Aguadilla, Ponce Airports to Reopen on April 1, 2021

https://www.theweeklyjournal.com/business/aguadilla-ponce-airports-to-reopen-on-april-1/article_a14f5c6e-6d3f-11eb-8bcb-6fd9dfaef321.html

Aguadilla, Ponce Airports to Reopen on April 1

$2.6 million invested on COVID-19 protocols

Newsroom, The Weekly Journal

Feb 12, 2021

Mercedita Airport in Ponce

Brandon Cruz González

Good news for local residents and the tourism industry.

The airports in the municipalities of Aguadilla and Ponce, whose operations with commercial airlines with passengers have been paralyzed since the start of the pandemic in March, will resume their flights on April 1.

“The Department of Health has been working hard in Ponce and Aguadilla for the past three weeks. They have already installed equipment, they have identified the technologists, epidemiologists, the identification of tests,” said Joel Pizá, director of the Ports Authority, during a press conference in which the expansion of the Mercedita airport was announced, with an investment of more than $860,000.

The investment to comply with the COVID-19 protocols in these airports was $2.6 million.

Moreover, Gov. Pedro Pierluisi highlighted the investment of $135 million for the Rafael Hernández airport in Aguadilla for the construction of a new runway.

“The investment is largely from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the board agreed to our request [for the fund parity]. We are going to achieve the construction of that runway in Aguadilla,” the governor affirmed.

The National Guard is also collaborating to achieve these openings.

Plaza – Tu Supermercado, has about 4 grocery store locations in Puerto Rico

Plaza – Tu Supermercado, not affiliated with the similarly named Plaza Loiza chain of grocery stores, has about 4 locations in Puerto Rico. Why did they choose such a similar name, which will be confusing?

Arroyo
787-839-8833
M-SAT 6-9, SUN 7-9

Patillas
787-839-3939
M-SAT 6-9, SUN 7-6

Ponce
787-840-4618
M-SAT 6-9, SUN 7-6

Salinas
787-824-3655
M-SAT 6-9, SUN 7-9

Somos
M-SAT 6-5, SUN 7-12

Costco will be opening its 5th Puerto Rico location in Aguadilla in NW PR in the Plaza Noroeste Commercial Center

5 years to get permits to open a Costco? That shows how bad the bureaucracy and regulations in PR are holding it back. They should also open a Super Walmart and Sam’s Club in Aguadilla to make it more liveable.

https://www.elnuevodia.com/negocios/empresas-comercios/notas/costco-podria-tener-una-nueva-tienda-en-aguadilla

Costco could have a new store in Aguadilla

The establishment would be anchored in what will be Plaza Noroeste Commercial Center

Tuesday, February 9, 2021 – 10:33 a.m.

By José Ayala Gordián and José Orlando Delgado

In the center, the mayor of Aguadilla, Julio Roldán. (Capture/Twitter)

The company responsible for developing the new Plaza Noroeste Commercial Center in Aguadilla indicated that negotiations with the U.S. multinational wholesale and retail chain, Costco, are “ahead of 98 percent,”so by the end of this year, or early 2022, the town could have the company’s first subsidiary in the west.

[OFFICIAL] I am pleased to announce that after 5 years of waiting as part of the management’s efforts we will…Posted by Julio Roldan on Monday, February 8, 2021

As Explained by Mayor Julio Roldán, the permit approval process culminated today, Tuesday, after five years, so the construction of the shopping center began yesterday, Monday, with the signing of documents and permits, on an extension of land located at kilometer 122.4 of the PR-2 road.

“I’ve been talking to the developer and the closing negotiations with Costco are up front by 98 percent. Obviously we needed the interview with me because we reached some municipal patent payment agreements and make the offer more eye-catching. Negotiations with Costco are at 98 percent, but the second option would be to establish a Walmart Supercenter. But Costco are the ones most interested in setting up a branch in Aguadilla,”explained the mayor of the People’s Democratic Party (PPD).

The official added that developer Kanaan Corporation, based in Añasco, expects to end negotiations with Costco in two weeks.

“They are waiting because the construction will be done in an area of mountains, and they cannot be given an exact price because you have to dynamit the mountains to know what they will face when they break. They’re going to start the dynamite process this week and then they’ll know the fixed price,” Roldán said.

Representatives of Kanaan Corporation told Roldán that the mall will consist of an open concept, occupy about 650,000 square feet and have space for 12 free-standing premises. Costco’s place would be the largest, or one of the largest.

Costco’s new store would be the first located in the west of the country, as, until now, the chain’s establishments in Puerto Rico are located in Caguas, Bayamón and Carolina.

“As part of the negotiations, Costco would also have a gas station at the mall, like the one they have at the Carolina branch (in front of Plaza Escorial). It’s a requirement for Costcto to have a gas station,” Roldán said.

The municipal executive indicated that, at the time, the start of construction created 75 jobs in the Aguadilla area and that the developer hopes to recruit over 180 additional workers in the coming month to begin construction work fully.

“The impact for Aguadilla on job creation for the construction process will be over 200 positions. Once construction is complete, between 12 and 18 months, we expect to have between 300 to 400 jobs once the stores open. We also expect a million-dollar boost for the municipality with patents, which could be more than $1.5 million,”Roldán said.

In addition to negotiations with Costco, the mayor of Aguadilla highlighted that developers already have agreements to establish franchises of El Mesón Sandwiches, the Multiple Insurance Company and a subsidiary of fast food company Chick-fil-A,which last week confirmed that it will open two premises in Bayamón and Carolina, and that it plans to open between 10 and 15 restaurants around the island in the next five years.

For his part, Roldán argued that the granting of permits took five years because, perhaps, companies wanted to benefit from the exemptions in patent payments that were part of its platform when it launched to lead the mayor of Aguadilla.

“I think that’s why, because they wanted to benefit from my proposals for exemptions in municipal patents for new companies established in Aguadilla. I think that’s why they waited until I got here. Benefits include an exemption from the payment of municipal patents for the first year, as well as a one-year exemption in payments to the Municipal Revenue Collection Center (CRIM). But all this is based on the first option of employment mania (employee hiring) being 100 percent water down,”Roldán explained.

‘The reality is that we’re very happy. We are open to doing business with the big companies that come and private investors. Our goals are to develop Aguadilla’s economy and create jobs, which is the most important thing,” the official added.

Sharyl Attkisson: Where Did The $91 Billion For Hurricane Recovery In Puerto Rico Go?

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2019/10/07/sharyl_attkisson_where_did_the_91_billion_for_hurricane_recovery_in_puerto_rico_go.html

Posted By Ian Schwartz
On Date October 7, 2019

SHARYL ATTKISSON, “FULL MEASURE” HOST: Imagine having the task of distributing the most aid money ever for a natural disaster responsibly to a government mired in corruption and under FBI investigation. That’s what’s happening right now in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico two years after two hurricanes, Maria and Irma. You have $91 billion reasons to care. That’s how much of your tax money is intended for recovery. Today, we go to Puerto Rico to follow the hurricane money and the fraud.

In the small Puerto Rican village of Corozal Brenda Rodriguez is still waiting for help. She recorded the frightening rise of the river outside her doorstep during Hurricane Maria.

Sharyl: What were you thinking when you saw the river coming up like that?

Brenda: That I was going to die and that the house would fall apart.

Two years later, Rodriguez still lives in the rotted-out home without a penny of the billions earmarked for hurricane recovery. She was surprised to learn she wasn’t eligible for assistance because she doesn’t own the house.

Brenda: A young man came around and gave me an application to fill and that’s it.

Sharyl: The mainland U.S.government gave a lot of money to the territory of Puerto Rico for hurricane recovery.

Rodriguez’s sister is on the phone helping translate.

Sharyl: Has she seen any of those funds they sent being used to help around your community?

Brenda: I haven’t seen any of that.

62,000 hurricane Puerto Rican victims, like Rodriguez, have been denied emergency help for technical reasons. That’s despite a record amount of U.S. tax money being devoted to recovery.

A Full Measure investigation crunched the numbers:

An estimated $48 billion dollars for Puerto Rico will come from emergency recovery funds.

$43 billion more has been appropriated by Congress so far.

In all, it’s estimated the recovery effort in Puerto Rico will amount to $91 billion U.S. tax dollars.

Of that amount, we found that the island has only received about $14 billion.

The biggest single chunk, $5 billion was spent fixing the electric system, which was already failing before the hurricane.

Nearly $20 billion has been earmarked for housing and shelter under “community planning and development” but two years after Maria, less than a million ($913,000) dollars has been paid out.

Omar Marrero is one of Puerto Rico’s top hurricane recovery officials.

Omar: When you talk about how much money has been allocated, earmarked for Puerto Rico, you’re talking about billions. Then you’re like, “Well, they’re well off.” No. That money, even though it has been obligated, there’s not available still for the people.

Morrero told us not one damaged Puerto Rican school has seen permanent repairs in the past two years.

Omar:This is termites— I don’t how to say in English.

Sharyl: Like their tunnel?

Omar: Yes.

Sharyl: Is this classroom being used?

Omar:Yes.

Sharyl: Well, and obviously it rains in here.

Omar: It rains …. exactly.

Omar: They’re painting over the mold, but the mold has not been remediated. The mold is from the hurricane.

To find out what’s wrong, we began with a helicopter tour of the 110-mile long island spotting dots of blue that mark homes that still have no roofs. Puerto Rico is extremely poor. At least 46% of its residents, 1.3 million people, were on welfare before the hurricanes.

Alberto Martinez, a history professor and Puerto Rico native, has been tracking the slow progress on the ground.

Alberto Martinez: Here we see one of the blue tarps distributed by FEMA to cover rooftops. These tarps were supposed to be usable only for 30 days, and yet it’s two years after Hurricane Maria … and yet still here it is.

Sharyl: Have the blue tarps kind of become a symbol of what’s been left undone two years later?

Alberto Martinez: It’s a symbol of the neglect. There’s a bureaucracy in the way that prevents actual funds from being dispersed to individuals. Certainly contractors are making money, but individuals are not getting relief.

We took our questions to the top man in Puerto Rico from FEMA— the Federal Emergency Management Agency— Jonathan Hoyes.

Sharyl: Two years later, they’re spending their own money, local money, to paint over mold because they don’t have FEMA money or federal money to fix the roofs and to do anything else.

Jonathan Hoyes: We’re not happy with the fact that people, as you say, if they are painting over mold are doing that.

But it turns out the biggest disaster relief effort in American history is also the most complicated.

Part of the explanation can be found in massive protests against Puerto Rico’s government while we were there in July.

Sharyl: Fueling discontent in Puerto Rico is news that the FBI is investigating a number of government officials and contractors are under fbi investigation over allegations of misuse of all the taxpayer money sent in after Hurricane Maria.

The FBI has arrested six top Puerto Rican government officials and consultants.

Also charged— FEMA official Ahsha Tribble – once an Obama homeland security adviser. Tribble took the lead on getting Puerto Rico’s electric grid fixed. Now she is accused of taking bribes to steer a $1.8 billion dollar contract to a company called Cobra. Cobra’s CEO at the time and a FEMA friend of Tribble’s who went to work for COBRA were also arrested.

All have denied wrongdoing.

Sharyl: The FBI has arrested some top officials here and said that it’s looking into Hurricane recovery fraud. How would it be possible to steal or commit corruption with this money that is being carefully tracked?

Omar: It could happen in the procurement process. Because, obviously, for any permanent work that was being initiated with disaster funding, you have to do procurement. So unfortunately, most of this recovery processes and as many other jurisdictions, we will not be exempt from wrongdoing.

What’s more, communities normally fund their own immediate repairs and then apply to get paid back by FEMA. But Puerto Rico was bankrupt and mired in a corruption scandal before the hurricanes. That means they didn’t have cash on hand.

Omar: FEMA it is totally agnostic to the fiscal economic situation in Puerto Rico. So as opposed to Texas, we don’t have a rainy day fund.

Sharyl: Because you’re already under financial management because of your, sort of like a bankruptcy.

Omar: Exactly, because when we came into public office, we were already dealing with two man-made hurricanes; fiscal and economic crisis.

Omar: Those challenges on the fiscal side exacerbates even more the recovery process of Puerto Rico.

Sharyl: The program may expect a community to lay out initial money and get paid back for it later?

Jonathan Hoyes: That’s right.

But Puerto Rico really doesn’t have that spare money.

Jonathan Hoyes: Some of the assumptions we have about what a community can do for itself and how quickly they can do it don’t necessarily apply. And that’s where we all have to be as flexible and as patient but as resourceful as we can be.

Both Puerto Rico and FEMA insist they’re doing what they can to get money to the needy while making sure it’s not lost to waste or fraud. Even without most of the recovery money actually in hand, Puerto Rico is slowly returning to normal.

Mego Garcia: We try to help each other recover but it was hard. It was really hard

For months, Mego Garcia says she cared for her mother and sister— both disabled— without power or running water.

Garcia: I don’t work in seven or eight months.

Sharyl: You had to close down this business?

Mego Garcia: Yeah. I don’t have money, no tourists.

Now, she’s been able to reopen the roadside business she’s operated for the past 27 years. And hurricane recovery officials tell us victims like Brenda Rodriguez may yet qualify for some aid, such as cash for relocating to a more livable house. For now, there’s just no telling when that might be.

Puerto Rico’s governor resigned in late July and the territory’s Justice Secretary Wanda Vázquez Garced is the new governor. She announced plans to review Hurricane relief funds and all government contracts.

20 Members Of A Violent Gang Charged For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Violations In Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico

https://www.justice.gov/usao-pr/pr/20-members-violent-gang-charged-drug-trafficking-and-firearms-violations-santa-isabel

Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Puerto Rico

---

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, November 19, 2020

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On November 9, 2020, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 20 violent gang members with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and firearms violations, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) Ponce Strike Force investigated the case.

“We are committed to dismantling and removing the threat posed by criminal organizations that insist on flooding our communities with narcotics and violence,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “I want to congratulate the outstanding federal, state, and local law enforcement cooperation that resulted in this successful operation.  Our continued collaboration is critical to dismantle these criminal organizations.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration initiated Project Safeguard to target violent drug trafficking networks like the one taken down this week here in Puerto Rico,” said Acting Administrator Timothy J. Shea.  “Building on our relationships with law enforcement organizations like the Puerto Rico Police Bureau Strike Force, as well as the FBI, and U.S. Marshal’s Service, DEA is helping to make communities in America and her territories safer because no one should have to live with bullets flying and drug dealing right outside their doors.”

DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge, A.J. Collazo said that “Yesterday’s arrests are a reminder of our message to local drug trafficking organizations that our inter-agency consolidated efforts to track them down and bring them to justice, will continue.  Our enforcement operations will prevail, to enhance the safety of our communities and families. We welcome DEA’s Administrator, Timothy Shea to Puerto Rico to share in the success of this operation.”

The indictment alleges that from in or about the year 2015, to the date of the return of the indictment, the drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, cocaine, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), and marihuana, within 1,000 feet of the Rincón Taíno and the Pedro Descartes Public Housing Projects (PHP), and other areas in the municipality of Santa Isabel, all for financial gain and profit. Fifteen (15) defendants are facing one charge for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All defendants are facing a forfeiture allegation of $3,558,750.

As part of the conspiracy, the members of the drug trafficking gang established a drug point that would move within different areas inside the public housing projects in order to avoid police detection. Some co-conspirators would collect the profits from the drug trafficking sales and travel within the municipality of Santa Isabel and other areas nearby to deliver the proceeds to the leaders of the organization. The defendants had access to different vehicles in order to transport money, narcotics, and firearms. The leaders had final approval authority to impose disciplinary action upon residents of the Rincón Taíno and Pedro Descartes PHP, on members of rival drug trafficking gangs, and on the members of the conspiracy if they disobeyed the rules imposed by the drug trafficking organization. The members of the gang would use force, violence, and intimidation in order to maintain control of the areas in which they operated. The defendants indicted are:

David Pacheco-Torres, a/k/a “Peluco”

Luis Enrique Torres-Torres, a/k/a “Riquito”

José M. Morales-Torres, a/k/a “Pipito”

Luis E. Brito-Rodríguez, a/k/a “Quiri”

Moisés Torres-Sánchez, a/k/a “Moi”

Juan Ramón Díaz-Valcárcel, a/k/a “Sombra”

Fabián Morales-Montes, a/k/a “Fabio”

José Fabián Morales-De Jesús, a/k/a “Fabián”

Jarette Fabián Morales-De Jesús, a/k/a “Jare”

Héctor A. Quintana-Santos, a/k/a “Hectito”

Eduardo Antongiorgi-Cartagena, a/k/a “Esquipi”

Eduardo Peña-Zayas, a/k/a “Jordan/Goldo”

Noel Malavé-Santiago

Bryan Torres-Torres, a/k/a “Puchita/Pucha”

José Osvaldo Reyes, a/k/a “Bubu”

Lisandra Baerga-Torres

Raúl L. Cabán-Ortiz, a/k/a “Rauly”

Marilyn Báez-Rentas

Kevin M. Pérez-Montañez

Christopher A. Cordero-Sostre

Gang Section Assistant U.S. Attorney Pedro R. Casablanca and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Yanira Colón-García are in charge of the prosecution of the case. If convicted the defendants face a minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. Indictments contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Experts Worry About Puerto Rico’s Rapid Rise in COVID Cases

https://theamericanonews.com/floricua/2020/11/12/experts-worry-about-puerto-ricos-rapid-rise-in-covid-patients/

Written By Mivette Vega

Originally Published November 12, 2020 6:35 pm Share Tweet Experts have warned that the situation can worsen this week and next, when infections resulting from the thousands of people exposed on Election Day start showing in reports. In the picture, people wearing masks waited in line to vote at the Rafael Labra School in San Juan. Image via AP Photo/Carlos Giusti

The island has a 10% COVID positivity rate in 67 of the 78 municipalities.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—During the past eight days, Puerto Rico’s Health Department has reported 3,444 confirmed new cases of COVID-19.

As of Thursday, the local Health Department reported 1,154 new confirmed cases, which sets a new record. That’s the highest one-day figure reported since the beginning of the pandemic. 

The island is currently on orange alert, which means there is a high risk of COVID-19 infection, said the Puerto Rico Public Health Trust (PRPHT).

As of Wednesday, the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Puerto Rico is 39,968, with 35,210 possible cases. The island’s death toll is at 909. Of those deaths, 700 are confirmed coronavirus deaths, and 209 are from symptoms similar to a COVID infection. Since the beginning of November, 43 people have died from the virus.

Experts have warned that the situation will worsen next week, when infections resulting from the thousands of people exposed on Election Day start showing in reports.

The rise in the number of hospitalizations is also concerning. Currently, 566 people are hospitalized, the highest number on the island since March.

Of the total number of hospitalized people, 72 patients are in intensive care units and 58 are connected to an artificial ventilator.

According to the Task Force Ciudadano Puerto Rico, an initiative of professionals from various fields, the number of hospitalizations next week could be anywhere from 500 to 600.

According to the PRPHT, the positivity rate on the island is at 10% in 67 of the island’s 78 municipalities, a high-risk level of infection. The number of active cases recently increased from 115 to 183 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The World Health Organization recommends that the percentage of positive cases stays below 5% for at least two weeks before governments consider reopening.

A new local executive order will go into effect Saturday. Puerto Rico health experts are advocating for stricter measures. Merchants are opposing the additional measures, mostly because of the proximity of the holiday shopping season. 

Dr. José Rodríguez Orengo, PRPHT director, said he would not like the economic sector to be affected, but thinks measures must be taken to prevent the island’s health system from collapsing.

“We want to avoid what is happening in El Paso, Texas; in Wisconsin, Spain, and France. We have to be more conservative [with measures in place to deal with the contagion]. The numbers are quite high,” Rodríguez Orengo told El Nuevo Día.

Dr. Víctor Ramos, president of the Puerto Rico College of Physicians and Surgeons, also said stricter measures should be in place, in an interview with WSKN-AM Thursday.

“The mandates should reflect an orange threat level,” Ramos said. “The last executive order was established in the context of a yellow alert—now we are certainly past yellow. If we continue like this, we’ll be way on our way to much higher levels.”

Outbreaks in Hospitals

Besides the higher number of hospitalizations, some hospitals—mainly within the San Juan Metropolitan area—have reported COVID outbreaks.

According to Julio Irson, spokesperson for the College of Licensed Practical Nursing of Puerto Rico, Hospital San Francisco and Hospital Metropolitano, both located in San Juan, have each registered more than 20 COVID cases among its employees.

Irson explained the situation is similar at San Juan hospitals Auxilio Mutuo and Hospital de Psiquiatría General Doctor Ramón Fernández Marina, as well as the Hospital Metropolitano Dr. Susoni in the northwestern municipality of Arecibo.

Some health institutions have denied Irson’s statements.

“At this time, there is no COVID-19 outbreak, and we will continue to rigorously follow the CDC’s recommendations to prevent that from occurring,” said José Talavera, executive director of the Hospital Metropolitano. 

Irson, on his part, said nurses are most affected by the hospital contagion situation, which he says is worsening as staff members are required to be back at work 10 days after initially becoming sick.

“If we keep bringing infected personnel to work, the infections will continue,” Irson told El Nuevo Día.

Puerto Rico’s Tourism Industry Is Suffering. High Season Is Not Looking Any Better.

https://theamericanonews.com/2020/11/19/puerto-rico-tourism-industry-is-suffering/

Written By Mivette Vega

Originally Published November 19, 2020 12:16 pm EST Clarisa Jiménez, president and CEO of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association, explained that new limitations equally affect small and big chain hotels. Image via Shutterstock

The local government has imposed measures that limit beach use to exercise only. Many tourists have already canceled their travel plans to the island for the following months. 

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—The island’s already battered tourism industry has suffered a new setback, right at the beginning of the long-awaited high season.

On Monday, new safety measures were established by the local government to deal with the steady rise in the number of novel coronavirus cases since October.

Some of the new regulations include limiting capacity at restaurants, churches, casinos, and gyms to 30%. The tourism industry has been affected the most by a rule that stipulates that most beaches can only be used for exercise. Hotel pools and recreation areas have also been limited to 30% capacity. 

Clarisa Jiménez, president and CEO of the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Association (PRHTA), said the decision has caused “a fair amount” of hotel cancellations throughout the island.

“Usually, you start to see more movement of people after Thanksgiving. These measures put a stop to that,” Jiménez told The Americano. “Puerto Rico’s greatest attractions are its beaches. Although they can be used to swim and exercise, it’s not the same. There are people who simply like to sunbathe.”

Jiménez agrees with Dr. Jorge Argüelles Morán, former president of the Puerto Rico United Retailers Association (CUD by its Spanish initials), on how the government’s constant adjustments to its approach to dealing with the pandemic have brought instability to the tourism industry.

Since March, the government has reacted to the increase or decrease in positive COVID-19 cases. Gov. Wanda Vázquez, under the advice of medical and economic experts, has based decisions to ease or tighten measures on infection numbers.

“This is an industry that represents some 80,000 parents who have been affected by losing their jobs for a time,” Argüelles Morán told The Americano. “They go back and forth from unemployment because of the inconsistency of measures.” 

Economic experts have criticized the way in which the government has handled the pandemic: when the numbers go up, all commerce is closed.

“The government does this regardless of where the outbreak happens, which seems to be very harmful for the economy,” Argüelles Morán said.

Jiménez explained the new limitations equally affect small and big chain hotels. The CEO said hotels have been responsible for following safety requirements, and investing in sanitizing products and equipment to deal with the pandemic. 

“Hotels have also invested large amounts in constantly educating employeeș—all protocols are being complied with,” Jiménez said. “They have gone the extra mile, going beyond what the government requires or getting certifications from the tourism agency. We’re a highly regulated industry, used to complying with many things. It’s not been that difficult to adapt to the requirements.”

Experts are worried about low occupancy in hotels. According to Jiménez, when hotels lack guests, they still pay the same operating expenses to maintain their operations.

The tourism industry represents 7% of Puerto Rico’s gross domestic product. Argüelles Morán said estimates for next year predict that the island’s economic growth will be down by 6%. 

The former president of the local retailers association said the economic impact will also affect casino slot machines with a 30% reduction in revenue. Casinos are subject to a gaming law which provides the government with significant income, along with hotel rooms and Airbnb taxes. Argüelles Morán said these decreases represent a loss of $47 million in comparison to the 2019-20 fiscal year that closed in June.

“This represents $21.3 million less for the University of Puerto Rico, $18.5 million less for the Tourism Company, and $7.1 million less for the Treasury Department,” the expert explained. “Not only is the industry being affected—its employees and the government are also affected.”

Under regular circumstances, tourists as well as Puerto Ricans who live abroad visit the island during high season to escape the cold and enjoy the beaches. Most tourists who visit the island arrive from the United States.

Although Argüelles Morán acknowledges that it was necessary to activate the National Guard to support police action in ensuring that citizens comply with security protocols, he noted that the activation does not generate a pleasant image for tourists.

“Most of our tourists are Americans who don’t welcome seeing military deployment on the streets,” the former president of the retailers association said. “It makes us look like one of those republics that has a military presence everywhere. It’s another deterrent to making the tourist who usually visits us feel comfortable.” 

Health experts anticipated that the number of COVID cases would increase last week and this week because of exposure during the elections. People on the island are still crowding in public spaces. Last weekend, hundreds were reported to be gathered at the Placita de Santurce, a popular neighborhood square with bars and restaurants, even after the 10 p.m. curfew. 

Me envían este video que alegadamente fue tomado después de las 9 PM de hoy en la Placita de Santurce. #Covid19 #Coronavirus #PuertoRico #Turismo pic.twitter.com/ZcHavn1uxl— Jeremy Ortiz (@JeremyOrtizTV) November 15, 2020

In response, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz will be closing all streets surrounding the area in order to curtail nighttime gatherings at the popular Santurce hangout.

“We’ve been at this since March; people are tired of being in the house,” Argüelles Morán said. “I don’t know if it’s better to shut down the economy completely and pretend people do not leave their houses. That’s not the case. People are looking to entertain themselves and are seeking recreation. Every weekend we hear reports of crowds.”

On July 15, after the government allowed tourists to enter Puerto Rico, there was an uptick in COVID cases as well as reports of incidents where locals confronted tourists refusing to wear masks. 

That being said, Puerto Rico is currently on orange alert, which means high risk of contagion, according to researchers at the Harvard Global Health Institute. At this alert level, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the island.

In past months, locals and activists alike have done campaigns on social media asking tourists not to visit the island to avoid bigger outbreaks. On Thursday, a new hospitalization record was set with 573 patients according to the Health Department reports. https://www.instagram.com/p/CCqoaajhbZf/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=13&wp=625&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ftheamericanonews.com&rp=%2F2020%2F11%2F19%2Fpuerto-rico-tourism-industry-is-suffering%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A183181%7D

Fee cut to lure cruise lines to lay up ships in Puerto Rico ports

https://caribbeanbusiness.com/fee-cut-to-lure-cruise-lines-to-lay-up-ships-in-puerto-rico-ports/

By José Alvarado Vega on September 25, 2020

An aerial view of San Juan Bay’s cruiseship and cargo ports three days after Hurricane María, Sept. 24, 2017. (CB photo)

Another Covid-19 lockdown ‘would be the end of tourist activity,’ says president of Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association

SAN JUAN — Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced announced Thursday an amendment to the Puerto Rico Ports Authority’s (PA) Maritime Rates Regulation (M-1-8) to offer a discount on the docking fee to cruise lines that dock their ships in Puerto Rico under commercially non-operational conditions. 

“Given the impact that world tourism has suffered due to Covid-19, many cruise companies have chosen to suspend their commercial operations and safeguard their ships in different ports until it is commercially viable to restart passenger trips, in what is known as lay-up,” the governor explained. “For our ports to become a competitive option for the prolonged docking of cruise ships temporarily out of commercial operations, it was necessary to amend this regulation” and offer “attractive special rates for medium and long-term docking.”

The amendment to the M-1-8 regulation was approved by the Ports Authority board, which may make changes, effective immediately, to the general fee structure if necessary in case of a temporary increase or an emergency. Originally, the regulation did not take into account the possibility of a fee reduction to encourage cruise ships to lay up at the island’s ports. 

Ports Executive Director Joel A. Pizá Batiz said that given the “new fiscal scenario as a result of the pandemic, it was necessary to make adjustments in the M-1-8 regulation. Besides providing an additional source of revenue for the agency, the amendment will help generate “important economic activity for companies that offer products and services to cruise ships, such as the sale of fuel, supplies and garbage collection, among others,” he said. 

“It also helps us to strengthen commercial ties with cruise lines, without exposing the general population, given that the risk of Covid-19 spreading during lay-ups is almost non-existent,” Pizá said. 

Vázquez said that the change to the local maritime regulation was “important” due to the decrease in Ports’ revenue, which was leading the agency to face a “difficult fiscal and operational situation.” 

“A delay in this amendment going into effect would have substantially threatened the income that could be received from cruise companies for the use of our marine terminals at this time of economic crisis,” the governor said. 

Tourism industry issues warning 

In fact, tourism industry executives in Puerto Rico have been sounding the alarm regarding the possibility of another lockdown preventing tourism activities, given reports of increasing Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations. Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association (PRHTA) President Pablo Torres said during a press conference Thursday that the industry would not be able to survive another lockdown and many tourism-related businesses would be forced to close permanently. 

“We are on the verge of a total collapse of the economy, if a total shutdown takes effect again. Our industry has already been affected enough in the past months. The employee layoffs have been in the thousands [and] the income loss for the government totals $271 million when compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. This would be the end of tourist activity in Puerto Rico,” Torres cautioned, stressing that the industry employs more than 80,000 people. 

Torres called for better enforcement of the Covid-19 executive order by the police, even mentioning the option of activating the Puerto Rico National Guard.  

“We want to request the law enforcement agencies to begin to enforce the rules indicated in the executive order, strengthen surveillance, establish limits and, if necessary, issue fines. We cannot continue to pay for others’ violations when we have only been operating for a few days after the new order was issued, while the decisions appear to be being made with information prior to the limited reopening date,” he said, noting that infections of the often deadly virus are are not related to the island’s tourist activity, citing Puerto Rico Health Department data stating that outbreaks have been linked to family gatherings and campaign rallies held during the recent primaries. 

Torres said the tourism industry has only been operating for two weeks after having been paralyzed by lockdown orders for months. He called on the government to increase Covid-19 molecular testing and the speed of results to determine “the reality of the situation in a timely manner” and control outbreaks where they originate. He also said that virus monitoring programs need to be shored up to provide accurate and reliable data.

EPA Region 2 to Provide $1.1 Million Grant to the University of Puerto Rico to Reduce Air Pollution in San Juan, paying to accelerate the destruction of older short-haul trucks, buses

While reducing air pollution is beneficial, would many of these older short-haul trucks and buses using diesel fuel be soon retired anyway in the next few years, without the need for spending taxpayer dollars to accelerate their destruction?

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-region-2-provide-11-million-grant-university-puerto-rico-reduce-air-pollution-san-1

EPA Region 2 to Provide $1.1 Million Grant to the University of Puerto Rico to Reduce Air Pollution in San Juan

EPA to Award up to $73 million for Clean Diesel Projects

10/06/2020Contact Information:  Brenda Reyes (reyes.brenda@epa.gov) (787) 977-5869 Sonia Mohabir (mohabir.sonia@epa.gov) (212) 637-3241

SAN JUAN, P.R.  – This week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the selection of the University of Puerto Rico to receive funding for their project to reduce diesel emissions in San Juan, Puerto Rico by replacing short-haul trucks at the Port of San Juan and older school buses. At a press conference in Minnesota on Tuesday, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced over $73 million in grants and funding expected to be awarded to support numerous clean diesel programs and projects across the country at the state and local level. Over $50 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) National Grants Program funding is expected to be awarded to implement projects aimed at reducing diesel emissions from the nation’s existing fleet of old, dirty engines and vehicles. Additionally, EPA anticipates providing approximately $23.5 million under DERA’s 2020 State Grants program to 48 states and four territories to implement their own diesel emissions reduction programs.

“EPA is proud to support our partners as they deliver cleaner air benefits to local communities across the country,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “New diesel engines operate cleaner than older engines, and for each dollar invested in clean diesel projects, communities get $13 in cumulative health benefits.”

“Replacing trucks and school buses with older diesel engines will improve air quality and public health for communities surrounding the Port of San Juan and children in San Juan,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “EPA’s DERA funding to public and private entities allows us to strengthen partnerships and invest in innovative technologies that will benefit the environment, the economy and our most vulnerable populations.”

The University of Puerto Rico (UPR) will receive approximately $1.15 million from EPA. This DERA grant will be used to replace 11 model year 2009 or older short-haul trucks that service the Port of San Juan with newer model year trucks that meet cleaner emissions standards. Truck owners will be offered 50% of the cost to scrap and replace each vehicle up to a maximum of $82,500. UPR will also use the funding to provide 3 school bus owners servicing the San Juan metro area a rebate incentive of 25% of the cost of a model year 2020 or newer replacement school bus up to a maximum of $27,500. The replacement of diesel engines with new, cleaner engines will reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter and other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide, providing important public health and air quality benefits.

Under President Trump, the combined emission of criteria pollutants and their precursors dropped 7%. In the past three years, we saw the following drops in emissions of criteria and precursor pollutants: 

• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) ↓ 10% 
• Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) ↓ 1%
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) ↓ 16%
• Carbon monoxide (CO) ↓ 6%
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) ↓ 3%

Over the last three years during the Trump Administration, EPA will have awarded about $300 million in grants and rebates to modernize the diesel fleet and speed the turnover to cleaner on- and off-road heavy-duty trucks and equipment. Much of this assistance has been provided to help better protect areas of poor air quality and areas of highly concentrated diesel pollution, such as ports and distribution centers.

To support the Administrator’s clean air goals, the agency anticipates awarding these grants once all legal and administrative requirements are satisfied. So far in 2020, EPA has finalized awards for 41 clean diesel projects and programs. The agency anticipates completing additional awards throughout the rest of the year.

As these new grants are finalized and awarded, details on recipients, funding amounts, and project types will be listed on the DERA program webpages. For more information, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dera.

Background

EPA provides grants under DERA to protect human health and improve air quality by reducing emissions from diesel engines. The particles in diesel exhaust can penetrate deep into the lungs and pose serious health risks, including increasing the risk of cancer and aggravating the symptoms of asthma and other respiratory problems. In addition, diesel exhaust contributes to already unhealthy levels of smog, which are formed when chemicals released by vehicles, power plants, and industrial boilers react in sunlight.

DERA-funded projects typically include retrofitting or replacing legacy school buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines, locomotives, and other heavy-duty equipment with new, cleaner technologies.

For more information about EPA’s National Clean Diesel campaign and DERA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2

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Transgender woman beaten, stabbed in Puerto Rico, skull fractured, needs reconstructive surgery

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/transgender-woman-beaten-stabbed-puerto-rico-73509506

Transgender woman beaten, stabbed in Puerto Rico

A transgender woman in Puerto Rico has been hospitalized after police said she was stabbed and violently beaten in the latest case involving a member of the U.S. territory’s LGBTQ community

By The Associated Press

October 8, 2020, 5:37 PM• 1 min read

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A transgender woman was hospitalized Thursday after police said she was stabbed and violently beaten in the latest case involving a member of the U.S. territory’s LGBTQ community.

Authorities issued a statement saying Nicole López, 33, told police that the incident occurred after she got into an argument with several people in her home shortly after midnight. No further details were provided.

López’s friends told WAPA TV that her skull is fractured and that she will need reconstructive surgery.

The incident comes a week after a transgender woman was fatally shot in southwest Puerto Rico.

A total of sixth such killings have been reported on the island this year, including two transgender women who were found in a charred car in April.

FROM THE COMMENTS:

Bennie Daniel • 4 days ago

You people want to be something that you are not God created you as what you are and that is the reality that yall don’t want to accept and other people feel that by being a women when you are really a man is not a thing that is acceptable but you people still push the issue so others will do as they feel about the situation its just going to be that way until I recon one side decides to change but I feel that is a long time coming.