Puerto Rico News Digest For April 23, 2015

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN THREE MONTHS 

From Reuters:

Puerto Rico's top finance officials said the government of the U.S.
territory will likely shutdown in three months because of a looming
liquidity crisis and warned of a devastating impact on the island's
economy. In a letter to leading lawmakers, including Governor Ale-
jandro Padilla, the officials said a financing deal that could po-
tentially salvage the government's finances currently looked unlike-
ly to succeed. It warned of laying off government employees and re-
ducing public services."A government shutdown is very probable in
the next three months due to the absence of liquidity to operate,"
the officials said. "The likelihood of completing a market transac-
tion to finance the government's operations and keep the government
open is currently remote."

THOUSANDS WITHOUT MEDICATION DUE TO BUDGET

From Fox News Latino:

Thousands of Puerto Ricans with serious medical conditions enrolled in
the government-sponsored Mi Salud program are not receiving the medica-
tions they need because of the financial problems at state-owned insurer
ASES, which owes millions of dollars to providers. Lawmaker Jose Aponte,
a leader of the main opposition PNP party, told Efe that because ASES
owes money to the insurance companies that provide health-care services,
the companies, in turn, do not authorize payments to pharmacies for medi-
cations.

TAX REFORM BILL STILL LACKS VOTES

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The amended version of Tax Reform that has been filed in the island 

House of Representatives appears not to have the needed votes for 

approval for reasons rangingfrom the proposed 14 percent rate for the 

value-added tax to the payment mechanism to give municipalities their 

share of the tax. As of Tuesday, at least four legislators still opposed 

the measure. Majority Leader Carlos Hernández said at a news con-

ference held a day earlier that no vote count had been taken. Some 

lawmakers said they will not decide on their vote until they read and 

evaluate the whole bill with changes included to enable a better ana-

lysis. 

SEVEN MIGRANTS APPREHENDED IN AGUADILLA

From Latin Post:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) apprehended seven Domini-

cans attempting to enter Puerto Rico illegally with a boat, according to 

a CBP press release. A local resident notified Puerto Rico Police about 

a boat approaching Bienvenidos beach in Aguadilla. Police contacted 

CBP reporting that a "yola," a powered makeshift  raft, had been spotted 

with an unknown number of passengers in the area. When CBP officials 

and police officers arrived at the scene they found a 20-foot yola powered 

by a 40 horsepower outboard motor. However, the passengers were not 

in sight. With the help of patrol aircraft, CBP and police found the seven 

immigrants in a near by area.

TROOPS FROM FORT BUCHANAN DEPLOYED TO M.E.

From Caribbean Business:

Approximately 21 soldiers assigned to the 271st Human Resources Company, 

U.S. Army Reserve-Puerto Rico, departed the island Wednesday on their way 

to a mobilization station in Texas before arriving to the Middle East. "I 

believe in all of you. We did an excellent job during our pre-mobilization 

training and I know we will accomplish our mission," said 1st Lt. Ayesha 

Jiménez, officer in charge of the detachment. The unit will manage the 

Theater Casualty Assistance Center, which oversees casualties across the 

Middle East.

Puerto Rico News Digest For March 20, 2015

PRODUCE FROM DOM. REP. QUARANTINED

From Caribbean Business:

Customs and Border Protection (CBP), through its Field Operations
Office, announced Wednesday the implementation of a federal quaran-
tine order suspending imports of fruit and vegetables from the
Dominican Republic due to the Mediterranean fruit fly, or Medfly.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued a federal order
(FO-2015-14) to immediately prevent entry or the introduction of
vegetables and fruits from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. to
avoid the introduction of the fruit fly, a very damaging pest.

CROWLEY ADDS FREIGHT CAPACITY FOR PR

From News Is My Business:

Just as Puerto Rico businesses are starting to feel the pinch of a
slowdown in merchandise imports in the wake of Horizon Lines’ exit
from the market, maritime shipper Crowley announced Thursday the
addition of a new flat-deck barge capable of carrying up to 400 loads.
The barge is scheduled to arrive in San Juan on Monday with a full
load of cargo for the island. The vessel’s deployment “marks an
important milestone in Crowley’s rapid response to the sudden depar-
ture of Horizon Lines from the Puerto Rico trade,” the company said.

HOUSE SPEAKER: 12% IVA MOST VIABLE OPTION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

House Speaker Jaime Perelló said Wednesday that in all probability
the value added tax would be 12 percent and not 16 percent as pro-
vided in the Tax Transformation Act legislation fi led by Gov.
Alejandro García Padilla. The Puerto Rico House of Representatives,
after listening to more than 100 agencies and individuals, is now
in the process of amending the proposed reform. The House is eva-
luating establishing different rates of the value-added tax (IVA
by its Spanish acronym), but on Wednesday Perelló said lawmakers
are leaning toward a 12 percent rate.

MAN WHO KILLED HIGLER COULD GET 8 YEARS

Gerardo De La Paz, the driver who killed Dutch globetrotter Laurens

Higler in a hit and run last week, could face up to 8 years of jail time

without parole for leaving the scene of the accident. Police are conti-

nuing their investigation in Guayama.

More headlines on our Twitter feed.

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 3, 2015

CELAC CALLS FOR DECOLONIZATION

Photo: The Costa Rica News

From The San Juan Daily Star:


With the support of Cuba and Venezuela, the heads of state and
government of the 33 member countries of the Community of Latin
American and Caribbean States (CELAC) have ratifi ed their call
for the decolonization of Puerto Rico to free the Caribbean of
colonies. Their common stand was included in the final decla-
ration of the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of
CELAC, adopted late last week in Belén, Costa Rica and posted
on the group’s website. The leaders also reiterated the Latin
American and Caribbean nature of Puerto Rico, in line with the
stand assumed previously in the Declaration of Havana at the
end of the 2014 CELAC Summit.

MIGRANTS MISSING AFTER BOAT SINKS

From Fox News:

Twelve Dominican migrants were detained and an undetermined
number are still missing after the boat they were on sank
off a beach in the northwestern Puerto Rican town of Camuy,
authorities said Monday.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection official in Puerto Rico
Jeffrey Quiñones on Monday told Efe that the homemade boat
was 9 meters (29.5 feet) in length and sank last Friday off
the coast at Camuy.

NINE INDICTED OVER KILLING OF PRISON GUARD

From Inquisitr:

According to Fox News, nine different men from Puerto Rico have
been convicted for the murder of Lt. Osvaldo Albarati on February
26, 2013. All nine of them were inmates at the Metropolitan
Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, when the incident
occurred. Albarati had confiscated cellphones and other contraband
from the inmates. This provoked the nine inmates to retaliate.

The United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, Rosa
Emilia Rodriguez, claimed that this was the first murder of a
United States federal agent in Puerto Rico. Rodriguez spoke at a
press conference on Friday, explaining that the nine defendants had
carefully planned to kill the Puerto Rican correctional officer as
a direct result of the confiscated items.

VENEZUELA, MEXICO WIN 1ST CARIBBEAN SERIES GAMES

From The Idaho Statesman:

San Diego Padres utilityman Alexi Amarista hit a two-run triple to
lead Venezuela to a 5-2 victory over host Puerto Rico and Mexico beat
Cuba 2-1 Monday in the opening games of the Caribbean Series. Cinci-
nnati Reds prospect Daryl Thompson gave up a run in six innings and
struck out five for the Venezuelan team, Los Caribes de Anzoategui.
Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Giovanni Soto got the loss for the
Puerto Rican team, Los Cangrejeros de Santurce.

PR ECONOMIC ACTIVITY FALLS 1.4% IN DECEMBER

From Reuters:

Puerto Rico's economic activity fell 1.4 percent year-on-year in
December, the U.S. Commonwealth's Government Development Bank
(GDB) said on Friday. The GDB's Economic Activity Index, which
tracks employment, gasoline sales and other indicators on the
island, slipped to 125.3 in December, 2014.

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 20, 2015

POLITICAL PRISONER GONZALEZ CLAUDIO BACK IN PR

Photo from: Claridad

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Political prisoner Norberto González Claudio, who was charged
in the 1983 robbery of over $7 million from a Wells Fargo truck,
the largest heist in U.S. history, arrived in Puerto Rico late
last week to the delight of hundreds of pro-independence supporters
after serving time in a Florida prison. González Claudio , 69, was
sentenced in 2012 by Senior U.S. District Judge Alfred V. Covello
in Hartford to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years
of supervised release, for his involvement in a 1983 armored truck
robbery in West Hartford, Conn., and for his illegal possession of
a machine gun at the time of his arrest in May 2011.

CHEAP OIL MUDDIES PREPA RECOVERY

From Reuters:

Tumbling oil prices may offer short-term relief to Puerto Rico's
struggling electric power authority PREPA, but could embolden
bondholders and muddy the utility's path to a long-term fix.
Crude's slide may give bondholders more sway in negotiating a
restructuring of the utility because a sharp drop in its fuel
costs gives them less reason to accept reduced debt repayments.
While fixing PREPA is seen as a key step in solving the troubled
island's debt problems, cheaper oil could create the perception
that the power authority may not need a broad, and expensive,
overhaul.

VENEZUELA FOOD COMPANY COMES TO PR

From News Is My Business:

Industrias Alimenticias Alto de San Juan, owned by two Venezuelan
companies, announced Monday plans to manufacture its products in
Puerto Rico.

With an initial investment of $400,000, the company has committed
to the creation of 200 jobs once the project is fully operational.
This is the fourth industrial development project announced by Gov.
Alejandro García-Padilla’s administration during the past two weeks.
The payroll associated with the new jobs reaches about $3 million
annually, Gov. García-Padilla said during the ribbon-cutting at
the plant.

DOM REP POULTRY EXPORTS TO PR SET TO EXPLODE

From Dominican Today:

The Government aims to spur poultry and egg exports to Puerto Rico
to supply of meals to students from that island, Agro Bank adminis-
trator Carlos Segura affirmed Monday.

The official said among the agreements signed by president Danilo
Medina and Puerto Rico governor Alejandro García figure taking
advantage of domestic production, once the country obtains the
required certifications. He said the country’s installed capacity
meets Puerto Rico’s market and can double poultry production,
without expanding current facilities. He said the country currently
produces 15 million chickens and 150 million eggs.

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 15, 2015

PR AND DOM REP LEADERS SIGN ACCORDS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Gov. Alejandro García Padilla and first lady Wilma Pastrana
welcomed Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina and his
wife Cándia Montilla, who arrived on the island Tuesday
morning to sign a number of agreements between Puerto Rico
and its Caribbean neighbor.
[...]
García Padilla took advantage of the Dominican president’s
one-day visit to announce he will be introducing legislation
that will allow all individuals regardless of immigration
status to vote in elections. “There are U.S. jurisdictions
that have done this and we should have been first,” he said.
University of Puerto Rico President Urayoan Walker revealed
that one of the agreements will allow for the exchange of
students so they can study English, engineering and
agriculture. Some 75 Dominican students who got scholarships
from the Science and Technology Ministry will benefi t from
the agreement.

PR FACES DEBT RISK BESIDES POWER CO

From Bloomberg:

A potential restructuring of Puerto Rico power-utility debt may
fail to shield other commonwealth bonds from a similar outcome.

Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla’s strategy to bolster the
Government Development Bank, which lends to the junk-rated
commonwealth and its localities, hinges on a planned $2.9
billion bond sale backed by increased petroleum-tax revenue.
Lawmakers intend to amend the deal this month to make it more
attractive to investors. Without the borrowing, the GDB’s
cash would drop by almost half by March 31, according to
Moody’s Investors Service, crimping its ability to serve as
a financing backstop.

Puerto Rico and its agencies are staggering under $73 billion
of debt, which would rank the territory third among U.S. states.

PUERTO RICO CRIME DROPS SHARPLY IN 2014

From Yahoo! News:

The island of 3.7 million people had 681 homicides in 2014,
the lowest number in nearly 15 years and a drop of 40 percent
since murders reached a record high of 1,164 three years ago.
Violent crime overall fell 17 percent over the same period.

Credit for the decline goes to a number of factors, from
increased efforts to prevent crime to a broader trend of
declining violence across the United States and the
Caribbean.

GOOGLE TO LAUNCH MODULAR PHONE IN PR

From The Wall Street Journal:

Google Inc. on Wednesday said it would launch a “modular”
smartphone in Puerto Rico, part of an audacious and risky
effort by the Internet giant to upend the way mobile devices
are designed, built and sold.

The Ara smartphone, which has components that can be replaced
and upgraded through a hardware marketplace similar to an  app
store, will go on sale on the island in the second half  of 2015.
Google is partnering with cellular carriers OpenMobile and
Claro, part of America Movil , the largest wireless-service
provider in Latin America

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 13, 2015

DOMINICAN PRESIDENT LANDS IN PR

The President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, arrived at
Muñiz Air Base in Carolina this morning for  an official visit during
which he will sign several  cooperation agreements with Puerto Rico
Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla. President Medina is accompanied
by his wife Cándida Montilla and twelve Dominican government
ministers. After reception activities are concluded, the Governor and
President will meet at the Governor's mansion, and Dominican ministers
will meet with their Puerto Rican counterparts at the Convention Center.
At 2:00 PM, Secretary of State David Bernier and Dominican Foreign
Minister Andres Navarro will present both leaders with the accomplish-
ments of the Puerto Rico-Dominican Republic Joint Commission,
which was set up last October. The leaders will then give a speech
regarding the agreements. At 3:30PM, the Jose MiguelAgrelot Coliseum
will host a cultural festival featuring musical performances.

LEGISLATURE CONSIDERS ASSISTED SUICIDE

From The San Juan Daily Star:


A bill that was recently introduced in the island House
would open the door to allow for physician-assisted suicide
for terminally ill patients. The legislation filed by Rep.
Ángel Matos, who was inspired by the case of Brittany Maynard,
a terminally ill cancer patient who died last November at age
29 through a process of assisted suicide permitted by the
laws of the State of Oregon.  House Bill 2258 would create the
“Act on Assistance for a dignified death for terminally ill
patients.” “This is a law that will off er an option and is
not something that will be imposed,” Matos said.

NEW AIRLINE TO FLY FROM FL TO PR

From Naples News:


Sun Country Airlines will begin nonstop service between Southwest
Florida International Airport and San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín
International Airport in Puerto Rico with two weekly flights
beginning May 3, Lee County Port Authority officials said Monday.

CAPTAIN AMERICA MOVIE TO FILM IN PR

From Inquisitr:


Comic Book Resources is reporting that Anthony Mackie, who is
reprising his role as the Falcon in Captain America 3: Civil War
from Captain America: The Winter Soldier, told a radio station
in Chicago of the locations the movie will be filming at.

“We start shooting in April, so it’s going to a lot of flying
and fighting for about five months,” said the actor, who will
be suiting up to reprise the role of Sam Wilson/Falcon.

Mackie revealed to the listening audience that the cast and crew
would be traveling to Berlin, Puerto Rico, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Mackie will join Chris Evans as Captain America and Robert
Downey Jr. as Iron Man.

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 9, 2015

FERRY PASSENGER BUSTED WITH HEROIN

From The San Juan Daily Star:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) field operations officers
have seized 10.1 pounds (4.5 kilos) of heroin concealed inside a
decorative table foundinside a cargo van, driven by a male U.S. citizen
arriving from the Dominican Republic. The estimated street value of the
seized contraband is $250,000, the agency said in a statement earlier
this week. Ezequiel Tineo Alcala, 45, appeared in U.S. District Court
for charges related to the smuggling and distribution of narcotics.

CBP field operations offi cers conducting inspections of vehicles
that arrived on board the ferry M/V Caribbean Fantasy selected Alcala’s
Ford cargo van for a more intrusive inspection. A CBP K9 alerted agents
to a decorative table inside the van. The table was drilled into,
revealing a residue which tested positive for heroin.

ADRIAN PETERSON SEEN GAMBLING IN PR

From CBS Sports:

Adrian Peterson was in San Juan recently when a fan walked up to him
and took a picture of Peterson playing craps. In Vegas, security might
take your phone for taking photos on the casino floor. In San Juan,
no one seems to care.

Anyway, Peterson has plenty of money to gamble with: He made over
$5 million this year before being suspended without pay. The Vikings
running back was suspended in November after playing in only one game
in 2014.

PR MAY ALLOW HIGHER BOND YIELDS

From Bloomberg:

Puerto Rico lawmakers plan to alter a bill so the Government Development
Bank can offer higher interest rates on a $2.9 billion petroleum-tax-
backed bond sale to increase demand for the debt.

Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla is set by mid-January to sign legis-
lation authorizing the sale, Assembly Representative Rafael “Tatito”
Hernandez said today in a phone interview. Immediately afterward, the
legislature will ease limits on the bonds’ coupon and a provision that
links a petroleum-tax increase to broader tax-law changes, Hernandez said.

“The language of the bill has some ties between the tax reform and the
date when the revenue starts and that isn’t supposed to be that way,”
said Hernandez, who chairs the House Treasury Committee. “So we’re going
to change that.”

DOM. REP AND PR TO SIGN SWEEPING PACT

From Dominican Today:

Puerto Rico Secretary of State David Bernier said Thursday that
agreements on trade, on exchange of information and education with
Dominican Republic to be announced next week will bolster both
economies, EFE reports.

"The benefit here is reciprocal. They are our immediate neighbors
and that in itself makes it a natural partner and collaborator. We
have many opportunities if we make a concerted work to strengthen
the economy," the senior Puerto Rican official told EFE.

Puerto Rico governor Alejandro García Padilla together with Dominican
counterpart Danilo Medina will present on Tuesday the conclusion of
a joint effort aimed at increasing trade, education and information
exchange.

BANKRUPTCY FILINGS DOWN 20% IN DECEMBER

From News Is My Business:

Bankruptcy filings were down 20 percent year-over-year in December,
when a total of 839 cases were filed, according to preliminary figures
released Thursday by research firm Boletín de Puerto Rico. When compared
to December 2013, the results showed there were 205 fewer cases filed
last month.