
call alerted police to a bleeding person in the area. Police found the body minutes
later.

DONAHUE GETS $6.7M CONTRACT EXTENSION

From Caribbean Business:

"On the heels of what was described as a rather drawn-out meeting punctuated
by several sticking points, the Puerto Rico Electric Authority’s (Prepa) board vo-
ted to extend the contract of AlixPartners, headed by Lisa Donahue, to the tune
of $6.713 million. The contract, which was due to expire Aug. 15, will be exten-
ded through Dec. 15. “The deal is broken down with half the money for restruc-
turing-related work and the other half for operational related improvements,” said
one source with knowledge of negotiations. The restructuring work involves ma-
naging and reporting cash, working out all of the structure for the Special Purch-
ase Vehicle (SPV) and Prepa rate cases, continued implementation of creditor
deals and potential negotiations..."

MEDICAL POT INDUSTRY GROWS IN PR

From News Is My Business:

"...Already, more than two-dozen companies have applied for operational licen-
ses and others are expected to follow suit. One potential job creation opportunity
on the horizon is a high-tech system for “safe and consistent” cannabis cultivat-
ion that a U.S. firm is developing with the idea of possibly carrying out the pro-
duct assembly on the island, according to César Cordero Krüger, CEO of Grow-
blox Sciences Puerto Rico, LLC, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Growblox Sci-
ences, Inc., which is spearheading the technology..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 20, 2016

MAN CONVICTED FOR CARJACKINGS AND MURDER

From US Attorney's Office:

Today, Carmelo Velázquez-Aponte a.k.a. “Boty,” was found guilty of four
carjackings, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence
(carjacking), and possession of a stolen firearm...According to the testimony
on June 18, 2011, the defendant stole the licensed firearm belonging to Rich-
ardson Mieses-Pimental and his vehicle, and then executed him. After that
event, Velázquez-Aponte committed other carjackings. During his attempt to
escape his arrest on June 20, 2011, he also stole a police officer’s gun and shot
a Police officer. The defendant also stole a police cruiser and engaged in two
other shootouts with police officers, until he was arrested. The defendant fired
the stolen weapons at the police officers..."

PREPA CUTS POWER AT HOUSING PROJECTS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"In keeping with the eff ort to collect unpaid bills, the Public Housing
Administration (AVP by its Spanish acronym) announced Monday that
during the past week electrical service has been suspended to clients in
public housing projects in the regions of Mayagüez, Arecibo, Caguas
and Ponce. The AVP also announced that more than 30,000 public hou-
sing residents are late in paying their electricity bills. The heavily indeb-
ted Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) said nearly 170 cus-
tomers were affected by Monday’s action..."

UPR PROFESSOR SKEPTICAL OF NALED SPRAYING

From Caribbean Business:


"The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has exaggerated the risk levels
associated with the Zika virus to justify the aerial spraying of the insecti-
cide Naled over Puerto Rico, a University of Puerto Rico (UPR) profes-
sor said Tuesday. Cruz María Nazario, a professor in the Department of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Puerto Rico Medical
Sciences campus, accused the CDC of a lack of scientific rigorousness,
following CDC statements that allegedly overstate the risk for pregnant
women with the Zika virus of having babies with microcephaly. “The le-
vel of risk that has been employed to put fear in communities is wrong,”
said the UPR professor during a press conference in which other academ-
ics and politicians discussed the dangers of Naled, a substance that has
been banned for several years in the European Union..."

PIERLUISI: TASK FORCE CHAIR TO BE NAMED

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner in Washington, Pedro Pierluisi, said
Tuesday that U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan could name the lawmaker who
will steer the work of the Puerto Rico Congressional Task Force this week.
With that person in place, the Task Force created by the Puerto Rico Oversi-
ght,  Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) will begin wor-
king in a more formal manner, he said. The eight Congressional lawmakers
who will sit on the Task Force — Pierluisi, Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ),
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Sen. Marco Rubio
(R-FL), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Sen. Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), and Sen.
Bill Nelson (D-FL) — were announced last week, and have been communi-
cating informally since, Pierluisi added..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 13, 2016

200K ZIKA CASES POSSIBLE BY YEAR END

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The committee created by the Puerto Rico government to confront the Zika
virus reported Monday that more than 200,000 cases of people infected with
the virus could be registered by the end of the year. According to island State
Department Epidemiologist Brenda Rivera, a drastic increase in the pattern of
infection of the virus has been noted in recent weeks. According to the most re-
cent report, an increase of 30 percent in cases have been reported..."

S&P CUTS PRASA DEBT RATING

From Caribbean Business:

"S&P Global Ratings lowered its ratings on Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer
Authority’s (Prasa) series 2008 and 2012 senior-lien revenue bonds two not-
ches to ‘CC’ from ‘CCC-‘. The outlook is negative. At the same time, it low-
ered to ‘D’ from ‘CCC-‘ the rating on Prasa’s obligations that also carry a Co-
mmonwealth of Puerto Rico guarantee, as well as those obligations that are co-
mmonwealth-supported. It removed the ratings from CreditWatch, where they
were placed with  negative implications on Aug. 18, 2015..."

TOURISM BOOKINGS UP 6% THIS SUMMER

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Tourism Co.’s fourth annual “Summer is Easy” promotion
is outpacing last summer’s bookings, generating a 6 percent rise in participa-
ting partner room night sales in May and a 7 percent rise in June, versus the
same months in 2015, the agency said Monday. Comparatively, bookings thr-
ough “Summer is Easy” partner Expedia are currently 9.7 percent above 2015
bookings. The promotion highlights how travel to Puerto Rico has never been
easier — no passport is required for U.S. citizens, more than 70 direct flights
from the U.S. to Puerto Rico daily — and how many things there are to do on
the island..."

SAMSUNG PAY NOW AVAILABLE IN PR 

From Banking Technology:

"Samsung Pay will support eligible credit cards from Banco Popular, Puerto
Rico’s largest bank, and will be available on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Cla-
ro networks in Puerto Rico. The firm says Samsung Pay is the “only” mobile
wallet that allows users to pay with their compatible Samsung smartphones at
terminals, due to both MST (magnetic secure transmission) and NFC (near fie-
ld communications) technologies.Thomas Ko, vice-president and global co-ge-
neral manager of Samsung Pay at Samsung Electronics, says users can shop in
Puerto Rico right from their phones at retail chains and independent businesses..."

First Case of Zika-Related Microcephaly Reported In Puerto Rico

Caribbean Business


SAN JUAN – Puerto Rico Health Secretary Ana Ríus announced Friday
the first local case of microcephaly, a severe birth defect in which babies
are born with abnormally small heads. The unborn fetus’ condition inclu-
ded severe calcification and enlargement of the brain lobes and the pres-
ence of the Zika virus. The analysis was conducted by the Health Depart-
ment “on the product of an unconcluded pregnancy.” The virus was not
found in the pregnant woman’s body...[CONTINUE READING]

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 11, 2016

RIUS ENCOURAGES CONDOMS FOR ZIKA

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Health Secretary Ana Ríus insisted Tuesday on the use of condoms to pre-
vent infection by the Zika virus and added that she does not endorse San
Juan Archbishop Roberto González’s comments made earlier in the day re-
jecting the use of contraceptives to prevent the spread of the dangerous vi-
rus. “I am very Catholic, but I have to differ with the Archbishop,” Ríus said.
“You must use condoms and it is recommended  by the Centers for Disease
Control [CDC] and the Health Department that pregnant women use condoms
as well, and any person who has the virus needs to use condoms,” Ríus said
in an interview with Radio Isla..."

NPP SEN. WARNS SANDERS CAMPAIGN OVER SOVEREIGNTY

From Caribbean Business:

"Sen. Carmelo Ríos is warning presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders’ campaign
about the support it is receiving from Puerto Rico sectors of the Popular Demo-
cratic Party (PDP) that seek sovereignty. Specifically, Ríos referred to the en-
dorsements of Rep. Manuel Natal, Rep. Luis Vega Ramos and Sen. Maritere
González, who he said have campaigned and supported legislation against hol-
ding presidential primaries in Puerto Rico. Ríos said he will contact Sanders’
campaign team in Washington to inform it that if it counts on the support of
those PDP sectors, he would campaign with pro-statehooders against his pre-
sidential candidacy..."

RETAIL SALES 3% DROP IN OCTOBER 2015

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico retail sales for the month of October 2015 — the most recent
available from the government — showed a 3 percent drop in comparison to
the same month in 2014, to $3.1 billion. In its latest report, Puerto Rico Trade
and Export confirmed the island’s activity shrank by $96.7 million in October
in comparison to the $3.2 billion on record for October 2014. The establishments
showing the biggest sales drops were gasoline stations (-18.2 percent), jewelry
stores (-5.6 percent), electronics stores (-4.03 percent) and hardware stores
(-3.02 percent), said agency Executive Director Francisco Chévere..."

MAN GOES TO COPS WITH BODY, CONFESSES MURDER 

From Virgin Islands Daily News:

"Authorities in Puerto Rico say a man drove a dead passenger to a police station
and confessed to killing him. Police in the popular tourist town of Rincon said
Wednesday that 28-year-old Juan Gabriel Camacho said he argued with the vic-
tim before allegedly shooting him. Police did not identify the victim but said he
was a 46-year-old government employee..."

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 January 28, 2016

MORE ZIKA CASES CONFIRMED IN PR

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"[Health Secretary Ana Rius] said cases of the mosquito-borne illness Zika
are also on the rise. Since the first case of the disease with its origins in
Africa was reported in Puerto Rico in December, an additional 17 cases have
been confirmed mostly in southeast part of the island. None of the cases in-
volve pregnant women, Ríus said, according to an AP report, adding that the
Health Department was taking preventive measures against the mosquito-
borne virus, which has been linked to serious birth defects, and was prepa-
red to conduct future testing as more suspected cases are expected in the
future..."

PREPA REVITALIZATION ACT DEADLINE EXTENDED

From Caribbean Business:

"The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) announced late Wednesday
that it has entered into an amended restructuring support agreement (RSA)
with the Ad Hoc Group of Prepa bondholders, comprising municipal bond in-
vestors and hedge funds, its fuel line lenders, the monoline insurers and the Go-
vernment Development Bank. Prepa also entered into an amended bond purcha-
se agreement with the Ad Hoc Group and the monoline insurers. The amended
agreement, which includes agreements with holders of approximately 70% of
Prepa’s financial debt, extended the deadline to enact the Prepa Revitalization
Act to Feb. 16..."

DEM LAWMAKERS PRESS FOR PR ACTION

From News Is My Business:

"U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Ener-

gy and Natural Resources Committee, along with Minority Leader Harry Reid 

and 44 other Democrats and Independents in the Senate, wrote to Leader Mitch 

McConnell urging bipartisan, legislative action to give Puerto Rico access to 

the appropriate financial restructuring tools. “Puerto Rico is facing severe eco-

nomic, fiscal and liquidity challenges that are placing immediate and growing 

hardships on the island’s 3.5 million U.S.-citizen residents,” the group of law-

makers said in the letter..."

RICKY MARTIN TO GET  STAR ON WALK OF FAME

From Latin Post:

"Puerto Rican music superstar Ricky Martin will be receiving a star on the 

Walk of Fame in Puerto Rico on Feb. 3. According to People en Español, the 

44-year-old singer is the latest Puerto Rican entertainer to be given the honor.

"We continue paying homage to those figures that have given name to our land," 

said Santiago Villar, chairman of the board of the Walk of Fame of Puerto Rico, 

Inc. "We are really pleased that Ricky Martin can give continuity to this project 

which, I believe, can continue until we fulfill our objective of the first phase, 

which consists of the unveiling of 40 stars..."

TWO INDICTED FOR MAIL FRAUD

From US Attorney's Office:

"A Federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned a twenty-three 

count indictment against Oscar Ferrer (“Ferrer”) and Jonathan A. Rivera-Pa-

dilla (“Rivera-Padilla”) charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 

mail fraud, and monetary transactions in property derived from specified un-

lawful activity announced Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, United States Attor-

ney for the District of Puerto Rico. The United States Postal Inspection Service 

(“USPIS”) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) are in charge of the in-

vestigation. The indictment was unsealed today following the arrest of Ferrer 

in Florida and Rivera-Padilla in Puerto Rico.

These charges resulted from a Ponzi scheme originating in the Cabo Rojo area 

of Puerto Rico and involving the payment of approximately $5.7 million to cor-

porations operated by Ferrer in Puerto Rico and Florida. The corporations, inclu-

ding Reco Financial, Inc., National Western HIA, Inc., and CGB Financial, Inc., 

were utilized to receive victim’s purported investment deposits and to disburse 

the funds to Ferrer and Rivera-Padilla for their own personal use..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 20, 2016

NO ANGLES RULED OUT IN PROSECUTOR MURDER

From Caribbean Business:

"The Justice Department’s chief prosecutor, José Capó, is not ruling out
any angles in the investigation into the murder of Prosecutor Francelis
Ortiz Pagán, who was killed Tuesday morning when she arrived at her
home in Río Grande...Pagán Ortiz’s death occurred at around 1:30 a.m.
Capó said in a radio interview (WAPA) that the prosecutor received se-
veral bullet wounds while in her vehicle. The chief prosecutor said no
angle is being ruled out and that all the cases she had been working on
are being investigated. Capó explained that upon hearing the gunshots,
Fermín Arraiza came out of the house and fired at the attackers when he
saw his wife wounded. He then took her to the University of Puerto Rico
Hospital in Carolina. She was brought in dead..."

PUERTO RICO ON ZIKA WARNING LIST

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico was among the 14 countries included in a warning issued by
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta over the presence of the
mosquitoborne Zika virus. The first case of Zika in Puerto Rico was recor-
ded in December. A second case of a woman possibly infected in the Ca-
guas region has been detected. The symptoms developed after the woman
returned from a visit to New York. The CDC, which issued a level 2 or
“enhanced precaution” alert emphasized that the risk was greatest among
pregnant women or women who are trying to become pregnant..."

CONGRESS TO HOLD ANOTHER PR HEARING

From News Is My Business:

"The Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs of the U.S.
House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Jan. 26, to ana-
lyze Puerto Rico’s fiscal crisis. It will be the seventh hearing on the Common-
wealth in recent months. Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi
said Tuesday he expects a legislative package for Puerto Rico will likely be
unveiled after the hearing entitled “The need for the establishment of a Puer-
to Rico financial stability and economic growth authority...”

EMPLOYEES HAVE MORE SICK LEAVE OPTIONS

From JDSUPRA:

"Effective December 31, 2015, all employers in Puerto Rico with at least 16
employees must allow eligible employees to use up to 5 paid sick leave days
to care for an ill spouse, parent, or child. Eligible employees are those covered
by the Puerto Rico Minimum Wage, Vacation, and Sick Leave Act (i.e., non-
exempt employees and outside salespersons). This new leave is also available
to care for the following ill individuals who are under the caregiver’s legal cus-
tody or guardianship: minors, persons who are 60 years of age or older, and dis-
abled individuals..."

Zika Virus Reaches Puerto Rico

From Latin Post:


Earlier this month, news broke out that the Zika virus which cause micro-
cephaly in newborn babies reached Puerto Rico. As per Inquisitr, Puerto
Rico's representative in congress, Pedro Pierluisi released a statement re-
garding Zika fever.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first Zika
virus case in Puerto Rico. The said virus already infested Puerto Rico's neigh-
boring countries such as Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Paragu-
ay and Mexico. Puerto Rico's Health Secretary, Ana Rius, was the one who
confirmed that the Zika virus that hit the Puerto Rican victim was acquired
from a local mosquito after a thorough investigation considering the fact that
the patient has not traveled recently.

As per Pierluisi, though the virus may have reached Puerto Rico, residents
should not panic as it is only a single case. He did however warn the public
to make necessary precautions such as wearing long pants and using insect
repellents...[CONTINUE READING]

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..."