Puerto Rico News Digest For August 2, 2017

"TONKA" GETS TRUCKED OFF TO THE MORGUE...SINGER OZUNA INVOLVED?

POWERFUL DRUG LORD BRUTALLY MURDERED IN SANTURCE

Shortly after midnight this morning, 38-year old Carlos Báez Rosa, who went by the nickname "Tonka" and was one of the most powerful drug lords in the San Juan area, was shot nearly 70 times with various firearms, including AK-47s and AR-15s. The spectacular midnight execution occurred in an alley in the gritty Cantera  sector of Santurce. To add a twist to the story,  police seized a Range Rover SUV at the scene, which belongs to reggeaton singer Juan Carlos Ozuna and contained $6,585 in cash, as well as the singer's wallet. Ozuna dedicated several of his songs to the murdered drug lord, and the latter produced at least one of the singer's recordings. Ozuna became notorious last week due to a viral video in which the reggeaton performer is seen hitting a security guard at one of his stateside performances with a microphone (video is below).

CONTROL BOARD DELIVERS 1ST REPORT TO CONGRESS

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico’s financial control board said Tuesday that its first annual report to the U.S. President and Congress does not call for the elimination of federal social assistance programs in the commonwealth..."

DOMINO'S TO PUERTO RICO: NO MORE PIZZA!

From News Is My Business:

"HFS Corp. — a franchisee for Domino’s Pizza in Puerto Rico — announced Wednesday the closing of all of its stores on the island, after seeking bankruptcy protection earlier this year, this media outlet confirmed..."

GONZALEZ ASKS FOR MEDICAL AND RESEARCH FUNDS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González Colón on Monday announced the allocation of $607,568 in federal funds for the treatment of children and mothers with HIV/AIDS and studies on breast cancer..."

MAVS SIGN PUERTO RICAN GIAN CLAVELL

From Fox Sports:

"The Dallas Mavericks have signed free agent guard Gian Clavell, an undrafted rookie who has played  for Puerto Rico’s national team. Clavell was the Mountain West Conference player of the year at Colorado State last season..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 24, 2017

JARDINES DE COUNTRY KILL

Carolina neighborhood reports murder for 2nd weekend in a row

A man believed to be in his early 20s, who is so far unidentified, was shot to death at around 4:30 on Sunday morning in the Jardines de Country Club neighborhood of Carolina. The victim parked his car on 30th Street, between a basketball court and baseball field in the suburban neighborhood, and was apparently shot at several times as he sat in the vehicle. It is unknown whether he was pursued there before being killed. After shooting, the perpetrators presumably drove away in their own vehicle, while the victim left his bullet-riddled car and stumbled for a few feet before falling to the ground, where he died. A 911 call alerted police to the sound of gunfire, and they found the lifeless body soon afterward. This is the second murder reported in Jardines de Country Club inside of a week, and was one of eight violent deaths registered over the weekend across Puerto Rico.

TREASURY NET INCOME UP 1.7% FOR LAST FISCAL YEAR

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico Treasury Secretary Raúl Maldonado Gautier reported that the net income to the General Fund from the newly concluded fiscal year 2016-17 (July-June) amounted to $9.334 billion, which represents $159.6 million, or 1.7 percent  more than the previous fiscal year 2015-16..."

ROSSELLO SIGNS PATIENTS' RIGHTS LAW 

From Caribbean Business:

"...Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló on Sunday enacted Senate Bill 27, giving patients more say before health insurers and providing greater power to the Patients Advocate Office (OPP by its Spanish initials) when defending those who are  not covered by the government’s medical plan, Mi Salud..."

MORE PR DOCTORS GOING BANKRUPT 

From News Is My Business:

"During the first six months of the year, 17 medical doctors filed for bankruptcy protection, reporting more than $23.5 million in combined debt to the court, a report by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico confirmed..."

ROSSELLO TRIES TO PUT PR IN CONGRESSIONAL AGENDA

From The Washington Examiner:

"Puerto Rico is throwing a wrench into the mainland's politics. The Caribbean island's government held a referendum on June 11 to gauge public support in what was the territory's fifth-ever plebiscite on statehood, and the vast majority  of voters said yes..."

Puerto Rico Statehood In The Age of Trump

Commentary

Rosa Bravo

Originally published March 8, 2017

The cause of Puerto Rican statehood, already battered by the island's enormous economic crisis, has run into a new obstacle: the election of Donald Trump as President. While the President cannot change Puerto Rico's status on his own,his election -- and the tenor of the political discourse under which he was elected -- has made the Republican-majority Congress more implicitly hostile to Puerto Rico's statehood prospects. I believe Trump's rhetoric and actions have set the tone that Congress will follow for at least the  next four years.

It is not a secret that President Trump is a xenophobe who has little regard for Hispanics.That alone would prejudice him against supporting the admission of three-plus million Spanish speakers into the Union. But besides that, his goal of restoring America's economic might would steer him away from incorporating a territory with tens of billions of dollars in crippling debt that, in his view and of those like him, would contribute little to the federal treasury. But the biggest issue here may be Trump's almost total ignorance regarding Puerto Rico, its history and its issues. The President is a man famous for not reading and for losing his patience quickly. It is almost certain he has never taken an interest in the island, other than whatever he needed to know to build his now  defunct Rio Grande golf club. In his simple mind, Puerto Ricans are probably just welfare queens to be shoved aside; after all, they're not "real Americans". I think that Trump's election put PR ever closer to the unilateral granting of independence for the island, despite that option finding next to no support among Puerto Ricans. He can't do it himself, but he can certainly goad his Republican acolytes in Congress to do so.

The current government of Puerto Rico would do well do ask for very little from thecurrent federal government. And it should certainly not even bring up the issue of Puerto Rico's status or ask for Puerto Rican statehood. Because if they do, the answer from the USA may very well be: "No. But thanks for reminding us that you're still hanging around. Goodbye, you're free to go". This is why I think a status referendum in Puerto Rico right now is a ridiculous idea. As a supporter of statehood, I fear that no good would come from poking that hornet's nest. The best thing to do would be to keep our heads down, try to get our financial house in some kind of order and just wait out the Trump storm. A better climate will come.

Rosa Bravo is a staff writer for The Puerto Rico Monitor. The opinions expressed in the preceding
piece are strictly her own and do not necessarily represent those of The Puerto Rico Monitor, its
editors or advertisers.

Puerto Rico Statehood In The Age of Trump

Commentary

Rosa Bravo

The cause of Puerto Rican statehood, already battered by the island's enormous
economic crisis, has run into a new obstacle: the election of Donald Trump as
President. While the President cannot change Puerto Rico's status on his own,
his election -- and the tenor of the political discourse under which he was elec-
ted -- has made the Republican-majority Congress more implicitly hostile to
Puerto Rico's statehood prospects. I believe Trump's rhetoric and actions have
set the tone that Congress will follow for at least the  next four years.

It is not a secret that President Trump is a xenophobe who has little regard for
Hispanics.That alone would prejudice him against supporting the admission of
three-plus million Spanish speakers into the Union. But besides that, his goal of
restoring America's economic might would steer him away from incorporating a
territory with tens of billions of dollars in crippling debt that, in his view and of
those like him, would contribute little to the federal treasury. But the biggest issue
here may be Trump's almost total ignorance regarding Puerto Rico, its history and
its issues. The President is a man famous for not reading and for losing his patien-
ce quickly. It is almost certain he has never taken an interest in the island, other
than whatever he needed to know to build his now  defunct Rio Grande golf club.
In his simple mind, Puerto Ricans are probably just welfare queens to be shoved
aside; after all, they're not "real Americans". I think that Trump's election put PR
ever closer to the unilateral granting of independence for the island, despite that
option finding next to no support among Puerto Ricans. He can't do it himself,
but he can certainly goad his Republican acolytes in Congress to do so.

The current government of Puerto Rico would do well do ask for very little from
thecurrent federal government. And it should certainly not even bring up the issue
of Puerto Rico's status or ask for Puerto Rican statehood. Because if they do, the
answer from the USA may very well be: "No. But thanks for reminding us that
you're still hanging around. Goodbye, you're free to go". This is why I think a st-
atus referendum in Puerto Rico right now is a ridiculous idea. As a supporter of
statehood, I fear that no good would come from poking that hornet's nest. The
best thing to do would be to keep our heads down, try to get our financial house
in some kind of order and just wait out the Trump storm. A better climate will
come.


Rosa Bravo is a staff writer for The Puerto Rico Monitor. The opinions expressed in the preceding
piece are strictly her own and do not necessarily represent those of The Puerto Rico Monitor, its
editors or advertisers.

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 27, 2016

INDEPENDENCE GROUPS PROTEST DNC

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Various Puerto Rico diaspora organizations in the greater Philadelphia area
protested outside the Democratic National Convention on Monday against the
Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA)
and the establishment of a federal fiscal control board. “The Puerto Rico com-
munity must be heard; the Democrats should know our demands since both De-
mocrats and Republicans have been party to the crimes of the United States ag-
ainst Puerto Rico,” said Berta Joubert, the spokeswoman for the Philadelphia-
Camden Boricua Committee, according to Inter News Service..."

44 INDICTED FOR TRAFFICKING IN MAYAGUEZ

From US Attorney's Office:

" U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vél-
ez announced three indictments and the arrest of 44 defendants charged with
conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and distribution of controlled
substances, and possession of firearms. The agencies in charge of the investi-
gation are Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Police of Puerto
Rico (POPR). One of the indictments, returned on July 19, 2016, by a federal
grand jury and unsealed in federal court today, charges 40 individuals with co-
nspiracy to knowingly and intentionally possess with intent to distribute coca-
ine, cocaine base (crack), marijuana, Percocet and Xanax, all within 1,000 feet
of the real property comprising the Columbus Landing Public Housing Project,
all for significant financial gain and profit..."

HOUSE APPOINTS HATCH TO TASK FORCE

From Caribbean Business:

"The House has appointed Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) to serve as the chair-
man of a bicameral task force charged under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Ma-
nagement and Economic Stability Act (Promesa) with investigating the cau-
ses and possible solutions to Puerto Rico’s debt crisis. The House approved
Hatch’s appointment in a pro forma session Monday afternoon. That session
also formalized the appointments of Reps. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.) and Tom Mac
Arthur (R-N.J.) as the House Republican appointees to the task force. Rep. Ny-
dia Velázquez of New York and Pedro Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s non-voting rep-
resentative in Congress, are the two House Democratic appointees. In addition
to Hatch, who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sens. Marco Ru-
bio (R-Fla.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) are members
of the task force..."

POPULAR EARNS $89M IN 2016 2ND QUARTER

From News Is My Business:

"Popular Inc., parent company of Banco Popular, on Tuesday reported net in-
come of $89 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, compared to net in-
come of $85 million for the quarter ended March 31,  2016. “We are pleased
to report another solid quarter with strong net income, revenue and credit me-
trics. Also our U.S. operation delivered significant loan growth while mainta-
ining strong credit quality. We are hopeful that recent legislative actions by the
U.S. Congress will be a catalyst in revitalizing Puerto Rico’s economy,” Car-
rión said..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For December 17, 2015

BERNIER ANNOUNCES RUN FOR GOVERNOR

From Caribbean Business:


"Some 48 hours after Gov. Alejandro García Padilla announced he would
not seek a second term as governor, former Secretary of State David Ber-
nier announced Wednesday afternoon he will be the Popular Democratic
Party’s (PDP) candidate for governor in the 2016 general election. “Wel-
come to my parents’ home and to my hometown of Patillas. I’m very ha-
ppy to be able to announce, without a script, without a teleprompter and
with great determination, that I have decided to run for governor,”  said
Bernier while sitting in his parents’ living room in the San Benito urbani-
zation, in Patillas, where he grew up. Bernier made his announcement in
his parents’ home in Patillas, on the southeastern coast of Puerto Rico..."

FIVE RESCUED FROM WATERS OFF MANATI

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The crews of a Coast Guard rescue helicopter and a Puerto Rico Police
marine unit rescued fi ve people Monday afternoon from rough waters on
the northern coast of Puerto Rico just off the Mar Chiquita Beach rock cliff
in Manatí. The Coast Guard made the announcement Tuesday. Rescued are
three Kazakhstani nationals, two women and a man, who reportedly were
caught in a strong rip current with two other men, U.S. citizens, who had
dove into the water to render assistance..."

FED RATE HIKE SHOULDN'T AFFECT PR

From News Is My Business:

"The decision announced Wednesday by the Federal Reserve System to
increase interest rates by 25 basis points “does not represent a significant
impact” on Puerto Rico’s economy or for bank customers, Puerto Rico
Bankers Association Executive Vice President Zoimé Álvarez-Rubio said.
The Federal Reserve’s first rate hike in nine years is based on the strong
growth of the U.S. economy, and will likely be the first of several to be
introduced gradually next year. “The economic reality that Puerto Rico is
experiencing is not impacted by this decision by the Federal Reserve,”
Álvarez-Rubio said..."

CONGRESS OFFERS NO PR DEBT RELIEF

From NPR:

"A massive tax and spending bill, designed to keep the U.S. government
running for months, doesn't include any direct debt relief for struggling
Puerto Rico. The unincorporated U.S. territory is struggling to make pay-
ments on $72 billion of debt. There are serious concerns that the island
may default on Jan. 1, when more than $900 million comes due (includ-
ing over $350 million the Puerto Rican government is constitutionally
obligated to pay). The island only narrowly managed to make a $350
million payment on Dec. 1. Some lawmakers had proposed that muni-
cipalities in Puerto Rico be permitted to declare bankruptcy. Currently,
that option is available to cities in U.S. states, but not to municipal enti-
ties in U.S. territories..."

Video of US Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Puerto Rico

Video is from the hearing held on December 1, 2015. Total length is approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Puerto Rico News Digest For October 7, 2015

TOURIST HELD ON SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"A male tourist from Wisconsin was arrested by federal authorities for
sex trafficking after U.S. Magistrate Judge Marcos López authorized a
criminal complaint charging him with one count of Attempted Sex Tra-
fficking of Children, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico Rosa
Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez announced Monday..."

SEARCH FOR ANSWERS IN EL FARO SINKING

From Caribbean Business:

"The 41-year-old El Faro was scheduled to be retired from Caribbean
duty and retrofitted in the coming months for service between the West Co-
ast and Alaska, said Phil Greene, another Tote executive. The El Faro and
its equally aged sister vessel were being replaced on the Jacksonville-to-Pu-
erto Rico run by two brand-new ships capable of carrying much more cargo
and emitting less pollution..."

PR BANKRUPTCY BILL ADDS CO-SPONSORS

From Reuters:

"A bill to allow Puerto Rico's distressed public agencies to access
Chapter 9 bankruptcy laws has drawn several Democratic co-sponsors but
is not a partisan move, the U.S. commonwealth's representative in Congress
said on Tuesday. Puerto Rico, with $72 billion debt..."

PUERTO RICO ENDURES RECORD HEAT

From Yahoo! News:

"Puerto Rico is facing a record-breaking heat wave this month amid an
ongoing drought. The National Weather Service said the first five days
of October are the  warmest in the history of the U.S. territory for the
month since record-keeping began..."

Video of US Senate Finance Committee Hearing on Puerto Rico

Video is from the hearing held on September 29, 2015. Total length is approximately
2 hours and 21 minutes. Actual content begins at 23:33.

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 22, 2015

WATER RATIONING COMES TO THE SOUTH

Puerto Rico's water utility, Autoridad de Acueductos y Alcantarillados  (AAA), 

has announced the implementation of a water rationing program for sectors of the 

municipalities of Coamo, Santa Isabel and Salinas, as the island's worst drought in 

decades threatens underground aquifers in the region. Twelve-hour rationing, where

water flow is cut off to users for 12 hours at a time, begins Thursday, July 23. The 

rationing area is divided into two zones, A and B (see the map above to find out

which neighborhoods are in which zones). Zone A will be the first to see the water

stop flowing at midnight tonight. Water will be reestablished at noon, and then Zone

B will have its water cut off for 12 hours. AAA will not run water oases in these towns,

as rationing will initially only be 12 hours. 

PREPA APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

From Caribbean Business:

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) announced Tuesday the designa-

tion of Javier Quintana Méndez as the new executive director of the financially trou-

bled utility, effective Aug. 3. "The successful transformation of Prepa is crucial for 

Puerto Rico and its citizens. The Governing Board of Prepa selected Dr. Quintana as 

executive director at this important moment, because we believe that his experience 

and background in the energy field will help Prepa reach its goal of becoming a self-

sustaining corporation. Now is the time for the crucial decisions that require great lea-

dership," said Harry Rodríguez, chairman of the utility’s board. Quintana Méndez, 

who has been vice president of Prepa’s board for the past two years, is currently the 

dean of the engineering school at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Baya-

món campus, and a member of the Interamerican Board of Energy Resources Direc-

tors. Moreover, he is a former executive director of the Solid Waste Authority (2005-

2008).

TWO MORE SENATORS BACK CHAPTER 9 BILL

From News Is My Business:

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced Tuesday that Senator Patrick Leahy 

of Vermont, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will cosponsor S. 

1774, the identical companion bill in the Senate to HR 870, the Puerto Rico Chapter 9 

Uniformity Act, which Pierluisi introduced in the House of Representatives in February.

Senator Leahy’s office advised Pierluisi’s office and Leahy will be formally added as a 

cosponsor. In addition, Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a moderate who sits on the 

Senate Banking Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, has also agreed to co-

sponsor S. 1774, which was introduced last week by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Co-

nnecticut, Senator Charles Schumer of New York, and 10 other U.S. Senators, including 

Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

PR BASKETBALL TEAM LOSES PAN AM OPENER

From The Courier-Journal:

Rick Pitino's international coaching debut on Tuesday morning was an forgettable 

one. Pitino, coaching Puerto Rico's national team at the Pan Am Games here in Ca-

nada, saw his squad fall behind by 25 points in the first quarter, shoot 33 percent 

and lose 92-59 in a lopsided opener against Brazil at the Mattamy Athletic Centre 

on Ryerson University's campus. The 33-point loss matched a 2009 U of L loss at 

Notre Dame for the worst defeat by a Rick Pitino-coached team in at least the last 

15 years.

Puerto Rico Status Hearing Held In House

From Caribbean Business:

The U.S. House Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs,
chaired by Don Young, held an oversight hearing Wednesday entitled, “Exa-
mining procedures regarding Puerto Rico’s political status and economic out-
look.”

The hearing’s purpose was to discuss the relationship between the current eco-
nomic crisis on the island and the issue of political status.

“While the decision of a change in political status must ultimately be made by
the citizens of Puerto Rico, [the U.S.] Congress has an obligation to monitor
the development of any change in status preference and act with reasonable di-
ligence on behalf of the populace, should future action be required,” the hear-
ing’s memo read.

The invited witnesses were Pedro R. Pierluisi, resident commissioner of Puerto
Rico; César A. Miranda Rodríguez, attorney...[CONTINUE READING]

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 22, 2015

LEGISLATURE FUNDS RESERVOIR DREDGING

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Cancelling public hearings in light of urgency and agreement, senators from
all three parties have voted to immediately begin dredging the reservoirs and
taking other conservation and maintenance measures to ensure the island’s
drinking water supply in the future, the Senate announced Thursday. It is a
measure long overdue, and thrown into relief by the present drought threats
due to lack of rain and rapidly accumulating sediment. The vote on Senate
Bill 1047 Wednesday would create a precedent-setting public drinking-water
policy which has long been needed in Puerto Rico, according to Senate Natu-
ral and Environmental Resources Committee Chairman Cirilo Tirado, who
authored the bill. Bypassing public hearings, a precedent-setting move was
made Wednesday to establish public policy on the use and management of
reservoirs in Puerto Rico.

REP DUNCAN: BOARD SHOULD TAKE OVER PR

From The New York Times:

In one of the strongest bids yet for federal intervention into Puerto Rico’s fis-
cal woes, a member of Congress is calling for a control board to take over the
island’s beleaguered government. Representative Jeffrey D. Duncan, a South
Carolina Republican, sent a letter to his fellow lawmakers on Friday, urging
them for a solution to Puerto Rico’s financial problems that may result in “ma-
nagement changes” in the commonwealth. Mr. Duncan said Congress had the
authority to establish a control board in Puerto Rico, similar to the one it created
in Washington, D.C., in the mid-1990s.

TEACHERS STRIKE OVER SCHOOL CLOSURES

From Telesur:

Puerto Rico’s teachers union went on strike Saturday in protest against the clo-
sure of 63 schools as part of education cuts, which were undertaken to save mo-
ney as the country experiences economic crisis. The affected students also parti-
cipated in the rally against the Education Ministry’s policy that leaves dozens of
teachers out of work for the next term beginning in August.   “This is detrimental
to education, because the necessities of the community, the investment in infras-
tructure in recent years, the technology, have not been taken into consideration,
and neither the parents nor the teachers have been consulted,” said Mercedes Ma-
rines, trade union leader.

SUDDEN CHANGES IN PREPA MANAGAMENT

From Caribbean Business:

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) confirmed late Friday that
three officials resigned their posts, adding that all of them are retiring  from the
financially troubled utility. Moreover, CARIBBEAN BUSINESS sources and
several local reports indicate that the utility’s executive director, Juan Alicea, is
also set to leave the troubled public corporation, although he has yet to present
his resignation officially. Consumer representative at  Prepa’s board, Carlos Ga-
llisá, has also acknowledged the imminent exit of Alicea. Governing Board Se-
cretary María Méndez Rivera, Finance Director Luis Figueroa Báez and Legal
Affairs Director Jorge Concepción resigned Friday, a spokeswoman of Prepa
confirmed, adding that they were retiring from the authority.

ANNA'S LINENS BEGINS CLOSEOUT SALE

From News Is My Business:

Home goods retailer Anna’s Linens, which made its debut in Puerto Rico a
little more than three years ago, has begun its going-out-of-business sale as
part of a company-wide bankruptcy proceeding. Hilco Merchant Resources
& Gordon Brothers Group will be in charge of the closing, offering discounts
of up to 30 percent on all merchandise including sheets, bed pillows, comfor-
ter sets, bath and beach towels, bed and bath accessories, window treatments,
housewares, decorative home accents, storage, gifts and more.

PR Resident Commissioner Announces Status Hearings

Res. Comm. Pedro Pierluisi

Press Release

June 17, 2015


Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced today that the Subcommittee
on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs within the House Natural Resources
Committee will hold a hearing on Puerto Rico’s political status on Wednesday,
June 24th.  The Chairman of the Subcommittee is Congressman Don Young of
Alaska and the Ranking Democratic Member is Congressman Raul Ruiz of Ca-
lifornia.  The Resident Commissioner is a member of the Subcommittee.

On April 23rd, Pierluisi sent a letter to the leadership of the House Natural Re-
sources Committee, requesting that a hearing be scheduled.  Specifically, the
Resident Commissioner urged the Committee or Subcommittee to invite witne-
sses to testify about H.R. 727, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process
Act, and about the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014, which became Pu-
blic Law 113-76 and which includes important language on the status issue.

Pierluisi introduced H.R. 727 on February 4, 2015.  The bill authorizes a federa-
lly-sponsored vote to be held in Puerto Rico within one year of the bill’s enact-
ment.  The ballot would contain a single question:  “Shall Puerto Rico be admi-
tted as a State of the United States?”  If a majority of voters affirm their desire
for admission, the bill provides for an automatic series of steps to occur that
would culminate in Puerto Rico being admitted as a state in January 2021.

“H.R. 727 already has 108 cosponsors.  There have been approximately 2,800
bills introduced in the House of Representatives so far this Congress, and H.R.
727 has more bipartisan support than 99 percent of those bills.  Given this level
of support, it is appropriate for the Subcommittee to hold a hearing to discuss
the legislation,” said Pierluisi.

The Resident Commissioner also led the fight for passage of P.L. 113-76, which
responds to the historic 2012 status referendum in Puerto Rico in which voters re-
jected the current territory status and expressed a preference for statehood.  The
law provides an appropriation of $2.5 million to fund the first federally-sponsored
status vote in Puerto Rico’s history.  This funding will remain available until it is
expended by the Puerto Rico government.  While P.L. 113-76 does not prescribe
the exact format of the ballot, leaving those details to the Puerto Rico government,
it does require the U.S. Department of Justice to certify that the ballot and voter
education materials are consistent with U.S. law and policy.  The Resident Commi-
ssioner has called for this funding to be used to conduct a straightforward, up-or-
down vote on whether Puerto Rico should be admitted as a state.

“Unfortunately, although more than 16 months have elapsed since P.L. 113-76 be-
came law, the Puerto Rico government has not submitted a proposed ballot to the
U.S. Department of Justice or taken any meaningful action to schedule this federally
-sponsored vote.  It is my hope that the Subcommittee will explore this matter in
detail at the hearing,” said Pierluisi.

Puerto Rico is currently experiencing the most severe economic and fiscal crisis in
its history.  The root cause of this crisis is Puerto Rico’s undemocratic and unequal
political status.


“As I have repeatedly stated, no people in history have prospered while being de-
prived of basic political and civil rights, and it is not reasonable to expect Puerto
Rico to be an exception to this rule.  This hearing is timely because it will provide
a forum to discuss the inextricable connection between Puerto Rico’s territory sta-
tus and its economic challenges,” said Pierluisi.

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 19, 2015

FBI ARRESTS FOUR FOR CHIILD PORN

As reported today by El Nuevo Dia, FBI agents in Puerto Rico are serving
four arrest warrants in different parts of the island this morning, all related
to the production and distribution of child pornography. The arrests, which
are being carried out in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Police, are taking
place in the cities of Aguadilla, San Juan, Quebradillas and Carolina. Once
the suspects are detained, they wil be taken to Federal Court in San Juan.

POLICE: PUERTO RICO HOMICIDES DOWN

From The San Juan Daily Star:

At a period almost halfway through the calendar year, the Police Department
of Puerto Rico has reported 249 murders for the year to date, less than half
compared to the same time four years ago. This would  indicate that while
homicide is being checked, as Police note, the island rate is still considerably
higher than any mainland city or state, while still trailing many Caribbean
and Central American cities in deadliness quotient.And while Puerto Rico
has a rate of 30.1 murders per 100,000 people, officials estimate that about
60 percent of homicides on the island are linked to drug trafficking. The to-
tal number of killings between June 13, 2011 and June 13, 2015 decreased
by 261, according to a written communication from the Police Department
released this week.

PR EX-PRIEST GETS 11 YEARS FOR SEX ABUSE

From San Diego Union-Tribune:

A former Roman Catholic priest was sentenced Thursday to 11 years in pri-
son for taking a teenage boy on a cruise ship vacation with the intent to en-
gage in illegal sexual conduct. The U.S. Attorney's Office on the U.S. Cari-
bbean island announced the sentencing of expelled priest Israel Berrios, who
had pleaded guilty in August 2014. Prosecutors accused Berrios of giving the
15-year-old boy money, a computer and a camera and taking him on a four-
day cruise to the Bahamas with his mother's permission in July 2008.

DON YOUNG RAISES FUNDS BEFORE PR HEARINGS

From Politico:

Alaska Republican Don Young is holding a fundraiser in Puerto Rico Friday,
just days before he chairs a controversial hearing on the territory’s political
and economic status. The close proximity of the hearing and the fundraising
event has sparked ethical concerns among some of Young’s colleagues on a
Natural Resources subcommittee, but committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-
Utah) told POLITICO that Young is free to set his own schedule. Young’s
fundraiser at a San Juan restaurant is hosted by Igualdad Futuro Seguro, a
pro-statehood political action committee.

PREPA GETS ANOTHER EXTENSION

From Caribbean Business:

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) and its creditors entered
Thursday into yet another forbearance agreement extension, until June 30,
while they continue to hammer out consensus on a restructuring plan for the
financially troubled utility that would keep it away from a potential default
and court-mandated receivership. Although prior negotiations to further ex-
tend the grace period have usually lasted until the last minute, CARIBBEAN
BUSINESS sources on Wall Street had said both sides were closing in on an
additional extension to the forbearance period until the end of the month.

WATER RESERVOIR LEVELS FOR THIS MORNING

From AcueductosPR.Com:

Levels for Carraizo and La Plata are down again, after recent rains failed to
raise water levels at either reservoir. Cidra is down as well. 48-hour rationing
continues for users in the Carraizo zones and 24-hour rationing is in effect for
users in the La Plata zones.

Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act Gains Traction

Caribbean Business

Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi announced that fewer than two months
after it was introduced, the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Process Act has
obtained 90 cosponsors. The bill, H.R. 727, was filed by Pierluisi Feb. 4.

“As I have said before, and as I underscore again today, every cosponsor of H.R.
727 is extraordinarily meaningful. Each member of Congress who cosponsors
the bill is declaring, in essence, that he or she will support  Puerto Rico’s admi-
ssion as a state on a fast timeline once a majority of  voters in Puerto Rico con-
firm their desire for statehood in a federally sponsored vote on admission,” said
Pierluisi...[CONTINUE READING]