Puerto Rico News Digest For August 11, 2016

GOV'T TO HAVE FISCAL PLAN READY FOR BOARD

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla confirmed Tuesday that his admi-
nistration will have a new fiscal plan ready shortly after the federal fiscal over-
sight board is “appointed and operational.” The seven-member board, which is
a component of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stabil-
ity Act (PROMESA), should be appointed by Sept. 15, when the García-Padilla
administration expects to “hit the ground running in complying with PROME-
SA’s requirements,” he said speaking to reporters and experts who took part in
a special one-day seminar entitled “What’s next for Puerto Rico?” hosted by the
Ravitch Fiscal Reporting Program at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
in Manhattan..."

MAN MURDERED IN CANOVANAS

Police are investigating the murder of a man whose bullet-riddled body was
found Wednesday morning in the San Isidro district of  Canóvanas. Police fo-
und the deceased man on Calle #1 at around 5:09 AM yesterday. He has been
described as dark-skinned and approximately 30 to 35 years of age. At the time
of this writing, he was yet to be identified.

NPP BLASTS BERNIER OVER PERFORMANCE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"For the second consecutive day, the leadership of the New Progressive Party
(NPP) has fi red its canons against the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) candi-
date David Bernier considering him unqualified “for his lack of capacity as se-
cond in command.” “The poor performance and the lack of ability to achieve
results characterize the record of David Bernier in his governmental work and
it is the best example of the negligence with which Puerto Rico has been gov-
erned,” said Miguel Romero, NPP Senate candidate for the district of San Juan..."

COLISEUM OF PR ANNOUNCES RECORD YEAR

From Caribbean Business:

"SMG, manager of the Coliseo of Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot, announ-
ced fiscal 2015-2016 as one of the most successful years in the 12 years of its
existence. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016, Coliseo de Puerto Rico hos-
ted 103 events, which accounted for a total attendance of more than 700,000
guests and more than $35 million in gross ticket sales. The Coliseo de Puerto
Rico is ranked #13th in the world in Pollstar’s mid-year 2016 rankings of Top
100 arenas worldwide..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 3, 2016

DUMPS HELP PROPAGATE ZIKA MOSQUITOS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The Zika epidemic has rapidly expanded in Puerto Rico but the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) still refuses to close out-of-compliance land-
fills that are cauldrons of cultivation for mosquitoes that could transmit the dis-
ease. This makes the federal agency partly responsible for the rapid propagati-
on of the epidemic, said the community group Puerto Rico Limpio. The Puer-
to Rico Health Department announced last Friday that the number of Zika ca-
ses had taken off to nearly 7,300 with more than 1,700 reported in one day in
July. Despite a citizens’ campaign for several months demanding that the EPA
close municipal landfills that have not complied with federal laws for more
than a decade, the agency has refused to take measures..."

     

CIDRE PROPOSES FISCAL RESTRUCTURING PLAN

From Caribbean Business:

"Entrepreneur Manuel Cidre presented Tuesday a restructuring plan for Puer-
to Rico that includes consolidating the island’s 78 municipalities into eight re-
gions to achieve depoliticization and increase efficiency by eliminating dupli-
cate efforts and services. The independent gubernatorial candidate said his pl-
an can achieve a $340 million savings, or about $100 million more than the go-
vernment’s annual contribution to municipalities for their operation. His propo-
sal, he added, is based on scientific evidence obtained through local talent who
have studied the matter of restructuring of the government..."

BACO CONFIRMED AS INTERIM GDP PREZ

From News Is My Business:

"Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Alberto Bacó will take on
an additional role in Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla’s cabinet effective Monday,
when he started as acting President of the Government Development Bank. The
Board of Directors of the GDB approved the appointment unanimously on Sun-
day afternoon. Bacó’s incursion into the GDB is not new, given that part of his
role at Economic Development has called for sitting on the GDB’s board since
2013..."

PR CERTIFIES FIRST CANNABIS DOCTOR

From Culture Magazine:

"Dr. Michael Soler is the first medical doctor on the island of Puerto Rico to get
licensed to prescribe patients medical cannabis. In order to legally obtain medical
cannabis, patients must have at least one of 14 qualifying conditions, which inclu-
de Alzheimer’s, cancer, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, HIV, migraines, persistent mus-
cle spasms, severe nausea, etc.  It was by coincidence Dr. Soler became the first doc-
tor permitted to prescribe cannabis to patients. He stated in an interview that his in-
volvement as a trailblazing cannabis doctor, “was a coincidence...I completed all my
requirements and submitted all my documents in a timely manner and I became the
first one..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 27, 2016

LEW URGES SENATE TO CONSIDER PROMESA

From Caribbean Business:

"U.S. Secretary Jacob Lew has sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch 

Mc Connell regarding the debt crisis in Puerto Rico. Lew says that if H.R. 5278, 

the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (Promesa) 

is not considered, the island’s looming July 1 default could trigger lawsuits that, 

if  “successful, a judge could immediately order Puerto Rico to pay creditors 

over essential services such as health, education, and public safety...”

SJ PRIDE MARCH REMEMBERS ORLANDO VICTIMS

From Fox News Latino:

"Thousands of people turned out on Sunday for the annual Gay Pride March
in San Juan, where special remembrance was paid to the victims of the Orlan-
do nightclub massacre, almost half of whom were of Puerto Rican heritage. "I
lost two friends, two brothers, Martin (Benitez Torees) and Jimmy de Jesus (Ve-
lazquez)," Boriquen Memorial funeral home spokesperson Serbella Tejeda said
after the establishment had offered its services gratis to the families of the 23
Puerto Ricans who died in the shooting at the Pulse nightclub..."

ISLAND GOP BACKS STATUS VOTE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The Puerto Rico Republican Party approved a resolution supporting the hol-
ding of a referendum on the island’s status issue in which voters will choose
among two decolonization options: statehood or independence, and that it be
held together with the Nov. 8 general elections, local party president Jenniffer
González announced Thursday..."

AGP SUSPENDS INFRASTRUCTURE PAYMENTS

From Reuters:

"Puerto Rican Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla late on Friday declared a sus-
pension of any payments on some debt issued by the U.S. territory's infrastruc-
ture financing authority, citing the authority granted under a local emergency de-
bt moratorium law. Garcia Padilla signed an executive order that applies to "cer-
tain Puerto Rico Financing Authority (PRIFA) notes," a statement from the gov-
ernment said..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 27, 2016

PROMESA ADVANCES TO HOUSE FLOOR

From News Is My Business:

"The PROMESA Act (H.R. 5278), the bill aimed to address Puerto Rico’s
debt crisis, passed in the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Wednes-
day with bipartisan support from lawmakers. The final vote tally was 29 in fa-
vor and 10 opposed. Of the 24 Republicans on the Committee that voted, 14 --
or nearly 60 percent — voted “yes.” Of the 16 Democrats on the Committee that
voted, 15 voted “yes” and one voted “present.”..The measure was approved with
amendments that Pierluisi said will “strengthen the bill or are technical  in nature...”

PREPA RATE INCREASE SPARKS OUTRAGE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico’s heavily indebted electric company announced Tuesday that it is
seeking a more than 20 percent increase in the island’s already high power bills,
sparking outrage among many who note the agency faces numerous corruption
allegations. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) said the increa-
se would allow it to keep operating and help boost its dwindling liquidity. Offic-
ials said the additional revenue also would let the company restructure its $9 bill-
ion debt load, reduce its dependence on petroleum and renovate obsolete infras-
tructure..."

SENATE OVERRIDES GOVERNOR'S TAX VETOES

From Caribbean Business:

"The Senate on Thursday agreed to override Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla’s
veto on the bill that would repeal the hike to the business-to-business (B2B)
tax and the value-added tax (VAT) or IVA in Spanish. The B2B was slated to
go into effect next week. The lawmakers’ decision was made in part because
of a request made by Popular Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate David
Bernier..."

US SWIMMING DUMPS PR OVER ZIKA

From Tribu Magazine:

"Frank Busch, the U.S. national team director, sent out a letter Thursday to all
national team athletes and coaches telling them of the change. The camp will
now be held in Atlanta instead of Puerto Rico in late July. "As part of our prepa-
rations for the Olympic Games this summer, we have been closely monitoring the
current situation with the Zika virus", Busch wrote in his letter, which was obtai-
ned by The Associated Press...The U.S. team is still scheduled to hold a training
camp in San Antonio from July 11-21..."

___________________________________________________________________


The Puerto Rico Monitor will be on break for the Memorial Day holiday until 
Wednesday, June 1st. See you then and have a great weekend.

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 24, 2016

VOTE ON CONTROL BOARD TOMORROW

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee confir-
med that it will hold a hearing Wednesday to vote on legislation that impo-
ses a fiscal control board on Puerto Rico. In an official statement issued late
last week by the committee chaired by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), the comm-
ittee established that it would begin the mark-up of the bill on Tuesday at 5
p.m. and the process would extend until Wednesday between 10 a.m. and
12:30 p.m., according to a report by CyberNews..."

'LOS LOBOS' GANGSTERS CAUGHT NEAR MEX BORDER

From Breitbart:

"Two members of a dangerous Puerto Rican gang that operates in a manner
similar to a drug cartel  have been arrested near the Texas border. Federal au-
thorities recently arrested Carlos E.  “El Negro” Carrion Nieves and Orlando
“Elvin” Martinez Nunez near this border city. The two men are named in a six-
count federal indictment out of Puerto Rico, accusing 17 members of the group
with multiple crimes in furtherance of the criminal organization. While federal
authorities do not refer to the Puerto Rican criminal organization as a cartel, a
close look at the indictment reveals that their method of operation is very simi-
lar to those used by drug cartels in Mexico..."

SAN JUAN MAYOR GETS 'F' ON FINANCES

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico Comptroller Yesmín Valdivieso blasted San Juan Mayor Car-
men Yulín Cruz on Monday, giving a grade of “F” to the mayor’s handling
of the capital city’s finances and refuting the mayor’s claims of having a sur-
plus in the municipal coffers. During an AM news radio interview in Notiuno
630, Valdivieso said that Cruz had earned a failing grade because “she is car-
rying a debt of [around] $888 million as of June 2014.” The comptroller added
that the mayor’s claims of a surplus were “not real because the so-called surplus
is the result of a loan...”

GOVERNOR PITCHES $9.1 BILLION BUDGET

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla on Monday unveiled a proposed
budget for Fiscal 2017 of $9.1 billion, down $700 million from the original
budget that was approved last year and $192 million less than the adjusted cu-
rrent budget. The proposed budget — which must be approved by the Legisla-
ture by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year — is based on an actual pro-
jection of revenues and includes a reduction in the government’s operating ex-
penses of nearly $3 billion, compared with the last spending budget filed by
the previous administration..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 19, 2016

AGP DECLARES ROAD AGENCY EMERGENCY

From ABC News:

"Puerto Rico's governor on Wednesday again used a state of emergency 

decree to protect one of the island's struggling public agencies from law

-suits and preserve dwindling liquidity as the U.S. Congress works on a 

bill to restructure the island's $70 billion public debt. The order allows Pu-

erto Rico's Highways and Transportation Authority to suspend the transfer 

of toll revenues to bondholders and imposes a stay on legal claims, Gov. 

Alejandro Garcia Padilla said. That will allow the government to pay con-

tractors and avoid paralyzing safety and improvement projects, he said..."

TOWNS WASTE $35M ON VANITY PROJECTS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The Office of the Comptroller said Tuesday that in a period of six years
more than $35 million has been squandered in municipal works and proj-
ects that are not used by the public. The data comes from 35 different si-
tuations in 17 municipalities between 2011 and 2016, according to Inter
News Service. In the municipalities of Culebra, Luquillo, Naranjito and
Vieques, $27.3 million was spent for activity centers, and in Aibonito,
Culebra, Peñuelas, Rincón and Río Grande, $2.3 million was spent for
recreation areas, and in Gurabo, Santa Isabel and Vega Baja, $1.2 million
was spent for the installation of monuments, structures and bronze plaques..."

BILL CLINTON STUMPS FOR WIFE IN PR

From Caribbean Business:

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton promised Puerto Ricans on Tuesday
that his wife, Hillary Clinton, will fight for equal treatment of the econo-
mically struggling island if she’s elected president. He also said she backs
immediate action to restructure the island’s $70 billion public debt as the
local government warns it is running out of money for essential services...
Clinton visited the island ahead of the June 5 primary, and officials say the
Democratic presidential candidate herself will come before the vote. Verm-
ont Sen. Bernie Sanders visited on Monday..."

PR LOSES MAJOR CONVENTION TO ZIKA

From News Is My Business:

"The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) conf-
irmed Tuesday the cancellation of its upcoming convention slated to take pla-
ce in San Juan, due to concerns related to the Zika virus, Akram Atallah, first
president of ICANN’s global domains division, said. It is the second consecu-
tive event the organization in charge of coordinating the maintenance and pro-
cedures of several databases related to the namespaces of the internet has relo-
cated this year over the mosquito-borne ailment. Earlier this year, ICANN ann-
ounced it was moving the ICANN56 convention from Panama City, Panama,
to Helsinki, Finland..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 12, 2016

AGP MEETS WITH CREDITORS IN NYC

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla met with a group of unidenti-
fied advisors to the Commonwealth’s creditors to communicate, first hand,
the need for Puerto Rico reach a broad restructuring of its $70 billion public
debt to sustainable levels, his office said Tuesday. At the meetings, the go-
vernor emphasized that Puerto Rico is only willing to accept agreements lea-
ding to “sustainable long-term restructuring that will result in economic gr-
owth for the island...”

US HOUSE BILL ON PR FACES DELAYS

From Reuters:

"Republicans on a U.S. House of Representatives panel said they were ma-
king progress on a Puerto Rico debt relief bill that will take the same basic
approach as an earlier failed version, despite cancelling plans to unveil new
legislation on Wednesday...House Democratic leadership now expects legis-
lation from the committee before the end of the week. Competing forces have
fought over the bill and raised concerns that creditor rights and long-establi-
shed municipal bond market hierarchy would be set aside in a broader plan to
fix Puerto Rico's festering debt problems that have resulted in a breakdown in
the island's social services..."

NPP REP WANTS PROBE OF JETBLUE DELAYS

From Caribbean Business:

"New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Uroyoán Hernández announced Wednes-
day that he filed a resolution seeking to investigate the complaints of several
JetBlue passengers about the allegedly constant delays of the airliner’s flights
departing from the Puerto Rico capital. “During the past few weeks, we’ve
heard dozens of Puerto Ricans who’ve made their voices heard,” Hernández
said. “Whole families have had to wait for hours in the airport terminal ascri-
bed to JetBlue...because there are no pilots available and they must be flown
in from Orlando, Florida, or due to a mechanical failure in the plane. There’s
always an excuse...”

GOVERNOR SAYS BUDGET READY 'SOON'

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla said Tuesday that the budget for the next fis-
cal year “is being worked on in a responsible way” and that it will be delive-
red to the Legislature “soon.” In a written statement distributed by La Forta-
leza, the governor said he is “close” to presenting the budget to the Legisla-
ture. The statement came after Senate President Eduardo Bhatia criticized La
Fortaleza for the tardiness in delivering the budget..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 2, 2016

PR DEFAULTS ON GDB PAYMENT 

From Caribbean Business:

"In a televised message Sunday, Gov. Alejandro García Padilla announced
he has declared a moratorium on the Government Development Bank’s (GDB)
debt service, as the commonwealth stands ready to partially default on as much
as $270 million due May 2 on the bank’s debt. The cash-strapped institution
would have faced a $400 million payment on principal, with an additional $22
million in interest. But during the past few days, the GDB pushed maturity on
roughly $30 million after reaching a deal with local credit unions, followed by
an agreement struck with a creditor group to enter into a 30-day forbearance
agreement that would cover more than $100 million of the bank’s May payment.
The GDB already stated it will pay about $22 million in interest due May 2, as
well as roughly more than $40 million in debt payments across other common-
wealth credits that also hit on Monday..."

FIRST ZIKA DEATH REPORTED IN PR

From The Guardian:

The first American has died from complications related to the Zika virus,
health officials with the Centers for Disease Control reported late Friday.
A Puerto Rican man in his 70s died in February from “complications re-
lated to severe thrombocytopenia”, the CDC reported in its Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report. The man, from the San Juan area, fell ill with the
Zika virus and experienced symptoms including fever, rash and joint pain.
After recovering from the Zika symptoms, the man then developed immu-
ne thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, an autoimmune disorder that has been
linked to the virus. The bleeding disorder that killed him was as a side-effect
of the ITP..."

BERNIER CALLS FOR IVA REPEAL

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President and gubernatorial candidate Da-
vid Bernier on Thursday called on the PDP majority in the Legislature to pass
legislation to repeal the value-added tax (IVA by its Spanish acronym) slated
to go into effect in June. “To permit an increase in the value-added tax would
hurt the pocketbooks of our people and the operations of our businesses,” Ber-
nier said. “The responsible thing at this time is that the Legislature act to pre-
vent the IVA and the increase in the B2B [business-to-business tax] from being
enacted in final form.”

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 29, 2016

PR GOVT MAY DEFAULT ON MAY 1ST

From Forbes:

"Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla
said “there will be a default on Monday,” adding, “I don’t think there is a
deal on the table that avoids a default.” Puerto Rico’s Government Develop-
ment Bank, the island’s primary fiscal agent, owes creditors $422 million on
Monday, a payment Garcia Padilla has said the bank cannot afford. The loo-
ming default is part of a broader economic crisis in the Caribbean haven pla-
gued by $70 billion in total debt, a shrinking population and a 45% poverty
rate..."

ZIKA OUTBREAK GROWS, PREGNANT WOMEN WORRY

From USA Today:

"Nowhere in the U.S. has been hit harder by the Zika outbreak than
Puerto Rico, where 570 people have been diagnosed with the virus,
including 48 pregnant women. The true number of Zika cases in Puerto
Rico, where the virus is spreading among local mosquitoes, could be
much greater. Only about one in five people with Zika develop symptoms,
so most of those with the virus are unaware they've been infected,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention..."

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS BACK BOTTLE BILL

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The Sierra Club and the Basura Cero Puerto Rico (Zero Garbage Puerto
Rico) project are backing a bill in the island House of Representatives to
establish a five cent deposit on glass, aluminum and plastic containers to
prevent them from reaching Puerto Rico’s landfills. The bill, authored by
Rep. Víctor Vasallo and sponsored by Rep. José Báez, is called the Recep-
tacle Recycling Promotion Law, better known as the “Bottle Bill” in English,
and is under consideration by the House in the current session..."

PUERTO RICO RETAIL SALES DOWN 3.71% 

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico retail sales started 2016 in a slump, reflecting a 3.71 percent
year-over-year drop in January, or $113.3 million less than what was gene-
rated during the same month in 2015, Puerto Rico Trade and Export repor-
ted Wednesday. Total retail sales January totaled $2.9 billion, while in 2015
this figure was a little more than $3 billion, agency Executive Director Fran-
cisco Chévere said..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 21, 2016

LACK OF FUNDS JEOPARDIZE PRIMARIES

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"With local primary elections less than three months away, State Elections
Commission (SEC) President Liza García warned on Monday that if the
Treasury Department doesn’t pay the suppliers that provide the ballots there
is no guarantee the June primaries can be held. García said she needs a $1.9
million disbursement to be made “yesterday” for the initial payment on the
ballots. “What we need, with urgency, is for the Treasury Department to pay
the suppliers to make sure that the primaries are not in doubt,” García said in
a radio interview, adding that the total cost of the ballots is some $4.2 million..."

SUAREZ: GOVERNOR WILL FILL GDB VACANCIES

From Caribbean Business:

"The executive director of the newly established Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency
& Financial Authority, Victor Suárez, announced Wednesday that the gover-
nor will shortly fill the vacancies in the Board of Directors of the Government
Development Bank (GDB) to ensure the bank’s continuing operations. Recen-
tly, bankers Fermín Contreras and Iván Méndez resigned from the GDB board,
effective April 21. Shortly before that, Treasury Secretary Juan Zaragoza resig-
ned as well, citing a potential conflict of interest. Remaining on the board are
GDB President & Chairwoman Melba Acosta and Economic Development Se-
cretary Alberto Bacó Bagué..."

PRASA SELLS PROPERTIES TO RAISE CASH

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority has identified and will
be selling three properties in San Juan, Guaynabo and San Juan worth a
combined $2.8 million to inject cash into its coffers, agency Executive
Director Alberto Lázaro said Tuesday. One of the properties, known as
the former McCraken warehouse and garage in San Juan, will be sold to
the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co., which has asked PRASA to
use the $2.72 million from the transaction to pay down a debt with Honey-
well, he said..."

FL MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED IN TOA BAJA

From Bay 9 News:

"A suspect wanted in a homicide in St. Petersburg has been arrested in Puerto
Rico...in the murder of Shermaun Akins. Akins, 32, was found dead in the par-
king lot of the Alta Mar at Broadwater Apartments on April 7...Akins reported-
ly died of upper body trauma. Jimenez was arrested on Monday evening in the
city of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, at a family member's residence..."

Governor Declares Emergency At Government Development Bank

From Caribbean Business:


"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla has declared an emergency period at the
Government Development Bank (GDB), issuing an executive order that
restricts cash outflow at the bank in an effort to preserve its dwindling li-
quidity and ensure essential government services, according to a statement
released by La Fortaleza on Saturday...The measure doesn’t impose a mo-
ratorium on the bank’s debt obligations yet. The GDB faces a $422 milli-
on payment May 2 and the administration has repeatedly stated there is not
enough cash to make the full payment. Waiting to pull the trigger on decla-
ring a moratorium on the bank’s debt service is intended at fostering nego-
tiations between the GDB and its creditors...[CONTINUE READING]

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 1, 2016

ZIKA KILLS HUNDREDS IN PUERTO RICO

The zika virus, until now thought to only be dangerous to pregnant women,
but mild or even symptomless for most people, has suddenly taken a turn for
the worse, as up to 500 people have seemingly died due to complications from
the virus over the last week. Large numbers of unusual deaths were reported
starting about eight days ago, all across Puerto Rico. The only common thread
among the  otherwise unexplained deaths was that all of the victims had recently
tested positive for the Zika virus, which indicates that the virus may have recent-
ly mutated. "This is definitely a game-changer", said PR Health Secretary Ana
Rius. "Experts from the CDC [Centers for Disease Control] are on their way to
the island right now to investigate. We encourage all residents not to panic, but
to please stay indoors 24 hours a day, without exception. We have also discove-
red that certain invididuals with Zika who rubbed their bellies while simultane-
ously drinking an Old Colony pineapple soda were able to avoid being killed
by the virus." After concluding her remarks, Rius promptly ran outside and
threw herself onto highway traffic, being struck by several cars. She was de-
clared dead at the scene.

GARCIA PADILLA ENDORSES TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT

In a surprise announcement this morning, Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro
Garcia Padilla endorsed controversial Republican Presidential candidate Do-
nald Trump. During a press conference at La Fortaleza, Garcia Padilla stated
to shocked members of the press that he believes a Donald Trump presidency
would be best for the United states, and therefore for Puerto Rico. "Este queee,
ay zink that Mister Tromp is best deelmaiker in da werld and he can help os ne-
gochiate da debt. Plos, he has lots of moni and can meybee help os out wif a
loan or somsink", declared the governor to the bewildered reporters. "Plos,
dose steaks of hiz are pritti delichous."

PEDRO PIERLUISI: 'FUCK STATEHOOD'

Puerto Rico's sole non-voting congressional representative, Resident Commi-
ssioner and NPP gubernatorial candidate Pedro Pierluisi, expressed disillusi-
onment towards his long-held ideal of Puerto Rican statehood today during
remarks to The Puerto Rico Monitor. "Look, let's just be honest here, okay?",
said the tired-looking Pierluisi, immediately before taking a long drag from
a cigarrette and then slowly exhaling the smoke upward, a bitter look on his
face. "This statehood shit's not going to happen. It's just not. It never will. I
work in Congress, remember? They're the ones who can make it happen. And
they don't give a shit. You think they care what I think? I can't vote. Most of
the time these people mistake me for the janitor, or the guy delivering lunch."
Pierluisi went on, looking as if he were on the verge of tears, "We're broke,
why would they make us a state now? You know what? Fuck statehood. Jesus.
I've wasted my goddamn life." Having said that, the Resident Commissioner
spat on the ground, turned around and walked away.

April Fool's!

Puerto Rico Governor Calls For Legalizing Pot

Fox News

Puerto Rico's governor has called for the legalization of marijuana during
his last public address as leader of the U.S. territory.

Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Monday that taking such action would lower
crime and target hypocrisy. He said legislators should at a minimum approve
a bill filed in 2013 that would decriminalize marijuana. Puerto Rico's Health
Department recently adopted a regulation allowing the cultivation, manufac-
turing and distribution of medical marijuana...[CONTINUE READING]

Governor Signs Prepa Revitalization Bill Into Law

Caribbean Business

Eva Lloréns Vélez 


SAN JUAN – Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla signed late Tuesday night the
Puerto Rico Electric Power Revitalization Act, paving the way for a major
$9 billion debt restructuring of the public utility’s debt.

The Senate concurred Tuesday with amendments the House made to the bill,
which was rushed to La Fortaleza because under the terms of the restructuring
agreement, creditors could walk away from the deal had it not been enacted by
midnight Tuesday.

The legislation creates a separate corporation, the Prepa Revitalization Corp.,
which will issue new bonds to be exchanged for the Prepa bonds that are curr-
ently on the market...[CONTINUE READING]

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 15, 2016

FATHER POISONS DAUGHTERS, ONE DEAD

A 20-year-old man from Fajardo's Puerto Real housing project has turned
himself in to police after allegedly poisoning his 23-month-old twin daugh-
ters, one of whom died Saturday at Caribbean Medical hospital. Doctors in-
formed police that the deceased infant's body also showed signs of abuse.
The father had been estranged from the family but recently returned. Accor-
ding to the girls' mother, he had become abusive, but she had been afraid of
reporting the incidents. The suspect is being held at Fajardo police headquar-
ters and is expected to be charged today.

MAN DIES DURING SKYDIVING ACCIDENT

From Fox News Latino:

"A 58-year-old Chicago man died Saturday morning in a skydiving accident
that occurred when he apparently had problems controlling his parachute af-
terit opened, authorities said. Police say that Gaby Ferraca died Saturday mor-
ning at the 14th annual skydiving festival at the island's Arecibo regional air-
port. Event organizer Jason Gonzalez said the death was the first associated
with the festival in 15 years. Federal Aviation Administration officials, police
and prosecutors are investigating the accident, according to a police report..."

BUS WORKERS: LAYOFFS TO START MONDAY

From Caribbean Business:

The president of the Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA by its Spanish acro-
nym) union, Alexis Merced, said the government will be implementing a plan
for partial layoffs starting Monday. Merced, of the United Workers (Tuama)
union, said AMA will be the first public corporation in which the measure will
be carried out. “This government has consistently said there will be no layoffs.
However, starting next Monday, there will be partial layoffs at AMA when ab-
out 50 workers will have their workday reduced to 20 hours a week,” he claimed.
The measure was notified to the workers in a statement by AMA President Héc-
tor Iván Santos, the labor leader said. “According to Santos’ written expressions,
the measure seeks to send home employees who report to work and AMA says
it has no assignments for them that day,” the union spokesman said..."

PREPA RESTRUCTURING BILL PASSES SENATE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Gov. Alejandro García Padilla on Thursday lauded the Puerto Rico Senate’s
vote to restructure the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), saying
the measure guarantees that PREPA will not be privatized and will remain in
the hands of the Puerto Rican people. The Senate passed the measure Wednes-
day night in a 16-10 vote. “This bill guarantees the stabilization of the electri-
city bill to the extent that it permits us to...produce energy efficiently, permits
external investment in the production of energy as is the case with [two existing
private energy companies] Ecoeléctrica and AES,” the governor said in a press
conference at La Fortaleza. “And it also guarantees that [PREPA]  continues to
be ours, that there will be no fi rings of public employees and  that there is a
flow of capital to be able to buy fuel and diversify the source of energy...”

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 26, 2016

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL SHUTS DOWN CASINO

From Caribbean Business:

"The casino at the Intercontinental San Juan Hotel, in the Isla Verde sector
of Carolina, closed down operations Monday, the hotel’s management ann-
ounced. It is the ninth casino to close in Puerto Rico in the past five years.
“The operations at InterContinental San Juan Hotel are not affected by this
decision and all aspects related to such will proceed without interruption,”
reads a short statement by the company. “It has been public knowledge that
the casino industry in Puerto Rico has declined in recent years and the casi-
no at the InterContinental San Juan Hotel has also been affected by the si-
tuation,” it added..."

PRISON INMATE MEALS AT RISK

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Ángel Muñoz Suárez on Friday deman-
ded concrete answers from designated Corrections Department Secretary Ei-
nar Ramos regarding “the chaotic state the island’s prisons are in, including
the possibility of suspending meal services to more than 20,000 prisoners in
the system.” The NPP lawmaker added that he will be introducing legisla-
tion in the lower chamber so that an immediate investigation can take place
into how the agency’s budget is being used, “particularly regarding where
the assigned funds to purchase foods are going.” The government owes so-
me $11.8 million to Trinity Services LLC, the company that has supplied
food for the past 13 years to the island’s prisons..."

GOVERNOR PARDONS MARIJUANA CONVICT

From Fox News Latino:

"Puerto Rican authorities on Monday released the only citizen remaining 

in jail for smoking marijuana after Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla granted 

the convict a conditional pardon. Jeremy Ruiz Tomassini, 24, had been im-

prisoned for 15 months in the Guerrero de Aguadilla jail after being sen-

tenced to four years behind bars for smoking pot near a school. In October 

2014, and amid a full debate regarding decriminalizing marijuana, Ruiz's 

conviction sparked numerous protests by those arguing that his sentence 

was disproportionate to the crime and would ruin his life..."

7 ARRESTED OVER COCAINE ON CRUISE SHIP

From The Daily Star:

"U.S. authorities say they have arrested seven people after finding 24 po-

unds (11 kilograms) of cocaine aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship just 

before it was to set off on a cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico. U.S. Cust-

oms and Border Protection said Monday that a dog doing cabin inspections 

aboard the MS Jewel of the Seas found the drugs on Sunday..."

FIRST RED LOBSTER TO OPEN IN DECEMBER

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rican firm Restaurant Operators Inc. announced Monday that cons-
truction on the first Red Lobster restaurant in Puerto Rico will begin in May,
through an investment of $2 million. The eatery will open in December 2016
at the Plaza Las Américas shopping center in Hato Rey. The new 7,000 square
-foot restaurant will generate 125 new jobs, ROI executives said. The future
Red Lobster will open in the area formerly occupied by Banco Santander, and
will have the capacity to host 230 guests..."

Questionable Charity in Puerto Rico Has One Employee— the Governor’s Brother

NLPC


Peter Flaherty

A nonprofit group founded by ex-New York SEIU boss Dennis Rivera
has received big contributions from corporations that do business with
the Puerto Rican government, while employing the governor’s brother
as its only employee. This arrangement was reported today by Alana
Goodman of the Washington Free Beacon, based on information pro-
vided by NLPC.


The charity, now known as “Sociedad Económica De Amigos del Pais,”
was founded in New York in 1996 by Rivera and former New Mexico
Governor Bill Richardson as the Hispanic Education and Legal Fund
(HELF). Its name change, relocation to Puerto Rico and change of mi-
ssion raise additional red flags...[CONTINUE READING]

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 December 31, 2015

GOVERNOR: PR WILL DEFAULT ON $37 MILLION

From News Is My Business:

"The government of Puerto Rico will make most of its $1 billion debt pay-
ment due Jan. 1, defaulting only on some $37 million of the amount, Gov.
García-Padilla said Wednesday. The government will pay some $434 mi-
llion after deductions for capitalized interest and certain federal subsidies
in debt issued or guaranteed by the Commonwealth, also known as Gene-
ral Obligation bonds. To cover the payment, the Commonwealth will use
$174 million in amounts collected via the enactment of clawback provisi-
ons that redirect revenue earmarked for one debt to cover another expense..."

PDP LEADERSHIP INITIATES TRANSITION

From Caribbean Business:

"Former Secretary of State and Popular Democratic Party (PDP) candidate
for governor, David Bernier, officially took office as party president Wed-
nesday afternoon. Bernier met with the president of his transition commi-
ttee, Rep. Jesús Santa, to outline a transition plan prior to the first meeting
of the PDP’s Governing Board, which will take place on January 7th, 2016
...The official transition will take place on January 7th and will culminate
with a public event dedicated to the people..."

PR DRIVER'S LICENCES STILL VALID FOR TRAVEL

From The San Juan Daily Star:


"Department of Transportation and Public Works Secretary Miguel Torres
urged Puerto Rico residents on Tuesday to remain calm as he assured them
that island driver’s licenses remain an accepted form of identification to tra-
vel to the U.S. mainland. “It is a reality that the current license will undergo
changes so they meet Department of Homeland Security standards, but those
changes will take place in the first half of 2016,” he said. Torres’ remarks
came after the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announ-
ced it may stop accepting certain state driver’s licenses, including Puerto Ri-
co’s, as identification when clearing airport security as early as Jan. 10..."

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..."