Puerto Rico News Digest For June 22, 2016

MAN ARRESTED FOR MOLOTOV COCKTAILS

From US Attorney's Office:

"United States Magistrate Judge Silvia Carreño-Coll authorized a criminal
complaint charging Noel D. Cruz-Torres (“Cruz-Torres”) with malicious use
of explosives...According to the information contained in the criminal com-
plaint and affidavit, on June 18, 2016, at approximately 3:30 am, someone
called 911 to report an explosion near DuPont Pioneer. When police and fire
fighters arrived, they saw a vehicle burning nearby. A security guard reported
that an individual was throwing Molotov cocktails at the building. The offic-
ers walked around the building and saw Cruz-Torres wearing a black t-shirt
wrapped around his face and carrying a black backpack. While police purs-
ued Cruz-Torres, he threw various Molotov cocktails at the officers. He also
threw another lit Molotov at the fire truck..."

BHATIA: UN RESOLUTION TO HAVE LITTLE EFFECT

From Caribbean Business:

"Puerto Rico Senate President Eduardo Bhatia said the resolution passed by
the United Nations, which reaffirms the island’s right to self-determination
and independence will have little or no effect. “Sadly, it is very little what the
UN can do to change the internal politics of the U.S.,” Bhatia, a leader within
the Popular Democratic Party, told reporters during an interview in the San Ju-
an Capitol. After expressing his respect for the international body, he said the
UN “hasn’t been very effective,” adding, “We have to be realistic. That forum
has not managed to move the U.S. in any way in the past 30 years..."

700K+ PR YOUTH LIVE IN HIGH-POVERTY AREAS

From News Is My Business:

"Children and youth in Puerto Rico continue to live in families facing enorm-
ous economic challenges, with some 84 percent residing in areas of extreme
poverty and the parents of more than half lacking full-time, year-round emp-
loyment. These and 14 other indicators of child well being are revealed in the
2016 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which is
represented in Puerto Rico by the Youth Development Institute (YDI), a Kids
Count network partner. “Traditionally we talk about the percentage of our ch-
ildren and youth who are living below the poverty line. In Puerto Rico, that is
58 percent of our kids,” said Gloriann Sacha Antonetty, communications dir-
ector of the YDI..."

PATAKI COULD SERVE ON FINANCIAL BOARD

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The seven-member Financial Oversight and Management Board that will be
appointed by the U.S. president as part of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Manage-
ment, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA), could include former New
York governor George Pataki, the Bond Buyer reported Monday. Pataki has a
residence on the island, according to the daily municipal finance news outlet..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 20, 2016

ROSSELLO TO ASK FOR DECOLONIZATION

From Caribbean Business:

"The president of the New Progressive Party (NPP), Ricardo Rosselló, will 

return Monday to the United Nations to deliver his message in favor of deco-

lonization. “Following the results of the 2012 plebiscite, this forum acquires

more relevance due to Puerto Ricans’ interest in solving the colonial problem.

It is now even more important because the Supreme Court of the United Sta-

tes confirmed the commonwealth has no sovereignty, which has been a decep-

tion, as we have been saying,” the party president said Sunday. In 2013, Rosse-

lló testified before the UN, after delivering to the entity in November 2012 the

results of the referendum in which the statehood option won a majority of votes..."

GROUP BUSINESS UP DESPITE ZIKA

From News Is My Business:

"Puerto Rico’s group business closed off what has come to be known as the

initial Zika period (March to May), “very much open for business,” with 57 

new booked pieces of business including events, conferences, annual meet-

ings and sports activities from now through 2017, Meet Puerto Rico offici-

als said Thursday. This represents a total direct spend of potentially $20.4 

million into the local economy, Milton Segarra, president of Meet Puerto Ri-

co, the Destination Marketing Organization responsible for attracting meeti-

ngs, conventions, trade shows, sporting events and incentive groups to Puer-

to Rico..."

ZIKA CONTRACEPTIVES FAIL TO REACH WOMEN

From Fox News:

"Only a small fraction of contraceptives donated in Puerto Rico to prevent 

Zika-related birth defects are expected to get to the women who need them 

this month, public health officials told Reuters. The donations - tens of thou-

sands of intrauterine devices and birth control pill packs - came from major 

healthcare companies as the virus spreads rapidly through the island. The de-

livery delays illustrate the struggles of Puerto Rico's healthcare system, which 

is faltering amid the commonwealth's financial crisis...

CAR RENTAL TAX GOES FORWARD

From The San Juan Daily Star:

"The island House of Representatives on Thursday approved with a voice
vote the bill to impose a tax of $3.50 per day for the rental of motor vehicles
in Puerto Rico. House Bill 2867, authored by Popular Democratic Party Rep.
Ángel Matos, establishes that the surcharge would be for the first 30 days of
rental and for those who do not have a driver’s license issued by the common-
wealth..."

Puerto Rico News Digest For June 17, 2015

ACTIVISTS READY FOR UN DECOLONIZATION HEARINGS 

From The San Juan Daily Star:

As a prelude to next week’s hearings of the United Nations Decolonization
Committee in New York to discuss Puerto Rico’s status, a demonstration to
free nationalist Oscar López Rivera was held for the second year in a row in
Condado. Some 2,000 independence supporters from several organizations
spoke out for the freedom of López Rivera and the independence of Puerto
Rico, significantly increasing attendance from the first such demonstration
last year. The annual discussion about the future statusof Puerto Rico will be
held Monday for the 33rd time. Another local action to call attention to the
June 22 deliberations was a letter written to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-
moon urging him to have the hearings broadcast throughout the world. The
letter was signed by José M. López Sierra of the organization Todos Unidos
Descolonizar, which has also printed T-shirts in English and Spanish to pu-
blicize the annual event.

SAN JUAN HOT DESTINATION FOR JULY 4

From Caribbean Business:

A travel agency that can be used online but can also be called to speak with
its agents, CheapOair, announced Wednesday the top 10 destinations  U.S.
mainland travelers are booking for the Independence Day holiday. The agen-
cy’s data show that airfare to these destinations is significantly lower than
the average airfare for all booked flights for the same weekend. Key findings
include that consumers are traveling mostly within the continental U.S.; San
Juan, Puerto Rico and Cancun, Mexico, were the only overseas spots making
it into the top 10.

GDB LIQUIDITY DOWN 24% IN MAY

From News Is My Business:

The Puerto Rico Government Development Bank released Monday its latest
liquidity report showing the agency had $777.8 million left as of May 31, re-
presenting a 24 percent drop from the $1.02 billion it had in April. The agency
attributed the decrease in net liquidity to the disbursement of $120 million thr-
ough the Puerto Rico Treasury Department, $250 million for the repayment of
Tax Revenue Anticipation Notes, and $95 million to pay debt service owed by
the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.