Puerto Rico News Digest For June 1, 2015

48 HOUR RATIONING BEING CONTEMPLATED

As reported today by El Nuevo Dia, Alberto Lázaro, the President of AAA,
the island's water company, will be meeting this week with leadership from
the National Weather Service to determine if the water rationing plan currently
in effect for water customers being served by the Carraízo reservoir will be ex-
tended from 24 to 48 hours. Under the current plan, water service is cut off to
affected areas for 24 hours at a time, every other day. Carraízo did not receive
enough water from the recent rains that passed over much of Puerto Rico. The
reservoir's level stood at 36.78 meters this morning. Several other reservoirs
around the island also registered level decreases over the weekend, although it
is not expected that rationing will be instituted more widely for the time being.
No major rain is expected this week.

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS TODAY

Today, June 1st, marks the official beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The season runs from today until November 30, and according to forecasters,

should be a less active one than normal, with six to eleven named storms ex-

pected to form. The hurricane names for this season will be: Ana, Bill, Clau-

dette, Danny, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, 

Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose ,Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda.

ROOF COLLAPSE IN MIRAMAR CONDO

From Caribbean Business:

Nearly two dozen people have been evacuated from their condominiums in 

Miramar after a 600 gallon to 1,000 gallon water tank collapsed through resi-

dential building La Alhambra's roof. There were no immediate reports of any 

deaths or significant injuries.

NORWEGIAN AIRLINES LAUNCHES PR FLIGHTS

From Caribbean Journal:

Norwegian Airlines is planning to launch a new flight between London's Gat-

wick and the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, the company announced. The 

flight will also be among the cheapest to the Caribbean from Europe — just 

about £269, or about $411 USD, one-way. The London-Puerto Rico flights 

will launch Nov. 4 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

PR ECONOMIC GROWTH AT -1.3% IN FY 15

From News Is My Business:

Puerto Rico Planning Board President Luis García-Pelatti told lawmakers 

over the weekend that the island will experience negative economic growth 

of 1.3 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively in Fiscal 2015 and 2016, when 

the scenario is looked at from a pessimistic point of view. However, he also 

offered a positive panorama in which Puerto Rico’s Gross National Product 

would reflect a lesser drop of -0.5 percent in Fiscal 2015, and a 0.8 percent 

growth in Fiscal 2016.

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 January 13, 2015

DOMINICAN PRESIDENT LANDS IN PR

The President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, arrived at
Muñiz Air Base in Carolina this morning for  an official visit during
which he will sign several  cooperation agreements with Puerto Rico
Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla. President Medina is accompanied
by his wife Cándida Montilla and twelve Dominican government
ministers. After reception activities are concluded, the Governor and
President will meet at the Governor's mansion, and Dominican ministers
will meet with their Puerto Rican counterparts at the Convention Center.
At 2:00 PM, Secretary of State David Bernier and Dominican Foreign
Minister Andres Navarro will present both leaders with the accomplish-
ments of the Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic Joint Commission,
which was set up last October. The leaders will then give a speech
regarding the agreements. At 3:30PM, the Jose MiguelAgrelot Coliseum
will host a cultural festival featuring musical performances.

LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS ASSISTED SUICIDE

From The San Juan Daily Star:


A bill that was recently introduced in the island House
would open the door to allow for physician-assisted suicide
for terminally ill patients. The legislation filed by Rep.
Ángel Matos, who was inspired by the case of Brittany Maynard,
a terminally ill cancer patient who died last November at age
29 through a process of assisted suicide permitted by the
laws of the State of Oregon.  House Bill 2258 would create the
“Act on Assistance for a dignified death for terminally ill
patients.” “This is a law that will off er an option and is
not something that will be imposed,” Matos said.

NEW AIRLINE TO FLY FROM FL TO PR

From Naples News:


Sun Country Airlines will begin nonstop service between Southwest
Florida International Airport and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín
International Airport in Puerto Rico with two weekly flights
beginning May 3, Lee County Port Authority officials said Monday.

CAPTAIN AMERICA MOVIE TO FILM IN PR

From Inquisitr:


Comic Book Resources is reporting that Anthony Mackie, who is
reprising his role as the Falcon in Captain America 3: Civil War
from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, told a radio station
in Chicago of the locations the movie will be filming at.

“We start shooting in April, so it’s going to a lot of flying
and fighting for about five months,” said the actor, who will
be suiting up to reprise the role of Sam Wilson/Falcon.

Mackie revealed to the listening audience that the cast and crew
would be traveling to Berlin, Puerto Rico, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Mackie will join Chris Evans as Captain America and Robert
Downey Jr. as Iron Man.