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 July 29, 2015

DOOR OPEN FOR EXTENDED WATER RATIONING 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) has already outli-
ned long term plans based on a future scenario in which the island will remain
under drought conditions through the beginning of 2016, which could make
water rationing plans even stricter and extended to more towns. PRASA Sou-
thern Region Director Juan Rodríguez said Monday that the public corpora-
tion has not ruled out a wider water rationing plan than the one currently in
 place for consumers that receive their water supply from the Carraízo and
La Plata reservoirs, and the southern towns of Coamo, Santa Isabel and Sali-
nas. Guaynabo is also on water rationing, going one day with water and one
day without.

MAN MURDERED IN CANOVANAS

An unidentified male was murdered early this morning in the Parcelas Campo
Rico area of Canóvanas, according to Puerto Rico Police and El Nuevo Dia. At
around 6:36 AM, gunshots were  heard in the neighborhood. When police offi-
cers arrived, they found the bullet-riddled body on the grounds of a  residence.
This is the 313th murder to be reported in Puerto Rico so far this year.

SHERATON OLD SAN JUAN CASINO TO CLOSE

From Caribbean Business:

The casino at the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, in the historic sector 

of Puerto Rico's capital, is slated to close its doors sometime in September, in-

dustry sources told Caribbean Business. An official announcement on  the matter  

is expected later today.

LATINO LEADERS URGE FEDS TO HELP PR

From News Is My Business:

The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, a coalition of 39 of the U.S. main-

land’s largest Latino advocacy organizations, held a press conference Tuesday 

with Congressional, Puerto Rican, and labor leaders today calling on President 

Obama and Congress to take action “to save Puerto Rico from economic disaster.”

As Puerto Rico continues to endure a growing economic crisis that includes a $72 

billion debt, major unemployment, and population drain, Puerto Ricans and Lati-

nos on the mainland are “growing impatient with Washington as leaders have fai-

led to step up to assist millions of American citizens living on the island,” group 

representatives said.

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 6, 2015

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SPENDING CUTS 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The government is planning to reduce public workers’ hours and
cut non-essential services as part of a plan to avoid a shutdown
and a default on debt payments, House Treasury Committee Chairman
Rafael Hernández said. “We may reduce hours. … We still don’t exac-
tly know the plan because some [agencies] work 24 hours,” he said
in a radio interview. “We are also going to combine jobs to avoid
duplication, simplify the system. … We are talking about a cut that
is going to be aggressive.” Office of Management and Budget Di-
rector Luis García said there will be cuts in nonessential services,
but did not dismiss cuts in essential services such as education or
health."

TWO BURNT BODIES FOUND IN CANOVANAS CAR

As reported this morning by El Nuevo Dia, a 911 call early this
morning alerted police to a vehicle in flames under a bridge on
Road PR-951 in Canóvanas. Firefighters arrived at the scene,
and once the fire was put out, discovered two dead bodies inside
the car. One of the bodies was found in the back seat, while the
other was wedged between the two front seats of the SUV. Inves-
tigators from the Carolina jurisdiction are in charge of the case.
The victims have not yet been publicly identified.

MEXICAN AIRLINE TO FLY TO SAN JUAN

Volaris, the Mexican low-cost carrier, announced yesterday the
introduction of new international service from Cancun, Mexico to
San Juan, Puerto Rico, effective July 2nd. Volaris will be opera-
ting two flights per week. During a press conference, Volaris CEO,
Enrique Beltranena, addressed the importance of including San Juan
in the Volaris destination roster and informed the carrier is the
only one to connect Mexico with this important Caribbean island in
the last 15 years. "Volaris' arrival to Puerto Rico is part of con-
certed efforts by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to extend access
to our destination. With this flight, we are restoring direct co-
nnection from our Island to Mexico, which is the Latin American
country sending the highest number of visitors to Puerto Rico,"
said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, Executive Director of the Puerto
Rico Tourism Company. "Now, arriving in San Juan will be much
easier and affordable for tourists who visit us from Mexico,"
she added.

BORICUAS HAVE WORST HEALTH AMONG HISPANICS

From ABC News:

Among Hispanic groups in the United States, Puerto Ricans appear to
have the worst health, according to a government report released
Tuesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its
most comprehensive report on Hispanic health, drawing from earlier re-
search. But it also offered new details on differences among Hispanic
populations in the U.S. Among the findings: Puerto Ricans have higher
rates of cancer and heart disease than Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Ameri-
cans, or those with roots in Central or South America.

NO SMOKING POT FOR MEDICINAL USES

From Caribbean Business:

Smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes will not be allowed in Puerto
Rico, but cannabis derivatives could be consumed in other ways, govern-
ment officials said Tuesday as they provided more details on the gover-
nor's weekend executive order on cannabis use. Justice Secretary César
Miranda told The Associated Press that the government would allow pa-
tients access to cannabis derivatives that would be inhaled or used
orally, such as potions or pills. "Smoking marijuana is not being cont-
emplated as part of a medical treatment," he said. Advocates say mari-
juana helps with conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, anxiety, and
nausea from chemotherapy or drugs to combat HIV. Gov. Alejandro García
Padilla issued an order late Sunday directing the island's health de-
partment to authorize the use of some or all controlled substances or
derivatives of the cannabis plant for medical use.