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 February 19, 2015

THREE DEAD IN COROZAL SHOOTINGS

According to El Nuevo Dia, three individuals died last night as

a result of two separate shootings in the central rural town of 

Corozal. The town's mayor, Sergio Torres Torres, states that he

believed the shootings were related to a "quarrel among groups",

but no clear motive has emerged yet. Juan Eddie Rosado Burgos, 

age 28, was shot in front of a business in the Maria del Carmen

neighborhood at 9:11 PM, while a 24 year old man was wounded in

the same incident. Two hours later, another shooting broke out

in front of another business in the Enrique Landrón housing 

project. Jonathan Avilés Adorno, age 25, and Nuvia Vázquez 

Estrada, age 30, died as a result of that shooting, while two

others were injured. Police are investigating.

PR-CUBA FLIGHTS TO BEGIN THIS SUMMER

From Caribbean Business:

Puerto Rico Secretary of State David Bernier said a company involved 

in tourism is preparing to offer some 12 non-stop charter flights from the 

island to Cuba this summer. Bernier said Turismo Tony Pérez will provide 

charter flights to those who fit into the 12 categories established by the 

U.S., which include trips dedicated to culture, education and religion among 

others.

TOURIST DIES WHILE SURFING IN PR

From The Seattle Times:

A 28-year-old tourist from Washington state died while surfing 

along Puerto Rico’s west coast, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.

Travis Forney lived in North Bend and had flown to Puerto Rico on 

Feb. 15, according to his Facebook page. He worked as a construction 

manager for Huber Architects in Seattle, the company’s president, 

Kevin Huber, told The Associated Press.

HOUSE SPEAKER DEFENDS TAX REFORM

From The San Juan Daily Star:

House Speaker Jaime Perelló hit the airwaves Tuesday to defend the 

proposed Tax Reform and the implementation of a 16 percent value-

added tax (IVA by its Spanish acronym) “because the new tax system 

will bring much needed fi nancial relief to island’s salaried middle 

class.” In a radio interview, Perelló said that citizens’ various 

concerns, specifi cally private schools not being exempt from paying 

the IVA, will be considered during public hearings. Another concern 

is having to pay the IVA for a medical appointment, a cost that is

usually paid by health insurance providers, sometimes in total, while 

other times patients pay a low deductible.

FEDS ANNOUNCE GREEN ENERGY FUNDING

From News Is My Business:

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Tuesday that rural 

agricultural producers and small business owners across the mainland 

and Puerto Rico can now apply for resources to purchase and install 

renewable energy systems or make energy efficiency improvements.

These efforts help farmers, ranchers and other small business owners 

save money on their energy bills, reduce the country’s dependence on 

foreign oil, support the clean energy economy, and cut carbon 

pollution. The 2014 Farm Bill makes the resources possible.