Puerto Rico News Digest For March 21, 2016

BERNIER CALLS FOR DEBT MORATORIUM

From Yahoo! News:

"The gubernatorial candidate for Puerto Rico's ruling Popular Democratic
Party is calling for a five-year debt payment moratorium, saying it's needed
to stabilize government operations and guarantee the delivery of essential
services. Former Secretary of State David Bernier made the call Friday weeks
after urging the administration to hasten the pace of debt restructuring talks
with creditors, which have been dragging on since Gov. Alejandro Garcia Pa-
dilla announced last June the U.S. Commonwealth's nearly $70 billion debt
is not payable..."

PR GOP CAUTIOUS ON PRESIDENTIAL RACE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"Puerto Rico Republican Party Chairwoman Jenniffer González -- who
supported Florida Sen. Marco Rubio’s run for the GOP presidential
nomination -- said she will continue promoting the participation of
Republican voters in the remaining primary elections. Although she
didn’t say who she supports now that Rubio has withdrawn from the
race after losing the primary in his home state of Florida on Tuesday,
she said “...Since Marco Rubio has withdrawn from the presidential
campaign, we have to be attentive to all the developments of the primary
race,” González said in a written a statement. “On our part, we will
continue supporting participation in the process up to the Republican
Convention...”

SOVEREIGN UNION REJECTS FISCAL BOARD

From Caribbean Business:

"Sovereign Union Movement (MUS by its Spanish acronym) President 

María de Lourdes Guzmán urged Puerto Rico’s political sectors to 

unite to “defend our dignity as a people” and adamantly reject the 

imposition of a fiscal control board by the U.S. Congress. She also 

asked the island’s political leadership to carry out concerted actions

to request that the U.S. government “put forth a serious process of 

decolonization, to seek a solution to the centenarian issue that is 

Puerto Rico’s status, which keeps our people divided and hinders the 

design of a national plan that would lead to social justice, to our 

economic development and the well-being of all Puerto Ricans..."

GOV'T TO BE SOLE MEDICAL POT PROVIDER

From News Is My Business:

"Now that medical marijuana is legal in Puerto Rico, don’t count on local
farmers joining the green rush. At least not yet. Instead, growing high-
grade medical cannabis will initially be in hands of the government and
“maybe in the future, we can enter the market,” the man in charge of the
Puerto Rico Farm Bureau told News is my Business. “Right now, there are no
opportunities for farmers,” said Héctor Iván Cordero, who leads the group
founded in 1924..."

Puerto Rico Governor Calls For Legalizing Pot

Fox News

Puerto Rico's governor has called for the legalization of marijuana during
his last public address as leader of the U.S. territory.

Alejandro Garcia Padilla said Monday that taking such action would lower
crime and target hypocrisy. He said legislators should at a minimum approve
a bill filed in 2013 that would decriminalize marijuana. Puerto Rico's Health
Department recently adopted a regulation allowing the cultivation, manufac-
turing and distribution of medical marijuana...[CONTINUE READING]

Medcan Foundation to Hold Medical Cannabis Seminars in Puerto Rico

Press Release

San Juan, PR, Sept. 21, 2015 – Medcan Foundation today announced it will
hold their first Medical cannabis seminars in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the
Condado Plaza Hilton on Oct. 17th & 18th and provide participants with an
introduction into the lucrative career opportunities in the rapidly growing le-
galized cannabis industry.

Medcan Foundation is an innovative group of entrepreneurial professionals
with over one hundred years of combined experience in the fields of medici-
ne, science, marketing, federal law and business management. “Medcan Fo-
undation’s primary objective is to provide our students with the most com-
prehensive information available on the subject of the medicinal cannabis in-
dustry; to apprise them of all of the legal ramifications and introduce them to
the rapidly emerging medical cannabis commerce,” commented Dante Pica-
zo, Medcan Foundation’s president and CEO. “Our seminars offer an outstan-
ding curriculum designed for people working in the industry or potential pa-
tients wanting to be well informed on the subject. Medcan’s seminars are the
quintessential precursor to those either wanting to start their own business or
work within the industry or patients in need of information about medical ca-
nnabis.

“Medcan Foundation is preparing a structure and a pathway to those interested
in a profession within this newly emerging business. We have prepared and
organized a group of educational seminars that can help interested people be-
come a part of  this exciting new industry, should they choose to do so.

“The opportunities brought about by this newly emerging phenomenon are limit-
less. Everything from owning or running your own clinic to becoming a caregi-
ver or a grower, based on the history and track record of other states where ca-
nnabis has been decriminalized for medical purposes, the cannabis industry pre-
sents new opportunities where abundant success is inevitable. The proof is highly
visible by just witnessing the economic explosion that has happened in the states
that have taken the step to legalize this much needed medical miracle.

“The time has come to stop denying wellness to those who need it because of
outmoded thinking. If you are interested in any of the opportunities presented by
this emerging new industry you will find our seminars informative and helpful;
however, seating is limited and we tend to fill up fast, ” Picazo concluded.

For more information, please visit us at medcanfoundation.com or call (787)
919-0355.

Puerto Rico News Digest For July 24, 2015

'SUPERACUEDUCTO' PIPE BURSTS IN ARECIBO

A breach in a pipe of the 'Superacueducto' water transport system, which brings
water from the center of the island to the San Juan metro area, is causing prob-
lems this morning on kilometer 69.7 of  the José de Diego Freeway. The rupture
was reported in the Domingo Ruiz district, and brigades from the Autoridad de
Acueductos y Alcantarillados were on their way to the site, according to AAA's
spokesperson Norma Muñoz. It is unknown how or if the broken pipe would aff-
ect water service. Puerto Rico and the Caribbean are going through their worst
drought in two decades.

UPDATE: AAA has stated that the malfunction has to do not with a pipe, but
with an air escape valve that is part of the Superacueducto. Water service to
the San Juan metro area will supposedly not be affected. Repairs are expected
to be done within six hours.

SALINAS AND GUAYAMA UNDER 'EXTREME DROUGHT'

From Caribbean Business:

The U.S. Drought Monitor has increased its classification of Puerto Rico as under
extreme drought when it introduced a new area Thursday, the municipalities of
Salinas and Guayama. Caguas, Juncos, Gurabo and San Lorenzo are also classi-
fied as experiencing extreme drought. The federal Drought Monitor indicates
that 2.66% of the island is under extreme drought (D-3), 17.95% in severe drou-
ght (D2), 24.26% in moderate drought (D-1), 32.46% unusually dry (D-0), and
22.68% is not affected.

PAULSON BUYS SAN JUAN BEACH HOTEL FOR $20M

From News Is My Business:

Hedge fund investor Paulson & Co. has bought the San Juan Beach Hotel in
Condado for $20 million, and plans to renovate the beachfront property that
shuttered earlier this year after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
The most recent investment by Paulson & Co. is added to other hotel and real
estate properties the company has picked up in recent years, representing a to-
tal investment of some $2 billion that include the Vanderbilt Hotel, the St. Re-
gis Bahía Beach Resort, La Concha Resort and several office buildings in the
Hato Rey sector of San Juan.

DRAFT OF MEDICAL POT REGULATION AVAILABLE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

Medical marijuana will most likely be legally prescribed in Puerto Rico by
doctors to patients with certain conditions within the next few months, after
Health Secretary Ana Ríus announced Wednesday that a draft of the new
regulation on the use, possession, cultivation, manufacturing, production,
fabrication, dispensation and investigation of medical marijuana is officia-
lly available for citizens to review and offer comment and suggestions before
public hearings begin in late August. Ríus said those interested in presenting
comments have 30 days to do so (starting Wednesday) and must submit their
suggestions at the Health Department’s Legal Office at the former Psychiatric
Hospital at the Río Piedras Medical Center in San Juan, Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Meanwhile, public hearings will be held in the same
building in the Guillermo Arbona Room at 9 a.m. on Aug. 27-28. Comments
and suggestions can also be emailed to mayramaldondado2@salud.pr.gov.

Puerto Rico Legalized Medical Pot, But You Can't Smoke It

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 6, 2015

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS SPENDING CUTS 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The government is planning to reduce public workers’ hours and
cut non-essential services as part of a plan to avoid a shutdown
and a default on debt payments, House Treasury Committee Chairman
Rafael Hernández said. “We may reduce hours. … We still don’t exac-
tly know the plan because some [agencies] work 24 hours,” he said
in a radio interview. “We are also going to combine jobs to avoid
duplication, simplify the system. … We are talking about a cut that
is going to be aggressive.” Office of Management and Budget Di-
rector Luis García said there will be cuts in nonessential services,
but did not dismiss cuts in essential services such as education or
health."

TWO BURNT BODIES FOUND IN CANOVANAS CAR

As reported this morning by El Nuevo Dia, a 911 call early this
morning alerted police to a vehicle in flames under a bridge on
Road PR-951 in Canóvanas. Firefighters arrived at the scene,
and once the fire was put out, discovered two dead bodies inside
the car. One of the bodies was found in the back seat, while the
other was wedged between the two front seats of the SUV. Inves-
tigators from the Carolina jurisdiction are in charge of the case.
The victims have not yet been publicly identified.

MEXICAN AIRLINE TO FLY TO SAN JUAN

Volaris, the Mexican low-cost carrier, announced yesterday the
introduction of new international service from Cancun, Mexico to
San Juan, Puerto Rico, effective July 2nd. Volaris will be opera-
ting two flights per week. During a press conference, Volaris CEO,
Enrique Beltranena, addressed the importance of including San Juan
in the Volaris destination roster and informed the carrier is the
only one to connect Mexico with this important Caribbean island in
the last 15 years. "Volaris' arrival to Puerto Rico is part of con-
certed efforts by the Puerto Rico Tourism Company to extend access
to our destination. With this flight, we are restoring direct co-
nnection from our Island to Mexico, which is the Latin American
country sending the highest number of visitors to Puerto Rico,"
said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, Executive Director of the Puerto
Rico Tourism Company. "Now, arriving in San Juan will be much
easier and affordable for tourists who visit us from Mexico,"
she added.

BORICUAS HAVE WORST HEALTH AMONG HISPANICS

From ABC News:

Among Hispanic groups in the United States, Puerto Ricans appear to
have the worst health, according to a government report released
Tuesday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its
most comprehensive report on Hispanic health, drawing from earlier re-
search. But it also offered new details on differences among Hispanic
populations in the U.S. Among the findings: Puerto Ricans have higher
rates of cancer and heart disease than Mexican-Americans, Cuban-Ameri-
cans, or those with roots in Central or South America.

NO SMOKING POT FOR MEDICINAL USES

From Caribbean Business:

Smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes will not be allowed in Puerto
Rico, but cannabis derivatives could be consumed in other ways, govern-
ment officials said Tuesday as they provided more details on the gover-
nor's weekend executive order on cannabis use. Justice Secretary César
Miranda told The Associated Press that the government would allow pa-
tients access to cannabis derivatives that would be inhaled or used
orally, such as potions or pills. "Smoking marijuana is not being cont-
emplated as part of a medical treatment," he said. Advocates say mari-
juana helps with conditions like chronic pain, glaucoma, anxiety, and
nausea from chemotherapy or drugs to combat HIV. Gov. Alejandro García
Padilla issued an order late Sunday directing the island's health de-
partment to authorize the use of some or all controlled substances or
derivatives of the cannabis plant for medical use.

Puerto Rico News Digest For May 4, 2015

PUERTO RICO LEGALIZES MEDICAL POT

From RT:

The governor of Puerto Rico has signed an executive order to allow
marijuana to be permitted for medical uses. Alejandro Garcia Padilla
endorsed the move, which will come into immediate effect, following
a lengthy public debate on the US territory. Governor Padilla men-
tioned that Puerto Rico’s health secretary will have three months to
file a report about how the executive order will be implemented. The
order will also mean that some or all controlled substances that de-
rive from the cannabis plant will be permitted for medical use. "We're
taking a significant step in the area of health that is fundamental
to our development and quality of life," Garcia said in a statement,
cited by AP. "I am sure that many patients will receive appropriate
treatment that will offer them new hope."

PR SCIENTIST SAFE AFTER NEPAL QUAKE

From The San Juan Daily Star:

A young Puerto Rican scientist whose family did not know anything
about him after a strong earthquake hit Nepal last weekend was
reported alive Thursday. Secretary of State David Bernier said
Francis H. González “contacted his family and is alive and well.”
“We are very happy,” Bernier said. The family had been appealing
through social networks and the media for the past week for any
information about González. The earthquake that hit Nepal killed
thousands, with the death toll nearing 6,000 as of Thursday.

WATER CONSERVATION URGED AMID DROUGHT

From Caribbean Business:

Government officials are urging people to conserve water amid a
record-breaking heat wave. The Puerto Rico Aqueduct & Sewer
Authority president said water levels are extremely low for the
season and noted that summer has not even started.

SURVEY: JOBS ARE OFF ISLAND

From News Is My Business:

A recent survey conducted by the Universia-Trabajando.com Labor Co-
mmunity revealed that more than half, or 69 percent, of respondents
from Puerto Rico believe that there are more job opportunities out-
side the island. Of the 593 participants, 46 percent think that
those options are in North America, particularly in the U.S. main-
land, 30 percent looks to Europe, and 11 percent to South America.

SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES BEGINS PR FLIGHTS

From NBC 2:

Service from Fort Myers to San Juan began Sunday according to airport
authorities at Southwest Florida International Airport. The nonstop
service to San Juan Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) in
Puerto Rico got underway officially Sunday with two weekly flights,
Sundays and Thursdays. This was supposed to be a test run, however
there was so much positive feedback, Sun Country decided to make this
a permanent run right away.