Puerto Rico News Digest For January 15, 2016

GOV'T TO MAKE BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS

From News Is My Business:

"The government of Puerto Rico is making budget adjustments amoun-
ting to some $254 million, which is about half of the shortfall in revenue
collections the Treasury Department anticipated late last year. In a news
conference at La Fortaleza, Luis Cruz, executive director of the Office
of Management and Budget, confirmed a reduction in the budgets for
agencies offering health, security and education services. The govern-
ment will also not be making payments to the Commonwealth retire-
ment system and will clawback about $119 million in revenue that was
supposed to be directed for payments on the Puerto Rico Infrastructure
Financing Authority debt..."

MAYOR OF GUAYANILLA RESIGNS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Guayanilla Mayor Edgardo Arlequín Vélez finally resigned his post after
being suspended on March 6, 2015 and less than a month after being sen-
tenced to four years in prison for sexual misconduct and using his post for
benefits, according to Inter News Service. Popular Democratic Party (PDP)
spokesman Ángel Raúl Matos said the resignation will become final once
the municipal legislature formally accepts it..."

COCAINE FOUND IN BUSHES IN ISABELA BEACH

From Military.Com:

"Federal authorities announced Monday that they discovered more than
$4 million worth of cocaine stashed in bushes along Puerto Rico's north
coast as they find more drug shipments but with smaller payloads in the
U.S. Caribbean. Some 340 pounds (154 kilograms) of cocaine were found
at a popular beach in the town of Isabela, according to U.S. Customs and
Border Protection. One man was arrested. It's one of the largest seizures in
recent months..."

PUERTO RICANS WIN POWERBALL PRIZES

From Caribbean Business:

"In Puerto Rico, the winning tickets for four $100,00 prizes were purcha-
sed at La Borinqueña in Caguas, La Milagrosa store in Camuy and the
other two in Plaza Loíza del Norte Shopping Center in San Juan, said
Armando Pérez Cruz, assistant director at the Electronic Lottery of Pu-
erto Rico. The winners of the $50,000 prizes made their plays at Cabre-
ra Services Station in San Juan and the San Gabriel Pharmacy in Caro-
lina..."

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER DROWNS IN DORADO

From Yahoo! News:

"Authorities in Puerto Rico say a cruise ship passenger from California
has drowned along the U.S. territory's north coast amid rough seas. Au-
thorities say the 71-year-old from Angeles was swept away Thursday
along with his brother-in-law in the popular beach town of Dorado..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For September 25, 2015

20,000 TAX REFUNDS PUT OFF UNTIL 2016

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Treasury Secretary Juan Zaragoza acknowledged Wednesday that up to
20,000 island taxpayers may not receive their tax refunds by the end of
the calendar year due to the agency’s lack of liquidity and the need to
comply with “other commitments,” including paying public workers. In
a radio interview, the Treasury chief said it is highly unlikely that the a-
gency will be able to complete the deposit and dispatch of refunds befo-
re November. “I don’t think they will be all out by November. They mi-
ght be all sent out by December, but we could be crossing the line and
extending this past the calendar year,” Zaragoza said...[MORE]

1-1/2 POUND BABY BORN ON CRUISE SHIP

From Caribbean Business:

A Utah woman who unexpectedly gave birth on a cruise ship months before
her due date says she wrapped towels around the 1 1/2-pound boy with the
help of medical staff in a desperate effort to keep him alive until the ship
reached port. Emily Morgan, of Ogden, said Thursday that doctors didn't
expect her son Haiden to live, but thanks to strong lungs, a makeshift incu-
bator and an early arrival in Puerto Rico, the baby made it. He's now recei-
ving care at a neonatal intensive care unit in Miami...[MORE]

SHERATON OLD SAN JUAN CHANGES HANDS

From News Is My Business:

The 240-room Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino will be changing own-
ers as part of an agreement that transfers the property to an affiliate of Tish-
man Hotel Corp., hotel officials announced Thursday. The financial terms of
the agreement were not disclosed. The details of a planned renovation of the
property will be disclosed in coming months. However, as part of the transac-
tion, the new owners — which intend to continue the asset’s affiliation with
the Sheraton flag — will restructure the property, closing the casino to make
way for retail space. Some 95 employees will  be affected by the overhaul...

PR WORKING GROUP SEEKS SINGLE DEAL

From Reuters:

A Puerto Rico working group, composed of local and senior officials, anno-
unced on Thursday that it would seek a consensual negotiation that would
ultimately result in a single, comprehensive exchange transaction. The gr-
oup met with Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla and members of the Puer-
to Rico legislature to discuss its ongoing efforts to support fiscal stability
and economic growth in Puerto Rico. It said it wanted to avoid a piecemeal
strategy that could result in uncoordinated and inconsistent agreements with
creditors...[MORE]

WOULD-BE HUSBAND KILLER EXTRADITED TO PR

From Star Tribune:

A Puerto Rican woman accused of hiring a hit man to kill her wealthy Cana-
dian husband was extradited to the U.S. territory Thursday after a lengthy in-
ternational manhunt. Aurea Vazquez Rijos arrived with her month-old baby
and was escorted by FBI agents just hours before she appeared in court. She
flew in from Spain, where a court ordered her extradition nearly two years
ago on the condition she doesn't receive the death penalty or life imprison-
ment without parole if convicted...[MORE]

Puerto Rico News Digest For September 14, 2015

CARRAIZO RATIONING CUT TO ONE DAY

Alberto Lázaro, President of AAA, Puerto Rico's water utility , announced
that users served by the Carraízo water reservoir in Trujillo Alto will go back
to Phase I water rationing starting tomorrow. This means that water service
will only be interrupted for 24hours at a time, rather than the current 48 hours.
Carraízo serves Trujillo Alto, Carolina and parts of San Juan, Gurabo and Ca-
nóvanas. Lázaro stated that rains produced by the remnants of Tropical Storm
Grace raised the reservoir's level by half a meter.

PROPERTY TAXES COULD GO UP

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Mayors Association President Rolando Ortiz Velázquez said Thursday that if
funds are taken away from municipalities as part of the fiscal adjustment plan,
residents will pay for it through increases in property taxes. The five-year fis-
cal adjustment plan proposes the repeal of subsidies to the University of Puer-
to Rico, to municipalities and to non-profit groups. Ortiz, who is the mayor of
Cayey, said they are waiting for legislation that implements the fiscal adjust-
ment plan but anticipated a fight against the measures that could trigger the
dismissal of municipal employees and curtail direct services to citizens.

POLL: PUERTO RICANS FEELING PESSIMISTIC

From Caribbean Business:

According to a poll conducted by consulting company Gallup, 6% of Puerto
Rico residents believe economic conditions on the island are getting better.
This figure ranks the island far below “the least optimistic state,” West Vir-
ginia, where 24% say economic conditions are getting better. Puerto Rico
also fares poorly compared with countries in Latin America and the Caribbe-
an, where it ranks last in economic optimism, along with Venezuela, Gallup
found. Poll results reveal Gov. Alejandro García Padilla’s approval on the is-
land to be low as well. “Fewer than one in five Puerto Ricans (19%) say they
approve of the way García Padilla is handling his job,” Gallup said in a relea-
se on its findings.

PIRATES, MARLINS MAY PLAY IN PR IN 2016

From Sporting News:

Major League Baseball is headed back to Puerto Rico next season. The Pira-
tes and Marlins will play "all or part" of a scheduled four-game series on the
island in 2016, the Los Angeles Times reports. The teams are scheduled to
play in Miami from May 30-June 2, according to schedules released last week.
The games would be moved to San Juan to celebrate Pirates legend Roberto
Clemente, the island's favorite son.

CRUISE SHIP WORKER ARRESTED FOR RAPE

From Yahoo! News:

A Carnival cruise ship worker was detained Saturday in Puerto Rico on accu-
sations he raped a woman onboard, according to authorities. Police said the
alleged rape occurred in one of the cabins of the Carnival Liberty ship that is
docked in San Juan. The unidentified man has not been charged.

Puerto Rico News Digest For September 10, 2015

PUERTO RICO BRACES FOR BUDGET CUTS

From AP / WINK News:

Puerto Rico is bracing for widespread spending cuts after the government
released a long-awaited fiscal reform plan on Wednesday that would redu-
ce much of the island’s $72 billion public debt and calls for restructuring
the remainder at the expense of bondholders. The five-year plan proposes
that the government cut subsidies to municipalities and the University of
Puerto Rico, offer early retirement and reorganize or merge state agencies.
It also calls on the government to extend until 2021 legislation that would
freeze new hires, salary increases and collective bargaining agreements.
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla acknowledged in a televised address that
Puerto Ricans already have had to endure new taxes, an increase in utility
bills and layoffs during a nearly decade-long economic stagnation.

FINANCIAL CONTROL BOARD TO BE ESTABLISHED

From Caribbean Business:

A five-member, independent financial control board will be tasked with
ensuring that the recently released Fiscal & Economic Growth Plan (FE
GP), once approved, is followed, and would have the necessary powers
to ensure compliance, particularly if subsequent administrations decide
to do away with the final plan. It would be in place for the five-year pe-
riod of the plan, after which further extending its term would be conside-
red. Moreover, the board would have the authority to approve the plan,
as well as the power to force budgetary cuts, among other corrective ac-
tions, which will be part of draft legislation to be submitted to the Legis-
lature for its establishment. It has yet to be revealed when the Economic
Recovery Working Group will deliver its proposed legislation to Puerto
Rico lawmakers for their necessary approval.

WATER RESERVOIR LEVELS FOR TODAY

Carraizo is on the far left, while La Plata is immediately to its right.
Users served by both reservoirs are currently subject to water ratio-
ning. Some rain has fallen over the area this morning, with more ex-
pected over the next two days, as two low pressure systems pass over
the area.

SCHOOLS MAY RETURN TO NORMAL SCHEDULE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

If the water levels at the Carraízo and La Plata reservoirs continue in-
creasing, the Education Department may change the policy implemen-
ted at the beginning of the school year and return to normal school days
and hours -- offering classes Monday to Friday or extending school hours
 at those public schools where class periods have been reduced due to wa-
ter rationing. In a radio interview Tuesday, Education Secretary Rafael
Román said the rationing plan has cost the agency close to $1 million in
the purchase of water cisterns and water storage containers for the sch-
ool’s cafeterias, among other facilities, in order to supply water at the
affected schools. Román said that toward the end of the week he will be
discussing the state of the reservoirs and the changes made in the ratio-
ning plans.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGES FLOWN TO PR

From Yahoo! News:

Officials say Carnival Cruise Lines is flying 770 passengers to Puerto
Rico after their ship caught in fire in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The
president of the company that manages the dock where the ship is ber-
thed says six chartered flights were headed Wednesday to Puerto Rico.

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 March 27, 2015

LUGARO'S OFFICE RAIDED BY AUTHORITIES

El Nuevo Dia

The Truillo Alto offices of América Aponte & Associates, the educational
company led by independent gubernatorial candidate and  lawyer Alexandra
Lúgaro, has been raided this morning by agents  from the FBI, ICE and the
Department of Education. The action is part of 17 such raids being conduc-
ted today on businesses across the island, and may have to do with a fraud
investigation involving companies that provide services to the Department
of Education. An FBI spokesman would not specify what the exact reason
for the raids was.

Lúgaro, who had  announced her candidacy on March 17, stated that she
was willing to cooperate with law enforcement: "I've always acted within
the law. They can take everything. I don't have anything. I've done things
correctly."

Follow our Twitter feed, @ThePRMonitor for the latest developments.

TRAFFIC HEADACHES ON PR-52 THIS MORNING

Photo: @portotay (Twitter)

The reversible lane on Luis A. Ferré Expressway (PR-52) from Caguas
to San Juan is closed this morning, causing massive traffic jams on that
stretch of road. Drivers are advised to take Road PR-1 as an alternate
route. The reason given by the Roads & Transportation Authority for
the closure was that a part in the equipment that moves the barriers to
change the lane's direction is broken. However, the agency's director
also admitted this morning that they owe money to the company that
manages the expressway, although she added that the financial issues
have "nothing to do" with today's situation. No exact time has been
given for the lane's reopening.

NPP REP: LISTEN TO MAYORS ON IVA OPPOSITION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Gabriel Rodríguez Aguiló on
Wednesday called on Gov. Alejandro García Padilla to “use his
conscience” after mayors of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP)
who oppose the 16 percent value-added tax met with him Tuesday
at La Fortaleza and were left unconvinced by the governor on
why the tax should be implemented and why it would be good for
the salaried middle class. “I invite the governor and the PDP
majority to set aside the improvisation and work on the economic
issues with seriousness and moderation,” Rodríguez Aguiló said.

COAST GUARD SEIZED 1,100 LBS OF COCAINE

From Latin Post:

The U.S. Coast Guard last week seized a shipment of about 1,100
pounds of cocaine worth some $16 million off the coast of Puerto
Rico, Miami ABC affiliate WPLG reported. The USCGC Tahoma on
March 18 intercepted a suspicious go-fast, which had been detected by
a Joint Interagency Taskforce South maritime patrol aircraft and was
heading towards the U.S. territory, Fort Myers' Fox 4 detailed. Once
the Tahoma seized the contraband,  Coast Guardsmen arrested three
citizens of the Dominican Republic,  who were later transferred into
the custody of Drug Enforcement  Administration special agents in
Puerto Rico and are now facing charges.

PR TO RECEIVE WORLD'S TWO BIGGEST CRUISES

From UT San Diego/AP:

Puerto Rico is preparing to welcome the world's two largest cruise ships
for the first time next year. The executive director of the island's Tourism
Company says Royal  Caribbean's Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas
will bring an estimated 60,000 passengers to San Juan in 2016. Next year's
visits are expected to generate an estimated $6.4 million in revenue.