Puerto Rico News Digest For June 10, 2016

SUPREME COURT: PR NOT SOVEREIGN

From Caribbean Business:

"The Supreme Court says Puerto Rico remains a U.S. territory without the
independent powers of a sovereign state when it comes to enforcement of
criminal law. The justices’ 6-2 ruling on the Puerto Rico v. Sánchez Valle
case says Congress is the ultimate source of the island’s legal power even
though Puerto Rico has its own constitution. “The Double Jeopardy Clause
bars Puerto Rico and the United States from successively prosecuting a sin-
gle person for the same conduct under equivalent criminal laws,” reads the
court’s decision, which was released Thursday morning..."

US HOUSE PASSES 'PROMESA' BILL

The U.S. House of Representatives passed bill HR5278, more commonly kn-

own as 'Promesa' yesterday evening by a vote of  297-127. The bill would es-

tablish an unelected financial control board which would be involved in restr-

ucturing Puerto Rico's $70 billion in debt and managing the territory's finances. 

'Promesa' now goes to the Senate, and if approved there, would go then to Pre-

sident Obama, whose signature would turn the bill into law. Puerto Rico has a 

$2 billion debt payment due on July 1, and it is hoped that the bill can be sig-

ned into law by that time. 'Promesa' has been controversial on the island, with 

supporters claiming it is necessary to avoid a complete economic meltdown, 

while opponents have expressed concerns over Puerto Rico's government sp-

ending being under the control of an unelected board.

COUPLE ARRESTED FOR CARJACKING

From US Attorney's Office:

"A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment [on Wednesday] agai-
nst two individuals for carjacking, announced United States Attorney Rosa
Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is in charge of
the investigation. The indictment alleges that on or about June 2, 2016, in the
District of Puerto Rico, Bernard Díaz-Pérez and Jessenia Salgado-Ortiz, aid-
ing and abetting each other, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily
harm, did take a motor vehicle, to wit: a red 2008 Scion, model XD, that had
been transported, shipped or received in interstate or foreign commerce, from
the presence of F.N.R., by force, violence and intimidation, resulting in serious
bodily injury, that is, sexually assaulting a female passenger, all while using a
replica gun..."

PR LURES LGBT TOURISTS DESPITE ZIKA

From PRTC:

"The Puerto Rican Tourism Company (PRTC) is currently reporting a 100%
occupancy rate for local hotel partners in Boquerón, Puerto Rico—and the su-
rrounding areas on the west coast—with no reported cancellations, as travelers
flock to Puerto Rico in celebration of LGBT Pride weekend. Dozens of hotels
in the west region are currently booked to capacity in the area where key Pride
activities are taking place from June 9-12, 2016, even with heightened Zika
awareness..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For January 13, 2016

US SUPREME COURT TO MULL SOVEREIGNTY

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The U.S. Supreme Court will hear on Wednesday an important case on Puerto
Rico’s constitutional status, according to SCOTUSblog. “[The court] told law-
yers involved on Friday that they should come prepared  to talk about the Jus-
tices’ power to decide the case,” said the blog. “The Court’s jurisdiction had
been challenged in an amicus brief filed  in the case of Puerto Rico v. Sanchez
Valle.” Last month, Solicitor  General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. fi led the amicus
brief stating that  Puerto Rico could only exercise sovereignty if were a state
or an independent country..."

PR ENERGY ISSUES DISCUSSED IN US HOUSE

From Caribbean Business:

"Several energy-related issues affecting Puerto Rico, as well as challenges
ahead in tackling some of these, were discussed at the latest congressional
hearing on the commonwealth’s affairs, held Tuesday by the U.S. House
Energy & Mineral Resources Subcommittee. Issues regarding the troubled
Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa) were extensively discussed,
along with the high energy bills island residents and businesses face... And
although subcommittee Chairman Doug Lamborn  (R., Co.) stressed at the
beginning of Tuesday’s hearing that the Chapter 9 federal bankruptcy topic
— and the Puerto Rico government’s push to secure from Congress access
to the statute — was not going to be subject of the hearing, some participants
took the opportunity to bring it to the discussion..."

SAN JUAN PRESIDENTIAL STATUES VANDALIZED

From Fox News Latino:

"As the sun rose Tuesday on the statues of U.S. presidents outside Puerto
Rico's capitol building, four of them were seen to be painted with aerosol,
an act of vandalism coinciding with a congressional hearing in Washington
that could be key to the island's ability to declare bankruptcy. The suspects,
of whom three have been arrested, sprayed red paint on the faces of Harry
Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt,
police said in a statement. Those taken into custody were identified as Fran-
cisco Negron Aleman, Luis Ramon Bonano and Elvin Rodriguez Perales.
On the cement walkway of Paseo de los Presidentes linear park, inaugura-
ted in 2010, the vandals spray-painted the word "Asesinos" (Killers)..."

GAMESTOP CLOSING ALL PR STORES

From Attack Of The Fanboy:

"El Nuevo Dia reported that Gamestop is shutting down forever in Puerto
Rico. The report said: “The director of public relations for the company, Joy
Mooring, said that the operations of over 40 shops set on the island will con-
tinue as usual until its closure in March.” Sadly, this means over 400 emplo-
yees will lose their jobs later this year. The reason Gamestop is closing in
Puerto Rico is due to “present business challenges and increasing govern-
ment restrictions...”