How Stupid Is The FBI? You Must Read This!

Commentary 

Richard Lawless

Unfortunately, my company along with tens of thousands of other individuals and corporations was caught off-guard by Puerto Rico’s financial collapse. To make sure that it doesn’t happen to us again, my company launched an investigation into the causes of this tragedy so we wouldn’t become a victim a second time, somewhere else.

Part of the findings uncovered information indicating the Puerto Rico Government theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds each year.  I reported this to the San Juan FBI office and after many months and little cooperation, they determined the activities did not meet criminal standards and would better be handled as a personal civil case.

Shortly after that I received a call from a CIA Agent that said they have been tracking the massive wire transfers out of Puerto Rico for almost a decade. The Agent then went on to say that they have notified the FBI repeatedly and the FBI failed to act on it.  The agent also said that in tape recorded phone conversations it was clear that the San Juan FBI and U.S. District Attorney Offices were participating in this massive theft and their family members were receiving payoffs; Further explaining the lack of prosecution for so many years.  A short time after that, British Intelligence suggested they were aware of much of same.

Two newspaper editors were able to confirm the tip from the CIA and British Intelligence.

On April 6, 2016, the Caribbean News Now Agency printed the article “Personal conflicts obstruct FBI investigation into Puerto Rico fraud” and the New York Observer printed a similar article on 6 27-16. As of today, it is my understanding that the money continues to flow out of Puerto Rico and find its way back to critical DOJ employees.

Reporting this to the San Juan FBI and U.S. Attorney would be silly, since they were the DOJ employees allegedly accepting the payoffs. I forwarded this information to the Washington Headquarters of the FBI hoping they would do something.

After not hearing anything for almost a year, I filed a Freedom of Information Request.  I received the results today. The Washington FBI referred my complaint back to the San Juan FBI so they could investigate themselves!

As of today, it is my understanding that the money continues to flow out of Puerto Rico and find its way back to critical DOJ employees.

Puerto Rico Bond Fraud that set a new standard for Congressional Corruption? 60 Sec Commercial Summarizing some of the crimes

Press Conference recapping testimony to the SEC/FBI and Congressional Oversight Committee – It is mind bending

Richard Lawless is a former senior banker who has specialized in evaluating and granting debt for over 25 years. He has a Master’s Degree in Finance from the University of San Diego and Bachelor’s Degree from Pepperdine University. He sits on several Corporate Boards and actively writes for several finance publications. The opinions expressed in the preceding commetary are solely his and do not represent those of The Puerto Rico Monitor.

Visiting Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico

Feature

The islands of Vieques and Culebra lie off the east coast of Puerto Rico, and have some of the Caribbean's best beaches. Here are some of the basics you need to know before visiting these two islands.

Flamenco Beach, Culebra

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Casa Culebra.

Source: TripAdvisor.Com

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Culebra

The island-municipality of Culebra lies about 17 miles east of the main island of Puerto Rico. It is sparsely inhabited, and hosts some of the best beaches on Puerto Rican territory, which is saying a lot. Flamenco Beach is the best-known one. Culebra was for a long time home to a US military bombing range, until its closing in 1975. An old, rusting army tank still sits on the beach and provides for good photo opportunities.

There are a few ways to get to Culebra. The simplest and cheapest one is to take the ferry from Fajardo. The terminal is located on Road 987, and the ferries run every day, although the cargo ferries run only during the workweek. The fare is $2.25 per person each way. If the ferry is not your style, you can rent a private boat to take you there. Or, if you are the kind of person that places a lot of faith in small, single-engine planes, you can take a flight to Culebra from Diego Jimenez Torres Airport in Fajardo, or from José Aponte de la Torre Airport in Ceiba, for little over $100 round-trip. I've gone to Culebra this way, and it was very fast, but I found the ferry more relaxing (and much cheaper, although also much slower).

Once at the Culebra ferry terminal or airport, you will probably see vans and/or taxis that can take you to Flamenco Beach or anywhere else on the island you need to go. Make sure you agree on the fare before hopping in, and be aware that many of these taxis will be shared. You can arrange with your driver to come pick you up at a particular time. If you're planning on going back to Fajardo the same day, make sure you're back at the ferry terminal by 4:30PM, if not earlier, as the last ferry leaves at 5:00PM. If you want to stay, there are several small hotels and inns on the island (a listing can be found at:http://www.islaculebra.com/puerto-rico/hotels-villas.html)

Culebra has been a pretty bare-bones place for a long time, but tourism infrastructure has been slowly developing over the last several years. It is one of the most charming, beautiful and picturesque places in Puerto Rico, and I highly recommend a visit.

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A beach in Vieques.

Source: Vieques Weekly

W Retreat & Spa in Vieques.

Source: Caribbean Travel

Vieques

Vieques is an island-municipality about 8 miles east of Puerto Rico's "big island". It bears the nickname "isla nena" or "daughter island", a reference to its size in relation to Puerto Rico. While Vieques was a US Navy bombing range for many decades, military activities ceased in 2003 after many years of heated protest both in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Since then, tourist facilities in Vieques have been greatly improving, although the island still retains its sleepy charm.

Vieques offers several attractions, besides its many pristine beaches, such as Esperanza Beach and Playa Caracas. You can visit the Fortin Conde de Mirasol, a Spanish-built fort from the 19th century which now serves as a museum. There are also two historical lighthouses, Faro Punta Mulas and Faro de Puerto Ferro. The main attraction in Vieques these days, though, is its bioluminiscent bay. Like similar bays in La Parguera and Fajardo, the water here is dramatically lit up by a multitude of glowing microorganisms, which only glow brighter when the water is agitated. The bay in Vieques (often referred to as "Mosquito Bay") is alleged to be the brightest one in Puerto Rico. Several companies offer tours, mainly by kayak. Some of these are Abe's Snorkeling (www.abessnorkeling.com) and Island Adventures (www.biobay.com). Make sure you book a trip when there isn't a full moon.

Vieques is still not nearly as urbanized as much of the rest of Puerto Rico, and seeing wild horses and chickens is not uncommon. American fast food outlets seem to be non-existent (which is great, in my opinion) and things generally move at a slower pace than in urban PR. If you're in the area in July, you can go check out Vieques' Patron Saint festivities, which are a real hoot. Make sure you put your drinking shoes on for that one, though.

Malecon Esperanza.

Source: Vieques Weekly

You can get to Vieques by taking a ferry from the terminal on Road 987 in Fajardo, or by plane from the airports in San Juan, Ceiba or Isla Grande. You can also fly between Vieques and the US Virgin Islands, which are not far away. The ferry is about $4 round-trip per person, and runs daily. A cargo ferry is available during the workweek if you want to bring your car (I don't recommend it). For transportation, you can either rent a car in Vieques, or you can take a taxi or van at the ferry terminal or airport, or engage a taxi driver for the day. You can have a driver drop you off at the beach, for example, and arrange to be picked up by a certain time. The last ferry leaves Vieques at 6:00 PM, so be there an hour before that unless you're planning to spend the night. The best-known resort is the very pricey (and amazing) W Retreat and Spa, but less expensive accommodations, such as the Sea Gate Hotel, are available. For more information on Vieques tourism, visit:http://www.viequestourism.com/.

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For more information on visiting Puerto Rico, try The Real Deal Guide To Puerto Rico.

Austerity Doesn't Work

Commentary

W.A. Delgado

Originally published March 16, 2017

When a nation or jurisdiction runs into problems with debt, the pres-
cription usually recommended by the banks, investors, hedge fund
managers and rich lender governments is usually the same: cut costs
by slashing social spending and raise taxes on the poor and middle
class. But these approaches, as has already been demonstrated -- in
Greece, for example -- usually end up tanking the target economy
even further. A society in economic recession or depression isn't go-
ing to get better by making the most vulnerable people suffer, and its
economy won't return to prosperity by leaving working class people
(who usually spend most of their income, putting the money back in-
to the economy) with less money to spend. Austerity doesn't create
employment or growth, and it certainly doesn't create better living
conditions for the bulk of the population. But for the masters of ca-
pital, how average people are doing is just an "externality".  Debts
must be paid, in full and on time, no matter what. The rich can never
suffer, even a bit.  Rather, the poor must always pay the price.

In a world where many governments are "democratic" only in appea-
rance, true democracy continues to erode. Institutions everywhere are
increasingly more beholden to the dictates of the very few and very
privileged, while the wishes of the masses continue to be drowned
out by lofty talk of the rules of the "free market". The orthodoxy of
the inscrutable market must always be obeyed, human beings be
damned. Who cares if people starve, as long as the numbers look
the way they're supposed to look, for the right people?

Recently, Puerto Rico's unelected fiscal control board warned about
the severityof the island's cash flow, and suggested "emergency mea-
sures" be taken. Measures like maybe taxing expensive real estate at
higher rates, or taxing foreign corporations and big box retailers mo-
re? No, of course not. What is needed is to reduce teachers' hours, cut
health services for the sick and slash pensions for the old. So how
will austerity make for a better society? It won't. But it will make
for better financial returns for the masters of capital.

What Puerto Rico really needs in the long term is not austerity, or en-
trepreneurs (another fabled cure for everything). We don't need more
rights and giveaways for the international and local investor classes
or platitudes about "innovation" or personal responsibility. What we
need is true democracy, where the people -- the ones who really keep
society running -- can have a direct say in how the government func-
tions, how its budget is spent, and how (and to whose benefit) the
economic resources of the nation are to be utilized.


W.A. Delgado is a staff writer for the Puerto Rico Monitor.

Puerto Rico Activities For This Weekend

Friday, May 5

Playarte Nights

Boardriders Surf Bar holds this arts and culture event the first Friday of every month at La Pared beach. Live music, artisans and other presentations.

Where: La Pared beach, Herminio Diaz Navarro Street, Luquillo
When: 7 PM - 12 AM
Admission: Free


Pineapple Festival

Chefs from restaurants around La Parguera present pineapple-based dishes. Live music and vendors will also be available. A 5k run will take place Saturday. Festival runs all weekend.

Where: La Parguera, Lajas
When: 9 AM - 11 PM
Admission: Free



Saturday,  May 6

La 18: Art & Gastronomy on Wheels

Fair featuring visual arts, design and several food trucks. Runs Saturday and Sunday.

Where: Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan
When: 11 AM - 9 PM
Admission: Free


Guajataca Carnival

Live entertainment, float parade, carnival rides, vendors. Runs from Friday to Sunday.

Where: Pedro Hernández Basketball Arena parking lot, Quebradillas
When: 7 PM - 12 AM
Admission: Free



Sunday, May 7

Expomecanika 2017

Convention for those interested in the building or repair of motor vehicles, aircraft or boats

Where: Puerto Rico Convention Center, Guamaní Street, San Juan
When: 9 AM - 6 PM
Admission: Free


Urban Market at Ventana Al Mar

Farmer's market featuring local produce and food products taking place in Condado.

Where: 1054 Ashford Avenue, San Juan
When: 9 AM - 5 PM
Admission: Free

The Puerto Rico Monitor cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the  above listings. They are based on the best information available at the time of writing.

For more information on visiting Puerto Rico, read The Real Deal Guide to Puerto Rico, only $3.59 in e-book format!

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.

Is Independence Imminent For Puerto Rico?

Commentary

Rosa Bravo

Originally published January 12, 2016


I am proud of my United States citizenship and I have long supported
the idea of statehood for Puerto Rico. But at this point, even I have to
admit that my home island becoming the 51st state seems like an in-
creasingly remote possibility. I'm not pessimistic about statehood be-
cause of the language difference, or the possibility of losing our "na-
tional" Olympic team, or because of Puerto Rican voters' long runn-
ing indecisiveness regarding the future of their island. I'm pessimis-
tic about statehood because the one entity that could grant such a thing,
the US Congress, will not let it happen. And with every day that passes,
Congress feels less and less willing to admit Puerto Rico as a state.

And who can blame them? Puerto Rico's financial woes have made
headlines regularly over the last several years. Holders of Puerto Rico
bonds are bracing themselves for the worst, will billions of dollars yet
to be lost. During the island's budget and debt debacles, some of Puerto
Rico's seemingly intractable institutional corruption has been brought to
light for the whole world to see. Puerto Ricans continue to leave the is-
land for the mainland in droves. Puerto Rico is still much poorer than the
poorest state in the union. Besides all of this, the US's incentives for hol-
ding on to this Caribbean territory have largely disappeared.

During the 20th century, Puerto Rico's location made it a key to protec-
ting the then US owned Panama Canal. After World War II, its strategic
value appreciated further, as Cuba went communist and the US needed to
pay close attention to the Caribbean and Central America. Puerto Rico was
also a hub for manufacturing, as tax incentives and cheap labor yielded bi-
llions in profits for American corporations. But those incentives are gone.
The Cold War is long over, and whatever geopolitical challenges the US
faces -- or expects to face in the near future -- are not present in the Ame-
ricas, but rather in the Middle East and Asia. American businesses found
labor cheaper than Puerto Rico's long ago, in Mexico, China, India...even
right next door in the Dominican Republic. Plus, Congress took away
many of the tax incentives.

The United States has taken plenty from Puerto Rico over the decades,
including scores of lives lost by Puerto Rican soldiers in American wars.
But now that they find they can't squeeze any more juice from their main
Caribbean possession, they are probably asking themselves what the point
is any longer. Sure, Puerto Ricans still pay plenty of taxes to Uncle Sam,
even if we don't pay Federal Income Tax (although many of us do have to
pay). American businesses still make billions in the island. But the old re-
turn on investment is no longer there. Many a right-wing blowhard in DC
will think "Why do we keep sending billions in federal funds into a black
hole? Why do we even still have this island of latino freeloaders any lon-
ger?". They look at Puerto Rico's super-corrupt elites and increasingly poor
population and wonder whether it might not be time to cut their losses. Ne-
vermind that that same corrupt elite grew initially under US auspices (Puer-
to Rico had no self-rule at all until 1952, and even then it was severely li-
mited) and that the US-favored colonial status is largely responsible for
keeping Puerto Ricans trapped in poverty. Historical memories are short
in Washington.

Will Congress suddenly be afflicted with an attack of conscience, and
grant Puerto Rico statehood (provided a majority of us finally and with-
out reservation ask for it)? Will they consider America's decades-long ill
treatment and neglect of Puerto Rico and do the morally right thing, and
say yes to admitting millions of US citizens into the union as equals? I
wouldn't bet any money on it. While the statehood conversation would be
taken a lot more seriously if at least 75% of Puerto Rican voters said yes
to statehood (nope, 51% doesn't cut it and never will), it would still be a
battle. Congress looks at the Puerto Rico of today and see millions of poor,
Spanish-speaking welfare recipients. With Cuba opening, Puerto Rico is
no longer the business-friendly Caribbean lab of the mid-century; it is a
washed-up has-been, in their eyes. But they are beginning to acknowledge
that the current colonial situation is no longer tenable. So what options are
left? A sovereign, "associated republic", a la Marshall Islands or Palau.
Or, of course, full independence. Either one would be seen in Washing-
ton as cheaper and easier than maintaining the current status, or burdening
itself with a "beggar" 51st state.

Congress may soon have the excuse that it wants to get rid of Puerto Ri-
co. Independence may be coming sooner than any of us expect, whether
we ask for it or not. The colonial master is getting anxious and is feeling
increasingly eager to get rid of what it helped create. If you don't want to
see that happen, it's time to start making some real noise for statehood.
And not in  Puerto Rico, where it won't matter what you say or who hears
you. It is people and politicians in the mainland who need to hear our voi-
ces. And do you have family or friends in the mainland  US? Of course you
do. Tell them to speak up and to always VOTE, and to let  everyone know
that they vote. We also need an organization that can promote statehood
other than the New Progressive Party, which for decades has accomplished
less than nothing in convincing Congress to seriously consider decoloniza-
tion.

If we don't take the fight for statehood to another level, get ready to make
some room for that Puerto Rico passport in your wallet. Because we're
going to be on our own.


The opinions expressed in the preceding commentary do no  necessarily reflect those 
of The Puerto Rico Monitor.

Visiting The El Yunque Rainforest

Feature

Bill Alvarez

The only honest-to-goodness tropical rainforest under the United States flag is located in eastern Puerto Rico, mostly in the town of Rio Grande. To get to it from San Juan, take Highway 26 east, and then exit onto PR Interstate Road 3, and head east/south (you can also take Toll Road 66 east, which is a faster way to get to Road 3, with a lot less traffic lights.) Off of Road 3, turn right onto PR-191 (you will see road signs directing you there, so it’s hard to miss). Once on PR-191, follow the signs for El Yunque. You will go through a small neighborhood and then you will notice you are driving increasingly uphill. Before long, you will see the forest’s welcome sign, and then the visitor’s center. The total drive from San Juan (if you take only Road 3, rather than Road 66 and Road 3) is about 30 miles, and will take about an hour.

The forest is officially open from 7:30AM to 6:00 PM daily. It doesn’t cost anything to get into the rainforest as such, and you can enjoy the many hiking trails, streams and waterfalls at no cost. The Visitor’s Center does charge $4 for adults and $2 for seniors, although children under 15 get in for free. They have a gift shop, cafeteria and some forest-related exhibits, as well as a movie about the rainforest narrated by Benicio del Toro. It is open daily from 9:00AM to 4:30 PM.

As you drive up through the rainforest, you will see several spots with limited parking where you can stop and go hiking or take some pictures. La Mina and La Coca waterfalls are both beautiful, and I recommend taking a dip in at least one of the pools at the bottom of the falls. The water is pretty cold, though! Rocks will also be slippery, so water shoes would be a handy thing to bring with you, along with an umbrella and/or poncho. As the name suggests, it rains all the time up there.

Stop at Yokahu Tower, climb up the stairs to the top and take some pictures of the stunning panorama. The hiking trails are pretty amazing, but they can be a bit narrow and steep. If you’re not in at least moderately good shape, you may only want to walk a portion of a trail, or skip them altogether. Wear some tennis shoes or hiking boots with good traction. La Coca Trail, La Mina Trail and the Big Tree Trail are some of the more popular ones (more trails here:http://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/elyunque/recreation/hiking/?recid=43377&actid=50).

The Mina Trail actually has a southern and a northern portion. The northern one follows the river more closely and seems to be the prettier one. Most trails have small picnic areas and gazebos along their trails.

DO NOT go exploring off-trail. El Yunque is a very large, deep jungle and you can most definitely get lost, perhaps for days. A few people who throughout the years have decided to venture into the forest without following trails did not make it out alive. I don’t want to scare you, all I’m saying is: follow the trails and you will have a great time.

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There are no indigenous peoples, cannibals, lions, elephants or other large animals in El Yunque. While the flora is very extensive and beautiful, the forest’s fauna is limited to lizards, insects, frogs and birds. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the endangered Puerto Rican Parrot. You will almost certainly hear the call of Puerto Rico’s small native frog, the Coqui (its call sounds just like its name, a hypnotizing “co-kee, co-kee”). Please deposit all trash in marked receptacles, or take it with you.

Out of the hundreds of species of plants you will see at El Yunque, some are known to be poisonous. I would not recommend eating any wild fruits or berries during your visit. For more detailed information on

poisonous plants, go here:http://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/elyunque/learning/nature-science/?cid=fsbdev3_042885. Most of the vegetation is safe, though, and the forest is home to over two hundred different species of tree, as well as a dizzying array of flowers, among them different types of orchids.

If you’re more than a little adventurous, you can do some rain forest ziplining. YunKE Zipline Adventures offers a couple of different ‘adventures’ involving a few ziplines over a part of the forest, as well as some rappelling. As of summer 2013, their packages were priced at $99 per person. You can contact them directly at their website (http://yzapr.com). Rain Forest Zipline Corp (http://rainforestzipline.com/) also offers zip lining adventures, apparently at about the same price as YunKe ($99 + tax during day, $75 + tax at night), including a nighttime “Firefly Canopy Tour”.

For more detailed and current information on the rainforest, visit the US Park Service’s El Yunque website at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque

For more information on visiting Puerto Rico, check out The Real Deal Guide to Puerto Rico, 

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