Governor of Puerto Rico vows to enhance the deteriorating power infrastructure of the island following persistent power failures.
Puerto Rico's Governor, Jenniffer González Colón, outlined her administration's plans to enhance the island's ailing infrastructure and stimulate economic growth during a speech on Thursday. The address, delivered nearly two hours after her inauguration last year, aimed to assuage mounting discontent over recurring power outages and rising living expenses.
The New Progressive Party politician, backing U.S. President Donald Trump, pledged to invest in multiple sectors, including health, education, and public safety. She announced that the upcoming budget would allocate funds for hiring 800 new police officers, $12 million to recruit firefighters, and $24 million to attract resident doctors to tackle the depletion of healthcare professionals due to migration to the mainland.
González Colón underlined that more than 60% of the general fund budget, equating to approximately $8 billion, would be allocated to health, education, and public safety. However, it's essential to note that the budget has yet to receive approval.
Critics, such as María de Lourdes Santiago, vice president of Puerto Rico’s Independence Party, contend that the allocations are insufficient given the significant employee gaps, including police officers.
In her speech, González Colón criticized federal bureaucracy and vowed to continue pushing for the release of $18 billion in federal funds set aside to rebuild the devastated power grid, knocked out by Hurricane Maria back in 2017. The governor additionally renewed her commitment to terminate the contract with Luma Energy, the firm overseeing power transmission and distribution in Puerto Rico.
Moving forward, she emphasized the importance of reliable power to attract investment as she pledged to draw in more manufacturing to the island. González Colón anticipates announcing the expansion of five industries on Puerto Rico in the coming months.
Some found the length of her address and her occasional rapid delivery surprising. Political analyst and university professor Jorge Schmidt Nieto suggested it may have been an attempt to divert attention from criticism of her administration's alleged inaction and the approval of few legislation acts.
Another critic, Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico's representative in Congress and president of the opposition Popular Democratic Party, described the beginning of González's tenure as chaotic. Hernández pointed out that in the past five months, González has put forth three candidates for Puerto Rico's secretary of state, two for its justice department, and two for its labor department, yet none of these positions have been filled due to her party's failure to endorse her nominees.
Despite challenges and public scrutiny, González Colón's administration continues to make progress in revitalizing various aspects of Puerto Rico's economy and infrastructure. However, the success and adequacy of these measures remain a subject of debate and criticism, particularly concerning staffing levels and delayed federal funding for solar initiatives. At present, there is no clear indication that the Luma Energy contract has been terminated.
- González Colón, the governor of Puerto Rico, unveiled her administration's plans to bolster the economy, focusing on sectors like health, education, and public safety.
- In her speech, the governor promised investments in multiple initiatives, such as hiring 800 new police officers, $12 million for firefighter recruitment, and $24 million to attract resident doctors.
- Critics, including María de Lourdes Santiago, argued that the allocations for these sectors are inadequate given the employee gaps, especially in the police force.
- To drive investment into the island, González Colón intends to expand five industries in the coming months and emphasized the significance of reliable power for attracting businesses, particularly manufacturing.
