Puerto Rico News Digest For August 23, 2016

OLYMPIANS PARADE THROUGH SJ TODAY

Photo: PR Olympic Committee

From Caribbean Business:

"The Puerto Rican Olympic delegation will celebrate on Tuesday the end of the
2016 Río de Janeiro games with a parade through San Juan. The participating
athletes include Javier Culson, Jaime Espinal, Franklin Gómez and Mónica Puig.
The caravan is slated to begin on Baldorioty de Castro Avenue and end at the Pu-
erto Rico Coliseum. The event is expected to begin at 2 p.m. and includes a stop
at the San Jorge Children’s Hospital and then continues toward the coliseum via
Fernández Juncos Avenue..."

UP TO 270 ZIKA MICROCEPHALY CASES EXPECTED

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"U.S. health experts estimate that as many as 270 babies in Puerto Rico may be
born with the severe birth defect known as microcephaly caused by Zika infecti-
ons in their mothers during pregnancy. The estimate is the first to project the po-
tential impact of Zika on Puerto Rico, which has borne the brunt of the outbreak
in the United States. Puerto Rico had 13,186 laboratory-confirmed cases of Zika,
including 1,106 pregnant women, as of Friday. Rising infection rates of the virus
in Puerto Rico prompted the U.S. government to declare a state of public health
emergency last week..."

ECONOMISTS TO DISCUSS PROMESA IMPACT

From News Is My Business:

"The Puerto Rico Economists Association wiil address the impact of the Puerto
Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) and pre-
sent, through successful cases, the recipe to achieve economic revitalization dur-
ing its upcoming annual conference, the organization announced. The 33rd ann-
ual meeting will take place Aug. 26, when, under the slogan of “The New Econ-
omic Recipe: Strategies for Economic and Social Revitalization,” several panels
comprising representation from government, academia and private industries will
discuss a range of topics..."

SAN JUAN ACTIVISTS PROTEST TAX EXCEPTIONS

From Democracy Now:

"In Puerto Rico, activists disrupted a business conference in San Juan on Friday
to protest laws that give new residents and some business owners complete exc-
eptions on a slew of taxes. The activists were also protesting against the PROM-
ESA law, which creates a new financial control board to oversee the island’s fin-
ancial affairs. During the protest, activists carried banners reading "The People
Before the Debt." The protest shut down the conference’s event registration for
parts of the day..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 16, 2016

PUERTO RICO ZIKA CASES SEE BIG JUMP

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Health Secretary Ana Ríus announced Friday that for the epidemiological week
number 30 some 1,914 new cases of Zika were confirmed in the island, for a total
of 10,690 accumulated cases since the virus first arrived in Puerto Rico. The new
data includes 134 pregnant women for a total of 1,035. In addition, two more peo-
ple have been hospitalized for a total of 90 and there are three new cases of Guilla-
in-Barré syndrome for a total of 30 confirmed cases in laboratories. “We have in
our hands the necessary tools to avoid being infected with the Zika virus,” Ríus
said in a written statement. “Even if we don’t feel sick, we need to protect our-
selves..."

MURDERS IN AGUAS BUENAS & LAS PIEDRAS

As reported by El Nuevo Dia, a man between 20 and 25 years of age was murde-
red on road PR-173 in Aguas Buenas. The killing was reported at around 2:50 AM
this morning, and police found the body 15 minutes later. The man, of approxima-
tely 140 pounds, with black hair and beard, has yet to be identified. A second mur-
der was reported at approximately 5:50 AM on road PR-916 in Las Piedras. A 911
call alerted police to a bleeding person in the area. Police found the body minutes
later.

DONAHUE GETS $6.7M CONTRACT EXTENSION

From Caribbean Business:

"On the heels of what was described as a rather drawn-out meeting punctuated
by several sticking points, the Puerto Rico Electric Authority’s (Prepa) board vo-
ted to extend the contract of AlixPartners, headed by Lisa Donahue, to the tune
of $6.713 million. The contract, which was due to expire Aug. 15, will be exten-
ded through Dec. 15. “The deal is broken down with half the money for restruc-
turing-related work and the other half for operational related improvements,” said
one source with knowledge of negotiations. The restructuring work involves ma-
naging and reporting cash, working out all of the structure for the Special Purch-
ase Vehicle (SPV) and Prepa rate cases, continued implementation of creditor
deals and potential negotiations..."

MEDICAL POT INDUSTRY GROWS IN PR

From News Is My Business:

"...Already, more than two-dozen companies have applied for operational licen-
ses and others are expected to follow suit. One potential job creation opportunity
on the horizon is a high-tech system for “safe and consistent” cannabis cultivat-
ion that a U.S. firm is developing with the idea of possibly carrying out the pro-
duct assembly on the island, according to César Cordero Krüger, CEO of Grow-
blox Sciences Puerto Rico, LLC, a subsidiary of Las Vegas-based Growblox Sci-
ences, Inc., which is spearheading the technology..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For August 3, 2016

DUMPS HELP PROPAGATE ZIKA MOSQUITOS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The Zika epidemic has rapidly expanded in Puerto Rico but the U.S. Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) still refuses to close out-of-compliance land-
fills that are cauldrons of cultivation for mosquitoes that could transmit the dis-
ease. This makes the federal agency partly responsible for the rapid propagati-
on of the epidemic, said the community group Puerto Rico Limpio. The Puer-
to Rico Health Department announced last Friday that the number of Zika ca-
ses had taken off to nearly 7,300 with more than 1,700 reported in one day in
July. Despite a citizens’ campaign for several months demanding that the EPA
close municipal landfills that have not complied with federal laws for more
than a decade, the agency has refused to take measures..."

     

CIDRE PROPOSES FISCAL RESTRUCTURING PLAN

From Caribbean Business:

"Entrepreneur Manuel Cidre presented Tuesday a restructuring plan for Puer-
to Rico that includes consolidating the island’s 78 municipalities into eight re-
gions to achieve depoliticization and increase efficiency by eliminating dupli-
cate efforts and services. The independent gubernatorial candidate said his pl-
an can achieve a $340 million savings, or about $100 million more than the go-
vernment’s annual contribution to municipalities for their operation. His propo-
sal, he added, is based on scientific evidence obtained through local talent who
have studied the matter of restructuring of the government..."

BACO CONFIRMED AS INTERIM GDP PREZ

From News Is My Business:

"Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Alberto Bacó will take on
an additional role in Gov. Alejandro García-Padilla’s cabinet effective Monday,
when he started as acting President of the Government Development Bank. The
Board of Directors of the GDB approved the appointment unanimously on Sun-
day afternoon. Bacó’s incursion into the GDB is not new, given that part of his
role at Economic Development has called for sitting on the GDB’s board since
2013..."

PR CERTIFIES FIRST CANNABIS DOCTOR

From Culture Magazine:

"Dr. Michael Soler is the first medical doctor on the island of Puerto Rico to get
licensed to prescribe patients medical cannabis. In order to legally obtain medical
cannabis, patients must have at least one of 14 qualifying conditions, which inclu-
de Alzheimer’s, cancer, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, HIV, migraines, persistent mus-
cle spasms, severe nausea, etc.  It was by coincidence Dr. Soler became the first doc-
tor permitted to prescribe cannabis to patients. He stated in an interview that his in-
volvement as a trailblazing cannabis doctor, “was a coincidence...I completed all my
requirements and submitted all my documents in a timely manner and I became the
first one..."

Is There Really a Zika Epidemic In Puerto Rico? (Video)

Jose Izquierdo

Puerto Rico News Digest For April 26, 2016

HHS CHIEF TO VISIT PR, ADDRESS ZIKA

From The Washington Times:

"President Obama’s top health official will visit Puerto Rico this week to
get a firsthand look at how the island is combating the Zika virus, a trip
that coincides with Senate efforts to partially fund President Obama $1.9
billion request for emergency funding to stave off the mosquito-borne ill-
ness. On a two-day trip, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Ma-
thews Burwell will meet with Puerto Rican Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla,
tour a blood bank and personally urge pregnant women and those of child-
bearing age to protect themselves against mosquito bites that could lead to
infection..."

PIP DENOUNCES DNA TESTING OF ACTIVISTS

From The San Juan Daily Star:

The vice president and secretary general of the Puerto Rico Independence
Party (PIP) María de Lourdes Santiago and Juan Dalmau, respectively, con-
demned late last week the arrest of independence party activists by the FBI
to take DNA samples from them... The denunciation from both PIP leaders
came after reports circulated through social and mass media of the arrests of
Orlando González Claudio and Norberto Cintrón Fiallo after federal José Fus-
té issued orders against 16 independence activists to provide their DNA..."

TREASURY PAYS VENDOR, PRIMARIES TO PROCEED

From Caribbean Business:

"State Election Commission President Liza M. García announced that the
Treasury Department has paid its $1.6 million balance with Dominion Vo-
ting Systems, which is providing electronic vote count equipment for Puerto
Rico’s Ju- ne 5 primaries. Dominion Voting machine“We are pleased with
[Secretary] Juan Zaragoza’s engagement with suppliers and because the two
checks emitted have settled the remaining balance with Dominion Voting
Systems for this fiscal year,” the official said..."

PR RESTAURANT WEEK RETURNS IN JUNE

From News Is My Business:

"The 5th edition of “Puerto Rico Restaurant Week” will take place June
1-11, when premier restaurants will offer specially designed three course
dinner and/or lunch menus at a fixed price. These “prix fixe” menus are
the cornerstone of the event, that seeks to get foodies to try new establish-
ments and revisit old favorites, enticed by affordable multiple course me-
nus. The menu is set at either $28 or $38 for dinner and $20 for lunch, ex-
cluding beverages, tax, and tip. There are no tickets for the event, but re-
servations are required and must be booked directly with participating
restaurants.."

Puerto Rico News Digest For March 1, 2016

ZIKA CAN INFECT 1 IN 5 PUERTO RICANS

From The Washington Post:

"There are 117 confirmed cases of the virus in Puerto Rico, four times the
number at the end of January. The island territory, which has a population
of 3.5 million people, is “by far the most affected area” in the United States,
Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), said Friday...Experts say urgent action is needed before mosquitoes
reach their peak with the start of the rainy season in April. Experts from the
CDC estimate that 700,000 people — about 20 percent of the population —
could be infected across the island by the end of the year..."

STEM CELL BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The Health Committee of the Puerto Rico House of Representatives is
investigating the viability of establishing stem cell banks through private
and public collaboration in a bill entitled “Anatomical Donation Law.” The
measure would authorize mthe extraction of blood from placentas and umbi-
lical cords of newborns, with the goal of utilizing the mother’s cells for re-
search and for the treatment of more than 70 illnesses, according to Inter
News Service..."

ROSELLO CRITICIZES PDP ON IVA TAX

From Caribbean Business:

"Gubernatorial candidate for the New Progressive Party (NPP) Dr. Ricardo
Rosselló reacted to Gov. Alejandro García Padilla’s State of the Common-
wealth address Monday by stating that “the governor has missed the oppor-
tunity to repent and admit the mistakes of his administration. He should
have taken back his failed public policy. However, he continues lying to
the people and with his stubbornness to continue raising taxes and squee-
zing the poor, hard-working and productive class of our island,” the NPP
leader said after the governor’s message..."

FORUM TO EXPLORE FISCAL LAW FOR PR

From News Is My Business:

"Chile’s former finance minister and an ex-lieutenant governor of New York
will be among five panelists appearing Wednesday in Washington, D.C., to
discuss how a Fiscal Responsibility Law (FRL) might help stabilize Puerto
Rico’s public finances and overhaul the island’s fiscal infrastructure. The fo-
rum, organized by the San Juan-based Center for a New Economy (CNE), is
to take place at the National Press Club..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For February 19, 2016

MAN KILLED IN ISLA VERDE HIT & RUN

A 43-year-old Nebraska man identified by police as Justin Zakrzewski was killed
last night as he attempted to cross Román Baldorioty de Castro Expressway in Isla
Verde. Zakrzewski was struck by a car in the San Juan-bound lanes of Baldorioty
de Castro shortly after 4:00 AM. The driver did not stop. The Expressway was shut
down by police at around 7:30 AM. Anyone with information which could lead to
the driver who struck Zakrzewski is encouraged to call Puerto Rico Police at 787-
343-2020.

HOUSE HEARINGS ON PR SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 25

From Caribbean Business:

"On Feb. 25, the eighth and ninth congressional hearings on Puerto Rico
will be held. The first hearing, entitled “Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis and
Its Impact on the Bond Markets,” will be held by the House Committee on
Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, at 10
a.m. Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi has been invited to participate
in the hearing. The witnesses for the hearing are expected to be announced
in the coming days. The second hearing, “The U.S. Department of the Trea-
sury’s Analysis of the Situation in Puerto Rico,” will be a full committee hea-
ring before the House Natural Resources Committee, and is currently also
scheduled for 10 a.m. Pierluisi will also be participating in the discussion."

PR DUE TO IMPORT ALL BLOOD DUE TO ZIKA

From Reuters:

"New guidelines barring the collection of blood in areas with outbreaks of the
 mosquito-borne Zika virus will be put to the test first in cash-strapped Puerto
Rico, where health officials have two weeks to start importing the island’s su-
pply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said earlier this week that areas
with active domestic transmission of Zika virus should stop collecting blood
locally. Puerto Rico has reported  a small number of cases of local transmission,
and U.S. health officials expect many thousands of residents to be infected once
the mosquito season reaches its peak this summer..."

FEDS CAPTURE 14 CUBANS ON MONA ISLAND

From Breitbart:

"The Air and Marine unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
service along with agents of the U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 14 Cuban
refugees on Mona Island, Puerto Rico. The Cubans had recently completed
a very dangers boat trip from Cuba through the treacherous Mona Passage...
Puerto Rican park rangers notified the Border Patrol station about the landing
of the boat with a group of illegal immigrants on-board. The boat was carrying
12 males and 2 females who all claimed to be Cuban nationals..."

T-MOBILE GROWS 10% IN 2015 IN PUERTO RICO

From News Is My Business:

"T-Mobile Puerto Rico executives said Thursday the wireless carrier experien-
ced a 10 percent growth on the island in 2015, while the industry as a whole
shrank by 2 percent. During the last quarter of the year, the carrier claims to
have achieved twice the sales of its nearest competitor...Washington-based pa-
rent company announced quarterly results this week, reporting a 1.1 percent in-
crease in total revenue during the fourth quarter of 2015, and an 8.4 percent jump
year-over-year for the 12-month period. The carrier reported adjusted EBITDA
of  $2.3 billion during the last quarter of 2015, and $7.4 billion for the year..."