Puerto Rico News Digest For January 7, 2016

LICENSES OK FOR TRAVEL TILL OCTOBER

The US Department of Homeland Security has granted Puerto Rico an
extension to meet the requirements of the 2005 Real ID act, giving tra-
velers until October 10th of this year to continue using Puerto Rico dri-
ver's licenses as a valid form of ID for air travel. All other federal agen-
cies will also continue to accept commonwealth driver's licenses as va-
lid ID until that date. The Real ID act seeks to create secure and  uni-
form identification cards in order to stymie terrorism, identity fraud and
other crimes. Puerto Rican travelers had become concerned when it had
recently been announced that Puerto Rico driver's licenses wouldn't be
accepted as valid ID at airports after January 10th.

FEW ATTEND FORTALEZA THREE KING'S PARTY

From Caribbean Business:

The low public attendance at the Three Kings fiesta organized by La For-
taleza in the municipality of Utuado ended with a lot of volleyballs, bas-
ketballs and footballs ready to be given as gifts during the holiday activi-
ty to remain in their plastic bags. Although several small children and ado-
lescents were carrying toys, various stacks of toys were left in their bags
in the Utuado sports complex. At the beginning of the event Wednesday
morning, some people came, but shortly after noon it began to rain and the
activity concluded..."

BANKRUPTCIES UP IN DECEMBER BY 5% 

From News Is My Business:

"Bankruptcy filings were up 5 percent year-over-year in December 2015,
when the number of Chapter 11 cases on record soared by 385 percent when
compared to the same month last year, according to preliminary figures relea-
sed Monday by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico. A total of 881 cases were
filed during the month, representing 42 more cases when compared to Decem-
ber 2014..."

PR POLICE DEFENDS PROTOCOL AFTER SHOOTING

From Yahoo! News:

Puerto Rico's police chief says a policeman accused of fatally shooting three
officers at work underwent two psychological exams before his weapon was
returned. Jose Caldero says Guarionex Candelario passed both exams before
his gun was returned in January 2015. Candelario was charged with first-de-
gree murder in the Dec. 28 shootings and remains in jail on an $11 million
bond. He had been disarmed for 10 years while undergoing psychological
treatment..."

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 April 6, 2015

WOMAN GUNNED DOWN IN PIÑONES

A 37-year-old woman identified as Nixalis Suárez of  Cataño, died
Sunday afternoon at Centro Medico while being treated for injuries
suffered during a shooting. The incident occured on road PR-187 in
the Piñones area of the town of Loíza, as her and another female were
driving down the road near several food and beverage stands. An un-
identified assailant shot into their gray Honda Accord. The other
woman in the car was treated for superficial injuries and is reportedly
in stable condition, as reported by El Nuevo Día.

TWO DEAD IN CRUISE SHIP MURDER-SUICIDE

From UPI:

Authorities suspect a murder-suicide after an unidentified couple from
Cleveland, Ohio, was found dead in the cabin of  a cruise ship in Puerto
Rico on Thursday. Cleaning staff  discovered the middle-aged couple in
their blood-soaked stateroom at 11:30 a.m. after the MS Ryndam stopped
in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during a 14-day Southern Caribbean cruise that
began in Tampa, Fla., on March 29.

EPA GIVES PR SITES ENERGY CERTIFICATION

From Caribbean Business:

Merck, known as MSD outside the U.S. mainland and Canada, announ-
ced Monday that it has received an Energy Star 2015 Partner of the Year –
Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for its “continued improvement of energy performance
and leadership in energy management in both the pharmaceutical and
industrial sectors.” Energy Star is an EPA program in which a product,
building or home is independently certified to use less energy and emi-
ssions. Merck is a healthcare company that offers prescription medi-
cines,  vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products in more
than 140 countries.

SAN JUAN AIRPORT NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA

From News Is My Business:

Looking to keep up with the prevalence of technology and the wides-
pread use of smartphones and social media channels as a form of commu-
nication, the operators of the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
recently opened accounts on Facebook and Twitter to keep passengers,
the airport community and the general public informed. News, events and
developments that occur in the airport facility will  be posted online,
@AeropuertoSJU and on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/Aeropuerto
SJU.

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 25, 2015

PR RESIDENTS SUE PREPA FOR FRAUD

From Reuters:

Local residents and businesses sued Puerto Rico's Electric Power
Authority (PREPA) in federal court on Tuesday, alleging fraud
in the fuel oil procurement process that plaintiffs said resulted
in island residents being overcharged by more than $1 billion.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico accuses PREPA,
one of the largest U.S. public utilities, of taking kickbacks to
accept millions of barrels of fuel oil from suppliers that did
not meet contract requirements or federal environmental standards.

"As a result of this scheme, PREPA overpaid its fuel suppliers
for fuel oil and passed through the entire cost of the non-
compliant fuel oil to plaintiffs," the lawsuit alleged. The
lawsuit covers oil purchases since 2002.

FAJARDO AIRPORT TO CLOSE PERMANENTLY

From Caribbean Business:

On January 21, 2015, PRPA, sponsor of Diego Jimenez Torres Airport,
informed the Federal Aviation administration (FAA) that the airport
will close permanently on April 30, 2015. Diego Jimenez Torres is
a small 94-acre non-towered, general aviation airport.

DORAL OFFICIAL ARRESTED FOR FRAUD

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Federal authorities on Monday morning arrested a Doral Bank
official and an executive whose company contracts with the
bank on charges of financial institution fraud, misapplication
of bank funds, wire fraud and money laundering. U.S. Attorney
for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez announced
Monday that last week a federal grand jury returned a 30-count
indictment charging Annelise Figueroa and Rolando Rivera Solis.
The FBI is in charge of the criminal investigation,Rodríguez
said. According to the indictment, Figueroa was an employee of
Doral Bank and vice president of the Property and Facilities
Department.

FIVE MORE STORES FOR MALL OF SAN JUAN

From News Is My Business:

Camicissima Milano, Geox Shoes, Invicta Watches, Diventi Bella,
and T-Mobile are the five most recent retailers adding their
names to The Mall of San Juan’s tenant mix, this media outlet
learned Tuesday. That drives the number of confirmed retailers
to just short of three dozen.