Podcasts about caribbean business

In this episode, we're joined by Eduardo Torres, the South Florida Director for the US Department of Commerce. Mr. Torres brings a wealth of knowledge about the vital support agencies and individuals provide to Florida's small businesses. Eduardo Torres's journey to the US Department of Commerce started in the private sector, where he engaged in environmental work and participated in trade missions across Latin America. This unique perspective allows him to see the significance of the Department's programs from both sides. The US Department of Commerce serves as the eyes and ears of the US government for export promotion. Eduardo and his team assist US companies in exporting their products and services to over 87 countries. They assess a company's readiness for the export process and connect them with valuable partners like the Florida SBDC Network.   Eduardo emphasizes their role in protecting businesses' interests, ensuring they get paid, and introducing them to qualified international partners. The Department's mission is to facilitate connections, providing small businesses with market reports and opportunities to expand globally. Eduardo highlights the upcoming Caribbean Business Conference organized by the District Export Council for South Florida. This event brings together commercial officers and state department representatives from various Caribbean countries to discuss opportunities in sectors like infrastructure, oil and gas, healthcare, and aviation. As a podcast dedicated to small businesses, this episode sheds light on the crucial role the US Department of Commerce plays in empowering Florida's entrepreneurs. Tune in to explore how Eduardo and his team create pathways for success in international trade. Recorded live at this year's Florida SBDC Network Small Business Success Summit hosted at The Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. Learn more about the upcoming U.S. Caribbean Business Conference - 2023: https://g.co/kgs/bWyUbm 

About Ginette Collazo and Human Error Solutions: Ginette Collazo, Ph. D., is an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist with more than 20 years of experience specializing in Engineering Psychology and Human Reliability. These disciplines study the interaction between human behavior and productivity. She has held positions leading training and human reliability programs in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Manufacturing Industry. More than ten years ago, Dr. Collazo established Human Error Solutions (HES), a Florida-based boutique consulting firm. She has been able to position herself as one of the few Human Error Reduction Experts worldwide. HES, led by Dr. Collazo, developed a unique methodology for human error investigations, root cause determination, CA-PA development, and effectiveness that has been implemented and proven amongst different industries globally. This scientific method has been applied to critical quality situations and workplace accidents. Ginette Collazo, Ph. D. is the author of the book Human Error: Root Cause Determination Model, published in 2008. She is also a speaker at significant events like Interphex, FDAnews Annual Conference, Global Conference on Process Safety, International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, and of course, the Pharmaceutical Industry Association. Nine years ago, Dr. Collazo established Human Error Solutions (HES), a Florida based boutique consulting firm, where she has been able to position herself as one of the few Human Error Reduction Experts in the world. HES, led by Dr. Collazo, developed a unique methodology for human error investigations, cause determination, CA-PA development and effectiveness that has been implemented and proven amongst different industries globally. This scientific method has been applied in critical quality situations and workplace accidents. Ginette Collazo, Ph. D. is the author of the book Human Error: Root Cause Determination Model, published in 2008. She is also a speaker at significant events like Interphex, FDAnews Annual Conference, Global Conference on Process Safety, International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, and of course, Pharmaceutical Industry Association. FDAnews has called her a “veteran of helping drug, biologic and device firms reduce manufacturing errors,” and the Caribbean Business describes her as “ the missing link in modern business.” Today her Error Reduction System has been implemented in all types of industries worldwide Our company is made up of exceptionally qualified consultants, led by our founder and CEO, Industrial Psychologist Ginette Collazo P.H. D. Dr. Collazo and her team, assess your business, processes, and technology; most importantly, human behavior and their interaction with those elements. After understanding that knowledge by itself does not modify behavior, the search for answers led Dr. Collazo to specialize in Human Factors and Engineering Psychology throughout her career. As a result, she developed The Human Error Reduction Model and Methodology, the simplest and most effective human error reduction program with 100% effectiveness, implemented and proven amongst different organizations around the world. This valid scientific model combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies improving organizational cultures and environments, with the right tools to generate immediate results. While many programs prioritize on accidents and safety, Human Error Solutions goes beyond this, approaching centers on quality issues; procedure deviations and other human factors that become an obstacle to productivity and often negatively impact businesses profitability.

Ryan-O'Neil Knight is an entrepreneur living in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. The founder of Detailing Knights and the current Chairman and President of the Afro-Caribbean Business Network. After founding one of the first social enterprise car cleaning companies he now uses ACBN Canada to promote more companies to become social Enterprises. Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-oneil-knight-6534b134/ Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/danielfrancavilla Growth for Good is hosted by Daniel Francavilla, Marketing Advisor & Brand Strategist. The show is produced by CreatorClub for Daniel Does Consulting. Get more from Growth for Good at http://GrowthforGood.ca. For support with marketing and more for your organization visit https://danieldoes.co. Looking to produce a podcast of your own? Visit http://CreatorClubStudios.com.

Stay with me here. We are going to delve into the world of manufacturing. You may be wondering, what in the world does manufacturing have to do with designing a fantastic 4th quarter? Well, my guest is all about asking why. And asking why is a powerful skill as you grow up.Curiosity and reflection. These are skills that become increasingly important as we age. Without it, we enter the dark abyss of decline without helpful context.Listen to what Ginette shares and ask yourself, “Am I recovering that curiosity and wonder I once had as a child?”Dr. Ginette Collazo established Human Error Solutions (HES), a Florida based boutique consulting firm, where she has been able to position herself as one of the few Human Error Reduction Experts in the world. Ginette is the author of the book Human Error: Root Cause Determination Model, published in 2008. FDAnews has called her a “veteran of helping drug, biologic and device firms reduce manufacturing errors,” and the Caribbean Business describes her as “ the missing link in modern business.” Today her Error Reduction System has been implemented in all types of industries worldwide.To learn more, visit:https://humanerrorsolutions.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/ginette-collazo/

Stay with me here. We are going to delve into the world of manufacturing. You may be wondering, what in the world does manufacturing have to do with designing a fantastic 4th quarter? Well, my guest is all about asking why. And asking why is a powerful skill as you grow up.Curiosity and reflection. These are skills that become increasingly important as we age. Without it, we enter the dark abyss of decline without helpful context.Listen to what Ginette shares and ask yourself, "Am I recovering that curiosity and wonder I once had as a child?"My guest, (and also a fellow Mission Matters podcast host) Dr. Ginette Collazo established Human Error Solutions (HES), a Florida based boutique consulting firm, where she has been able to position herself as one of the few Human Error Reduction Experts in the world. Ginette is the author of the book Human Error: Root Cause Determination Model, published in 2008. FDAnews has called her a “veteran of helping drug, biologic and device firms reduce manufacturing errors,” and the Caribbean Business describes her as “ the missing link in modern business.” Today her Error Reduction System has been implemented in all types of industries worldwide.You can find Ginette athttps://humanerrorsolutions.com/She is also on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginettecollazo/Her podcast is:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-power-of-why/id1633272569To learn more, visit:www.servingstrong.comListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:www.missionmatters.com/author/scott-couchenour

Join us as we sit down with Metry Seaga, the CEO of JFP, and delve into the journey of JFP, a contract furniture manufacturing company. Metry shares his insights on leading JFP, the company's evolution, and its expansion plans. He also discusses his multiple roles and how he manages his time effectively. We explore JFP's unique business model, its impact on the commercial space, and the recent Total Office deal. Check out our Stocks to watch for 2023 episode

The Jamaica Stock Exchange and You is brought to you by CUMAX Wealth Management, "making more possible." Cable television is a system of delivering television programming to viewers via radio frequency signals transmitted through electrical cables; in more recent systems, light pulses through fibre-optic cables. You might be wondering why I am opening up with this information about cable TV on the JSE's podcast. I have a good cause. The JSE's mission is to contribute to the growth and development of the territories where they conduct business, by facilitating the mobilization, exchange, and expansion of capital while providing a return on equity acceptable to their shareholders. I know first-hand that the organization does nothing that is out of alignment with its vision and mission. Today, we will examine how the JSE's latest venture, the Caribbean Business Exchange, aligns with its mission and vision. To tell us all about that is Andre Gooden, Business Development Manager at the JSE. Some of what we looked at were: What is the CBX? How does the CBX align to the mission & vision of the JSE? How will the CBX benefit investors? What kind of content can we expect from the CBX? How will the CBX be different from what already exists? And lots more. Connect with Andre Gooden: Email: andre.gooden@jamstockex.com Thanks for listening to The Jamaica Stock Exchange & You, a podcast of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with your host, Heneka Watkis-Porter! The Jamaica Stock Exchange and You was brought to you by CUMAX Wealth Management, "making more possible." Send us your feedback at podcast@jamstockex.com or on social media @jamstockex. In the meantime, follow this podcast on your favourite podcast app. The Jamaica Stock Exchange & You is produced by Heneka Watkis-Porter of The Entrepreneurial You podcast and now TV show. You can find out more at henekawatkisporter.com to hear leadership and entrepreneurship lessons from guests like Zachary Harding, Les Brown, Dr Marlene Street-Forrest, Richard Branson, Dr Marcia Forbes, Seth Godin and more. I am also on social media at Heneka Watkis-Porter. That's all for now, see you next week! Remember, as Warren Buffet says, "Rule number one: Don't lose money. Rule number two: Don't forget rule number one.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/jamstockexpodcast/message

Presentado por nuestros patroncitos y patroncitas PYME: —- COMO TODOS SABEMOS PUERTO RICO ESTÁ ATRAVESANDO POR UNA CRISIS FINANCIERA SIN PRECEDENTES Y EXISTE UNA LEY DE PROTECCIÓN LLAMADA LA LEY FEDERAL DE QUIEBRAS. LA OFICINA DEL LICENCIADO EDGARDO MANGUAL GONZÁLEZ ESTÁ ABIERTA Y ESTÁ ORIENTANDO POR TELEFONO DE FORMA GRATIS Y CONFIDENCIAL SOBRE LA PROTECCIÓN DE LA LEY DE QUIEBRAS LLAMANDO AL 787-753-0055. LA LEY DE QUIEBRAS ES LA ÚNICA LEY QUE OBLIGA A LOS ACREEDORES A DETENER LAS LLAMADAS DE COBRADORES, DETENER EMBARGOS Y REPOSESIONES DE AUTOS, REORGANIZAR DEUDAS Y SALVAR PROPIEDADES. LLAME AL LICENCIADO EDGARDO MANGUAL AL 753-0055 O VISITE LA PÁGINA DE INTERNET QUIEBRAS.NET. LA LEY DE QUIEBRAS ES TU DERECHO DE REORGANIZAR Y SALVAR PROPIEDADES EN ESTA CRISIS ECONÓMICA. LICENCIADO EDGARDO MANGUAL 753-0055, 753-0055, 753-0055 — Matrix Patent Agency se dedica a preparar y radicar aplicaciones de Patentes, el documento que emite el USPTO y el cual protege sus derechos sobre 'Inventos' en EE. UU. y extensiones para protección Global. El principal de Matrix se llama Luis Figarella, PE y Agente de Patentes Registrado en el USPTO (Reg. # 58,300).  Los agentes hacemos lo mismo que los abogados de patentes en lo que llamamos el “prosecution” (preparar, radicar y si, ‘negociar' con el Examinador del USPTO). Si ha pensado alguna ves proteger su ‘invento', me deja saber y vemos si se puede hacer algo o no. Desde que Matrix comenzó en el 2006, tiene sobre 115 patentes tramitadas y emitidas para mis clientes, 47 de ellas a clientes en PR. 603.557.8420 (C)  603.821.7400 (O) luis@mxpatent.com — Felix Colón,  Electricista y Técnico de Refrigeración con más de 10 años de experiencia. Se realizan  reparaciones, mantenimientos e instalación de aires acondicionados y todo tipo de trabajo eléctrico.  Para coordinar su servicio comuníquese al  787-515-8785 y con gusto lo atenderemos.  – JM Accesorios Trabajamos accesorios para auto (luces LED, tablillas, tuercas, vent visors, sistemas de volantes para auto, marcos de tablilla, radios y sistemas de audio) Instalamos varios tipos de tintes industrial para autos (entre ellos de cerámica), con corte digitalizado, lo cual agiliza la instalación y previene accidentes a raíz realizar corte en el vehículo.  Trabajamos por cita previa.  Teléfono: 787-649-7867/ 787-239-0090 Instagram/Facebook: jmaccesoriospr Horarios: Lunes a viernes 8:00am-4:00pm Sábados 8:00am-3:00pm Dirección: Sector Campo Rico, Carr 185 km 5.6 Canóvanas, PR -- En este episodio conversamos con el Director Ejecutivo de la Autoridad para la APPs sobre el estatus del contrato de LUMA y la privatización de los cruceros; pero antes, hablamos de la convención del PNP, los campeones Vaqueros de Bayamón y el cierre del Caribbean Business.  ¡Los y las suscriptoras de nuestro Patreon escucharon este podcast anoche! Suscríbete en patreon.com/puestospalproblema y disfruta de una gran comunidad y beneficios exclusivos. Con Jonathan Lebrón (@SrLebron) y Luis S. Herrero (@lherrero). Sigue a PPP en Twitter, Facebook e Instagram. ¿Te gusta el podcast? ¡Déjanos 5 estrellas! Nuestro logo y camisetas fueron diseñadas por Gabriel René. Síguelo en @gabrielrodz | https://gabrielrene.com Nuestra música fue compuesta por CPR EFFE. Descarga su disco "Treinta y Ocho". ¡Riega la voz! Dile a tus amigos que se pongan al día escuchando PPP.Suscríbete a nuestro Patreon y recibe contenido exclusivo, artículos: https://patreon.com/puestospalproblemaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1. Gobernador designa al Lic. Jose Troche como el primer director de la Oficina Enlace con la Comunidad Sorda. 2. “La reforma termina cuando lo diga yo”. El juez Francisco Besosa se pone fuerte ante el inmovilismo con el abuso de los policías y la reforma policiaca 3. Luma no es un “concert” ni es protesta como entretenimiento. La gente está indignada con Luma y sigue en pie manifestación para exigir la cancelación del contrato 4. Pedro Pierluisi saca pecho y dice: “LUMA no va a contar con mi apoyo como gobernador a menos que se den los cambios que he pedido” 5. Juez federal autoriza modificar la libertad bajo fianza de Sixto George. El productor televisivo, acusado de extorsión y obstrucción a la justicia, solicitó los cambios para poder trabajar en dos proyectos. 6. Junta de Gobierno de la UPR rechaza nombramiento de William Méndez como rector interino de Ciencias Médicas. Presidente de Ferrao nombra a Carlos Ortiz Reyes como rector interino 7. Concretan acuerdo que otorgaría al Municipio de San Juan la titularidad de parque en Condado. De ser acogido por el tribunal, se le reembolsaría a Krug Property, LLC., los $145,000 que pagó al DTOP para adquirir el terreno. 8. La Junta Fiscal le concede al gobierno una última oportunidad para frenar las enmiendas a la reforma laboral. El organismo ha advertido por meses que impugnaría la ley si la administración de Pedro Pierluisi decidía implementarla. 9. Manipulación 101: Anuncia el COR3 una Lluvia de millones para la reconstrucción de municipios con fondos federales. 10. Ahora alegan que es un cierre temporal, no permanente en Caribbean Business. Empresa niega cierre, pero calla sobre demanda de empleados por cobro de salario. 11. Los Testigos de Jehová regresan a predicar casa a casa, tras pausa de 30 meses debido al Covid-19. 12. Lanzan Observatorio Latinoamericano y del Caribe de derechos políticos y electorales de las personas trans. Éstas y otras noticias, hoy En Blanco y Negro con Sandra. - - - Este programa se transmite por las siguientes emisoras, y por sus respectivas plataformas digitales, y aplicaciones para dispositivos Apple y Android: 1. Cadena WIAC - WYAC 930 AM: Cabo Rojo-Mayagüez 2. Cadena WIAC – WISA 1390 AM Isabela 3. Cadena WIAC - WIAC 740 AM: Área metropolitana 4. WLRP 1460 AM Radio Raíces: La voz del Pepino en San Sebastián 5. Radio Grito 1200AM: Lares 6. Radio Grito 93.3 FM Aguadilla 7. Radio Grito: 92.1 FM Arecibo-Ponce 8. X61 610 AM: Patillas y toda la zona sureste 9. X61 94.3 FM: Patillas-Guayama 10. Mi Podcast: Anchor, SoundCloud y demás. https://anchor.fm/sandrarodriguezcotto Redes Sociales: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, LINKEDIN 11. E-mail: Enblancoynegroconsandra@gmail.com 12. BLOG: http://enblancoynegromedia.blogspot.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/sandrarodriguezcotto/support

Karla tiene más de 15 años de experiencia en la industria de seguros. Karla es la Gerente de Commercial Risk en Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico, Inc. Karla tiene un bachillerato en Publicidad y Relaciones Públicas de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras. Cuenta con las designaciones de Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) y Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) del National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research. Tiene licencias de la Oficina del Comisionado de Seguros de Puerto Rico para las líneas de vida, propiedad y contingencia, salud e incapacidad. Su experiencia en la industria cubre muchas bases como el área de ventas, servicio al cliente y gerente de distintas líneas de negocios.Karla ha sido atleta desde niña. Jugó baloncesto superior a nivel profesional y representó a Puerto Rico en ligas menores. Ella entró a la industria de seguros gracias a los deportes. Un colega de los deportes la contrató part-time cuando ella cursaba su último año de universidad.  Casualmente, él era un broker de seguros. Karla empezó con él como recepcionista, ayudando en la oficina, luego trabajando un poco de reclamaciones y líneas personales. Luego de su entrada al mundo de los seguros, Karla llegó para quedarse. Gracias a su espíritu competitivo, preparación, esfuerzos y buenas relaciones ha logrado una exitosa carrera como joven líder de esta industria. Atleta al fin, no es de extrañar que Karla lidere con el ejemplo de sus acciones y que sea una “problem solver” natural. Ella guía a su equipo con el ejemplo de sus acciones y les inspira a hacer lo mismo y a aprender de los errores. Fun facts sobre Karla: en el 2021 fue galardonada con el prestigioso premio de ‘40 UNDER 40' otorgado por el Caribbean Business. Para más información sobre Karla, presiona aquí. #funinsurancesolutions #podcastenespañol #podcast #podcastdeseguros #insurance #profesionalesdeseguros #podcasting #insurancelife #insuranceprofessionals #seguros #puertorico #usa #usvi #hosts #podcasthosts #womenempowerment Haz CLICK AQUI para darnos "Like" en Facebook.Haz CLICK AQUI para seguirnos en Instagram.Haz CLICK AQUI para seguirnos en LinkedIn.

Presentado por el nuevo servicio residencial de Aeronet: HomeFi. Se acabó el dupolio del internet en el hogar, ahora la conexión más fuerte llega a tu casa. Llama ahora al 787.273.4143 o visita homefi.pr, precios mensuales comienzan en $49.99. --- También presentado por Goal Zero y sus plantas eléctricas YETI que no necesitan gasolina y se pueden cargar con la luz del sol. Sobrevive los huracanes, los apagones y los papelenes con tu Goal Zero del Sobrevive Store. Llama ahora al 787.602.6001, búscalos en Facebook o visita su show room en Guaynabo, al lado del Colegio Adianez. -- En este episodio: un update del COVID y los #PPPAwards, la controversia sobre la persona del año del Caribbean Business, el convicto exalcalde popular Luisito Arroyo, #CatañoPolitics, #GuaynaboPolitics y #NoticieroWars.  ¡Los y las suscriptoras de nuestro Patreon escucharon este podcast el viernes! Suscríbete en patreon.com/puestospalproblema y disfruta de una gran comunidad y beneficios exclusivos. Con Jonathan Lebrón (@SrLebron) y Luis S. Herrero (@lherrero). Sigue a PPP en Twitter, Facebook e Instagram. ¿Te gusta el podcast? ¡Déjanos 5 estrellas! Nuestro logo y camisetas fueron diseñadas por Gabriel René. Síguelo en @gabrielrodz | https://gabrielrene.com Nuestra música fue compuesta por EFFE CPR. Lo pueden seguir en todas las redes bajo E F F E CPR. Descarga su disco "Sorry por el Delay" en Spotify,Apple Music y Tidal. ¡Riega la voz! Dile a tus amigos que se pongan al día escuchando PPP. Suscríbete a nuestro Patreon y recibe contenido exclusivo, artículos: https://patreon.com/puestospalproblema See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiffani Blackman is a content creator, and entrepreneur in Trinidad. Listen to Tiffani's story of how a family tragedy launched her journey into entrepreneurship and financial independence. Connect with Tiffani Blackman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffani-blackman-2743b278/ 

In this episode of #ObehiPodcast, Yvonne Witter talks about her new book "Cracking a Nut: customer service in the African Caribbean business". _____________________________ ♥ Thank you for listening to Obehi Podcast. Share also with your friends who might need it. ♥Join our eLearning Community - Membership - AClasses Media --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/obehi-podcast/message

The journey from Jamaica to the UK, from employee to employer and 1st generation to second generation.This episode is longer than the usual 1 hour you would expect from Reggae Uprising Podcast but there was much wisdom to be shared through a variety of experiences.This weeks guest is Managing Director of Sunrise Bakery, Errol Drummond. You can expect to hear about the journey of the Windrush, overcoming adversity in business across generations, the blueprint for success in business and empowering future generations.Connect with Errolwww.sunrisebakery.co.ukSUBSCRIBE & CATCH UP with weekly REGGAE UPRISING & REGGAE UPRISING PODCAST shows and Danieal's music viawww.danieal.co.uk

En nuestro primer episodio tocamos los temas de: Las leyes de transparencia y acceso a la información pública en Puerto Rico. Hablamos de los problemas, las consecuencias negativas de estas leyes en promover la corrupción y agudizar la pobreza. En el segmento de "Vamonos pa' el Sur" hablamos de la Conmemoración de la Tragedia de Mameyes; Y pasamos juicio del trabajo legislativo del Representante del Distrito 23, Victor Torres González Fuentes:  Román, A. (2020). Estudio revela que las leyes de transparencia de Puerto Rico son peores que en la mayoría de los países - Centro de Periodismo Investigativo. Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://periodismoinvestigativo.com/2020/05/estudio-revela-que-las-leyes-de-transparencia-de-puerto-rico-son-peores-que-en-la-mayoria-de-los-paises/ Negrón Almodóvar, C. (2020). Cómo las nuevas leyes de acceso a la información en Puerto Rico perjudican la libertad de prensa y el trabajo de los periodistas - Committee to Protect Journalists. (2020). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://cpj.org/es/2020/02/como-las-nuevas-leyes-de-acceso-a-la-informacion-e/ Márquez Reyes, J. (2020). 5 cosas que debes saber sobre el derecho a información en Puerto Rico | Microjuris al Día. (2019). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://aldia.microjuris.com/2019/08/25/5-cosas-que-debes-saber-sobre-el-derecho-a-informacion-en-puerto-rico/ 10 Principios para el acceso a la información. (2020). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://espaciosabiertos.org/10-principios-para-el-acceso-a-la-informacion/ Velázquez Carrasquillo, G. (2020). Seis meses: lo que tardó el gobierno en incumplir con la ley de acceso a la información pública — ONCE. (2020). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://oncepr.com/once/2020/03/02/reportajes/puerto-rico-ley-141-transparencia-acceso-informacion-publica Rosselló firmó 66 leyes antes de irse, incluyendo dos que impactan la transparencia. (2019). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://eyboricua.com/noticias/puerto-rico/rossello-firmo-66-leyes-antes-de-irse-incluyendo-dos-que-impactan-la-transparencia/ Caribbean Business se expresa en contra de la “Ley de Transparencia” - CB en Español. (2020). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://cb.pr/caribbean-business-se-expresa-en-contra-de-la-ley-de-transparencia/?print=print Cruz, A. (2020). La transparencia y el acceso a la información para combatir la corrupción — ABRE Puerto Rico. (2019). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://www.abrepr.org/blog/la-transparencia-y-el-acceso-a-la-informacin-para-combatir-la-corrupcin Rivera Laracuente, G. (2020). El recuerdo vive: a 35 años de la tragedia de Mameyes. (2020). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://www.periodicolaperla.com/el-recuerdo-vive-a-35-anos-de-la-tragedia-de-mameyes/ Derrumbes en Puerto Rico | EcoExploratorio: Museo de Ciencias de Puerto Rico. (2020). Retrieved 11 October 2020, from https://ecoexploratorio.org/amenazas-naturales/derrumbes/derrumbes-en-puerto-rico/ Credito Música Runw ay 47 by Immersive Music (Standar License) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/desdeelsur/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/desdeelsur/support

It’s a fact—demurrage plagues us in the Caribbean. And we can’t help but notice how it has made a shift from penalty to profiteering.Following on from our recently published article ‘On Demurrage: Developing A Level of Reasonableness', our host Collis Williams, gives his thoughts on the plague that is demurrage. Can we find a cure for this crippling malady in the near future? Visit our website for show notes and to join the discussion on this episode. Connect with us on LinkedIn HERE.

There is a new wave of young entrepreneurs sprouting within the Caribbean marketplace. These entrepreneurs look outwardly beyond our shores and are well-primed to contribute to the economic growth of our region. When attempting to do so however, they are often barraged with a multitude of logistical challenges, which in turn reduce their ability to compete on the world stage and pose a significant threat to their sustainability. In this episode we hear from Jannene Inniss, co-owner of the small agro-processing company, Groen Leaf. Jannene knows the challenges faced by Caribbean entrepreneurs all too well and shares some of her personal experiences with us. Together with our host, Jannene pleads for the paradigm shift needed for our region to create the platform that facilitates the evolving entrepreneur as well as allows them to both export their talents to the world and be competitive.Visit our website at https://www.rdleagle.com/podcast/ to join the discussion on this episode.

This episode features Barbadian Building Inspector and Fire Safety Designer, Troy Ward. Troy lends his over 15 years experience in the fire industry to a discussion on the amalgamation of logistics and fire safety design as an innovative means to help the Caribbean to perfect its investment allure, increase competitiveness and create a more diverse pool of skillsets that can potentially be exported to the international market. We also tackle the question: Can we use policy to force our people to innovate?Visit our website at https://www.rdleagle.com/podcast to join the discussion.

The beauty of being at a critical juncture in our region’s history is that it presents a starting point for evolution and change. It is a place where we take steps to alter the way our people perceive business, technology and change. Where we banish protectionism and open up our markets to competition. It is at a critical juncture that we incentivize innovation and eagerly press ahead with the process of creative destruction–a process that sees to it that archaic ideas are eliminated and replaced with new innovations that generate productivity gains. Herein lies the path to economic growth and prosperity.We are at a critical juncture. Are the people of the Caribbean ready for the necessary change, or are we content with romanticizing the past, asks our Then Let’s Fix It! host Collis Williams. Economist and millennial thought leader Simon Naitram presents his point of view.Visit https://www.rdleagle.com/podcast to join the discussion.

It's game time. You're two love down and there are ten minutes to go. What will you do? Are you going to score two goals in the ten minutes remaining in the football game or are you going to aim for three? Defenders will opt to score two goals with the aim of drawing the game but in actuality, two goals can't save your team. Strikers on the other hand, will change their strategy and formulate a plan of attack that ensures that they score three goals in order to win the game. In the Caribbean, we need more strikers.In this episode, Leadership Development Professional Marjorie Wharton tackles the resistance to and the inevitability of the change needed to make the evolution from where we presently are in the logistics industry in the Caribbean to where we need to be. We delve into the fact that the necessary change must come from first principles—a change in mindset and the willingness to disrupt the status quo so that the strikers among us can score goals.Visit our website at www.rdleagle.com/podcast to join in on the discussion.

This episode features Barbadian information technology industry leader Terry Jones, who delves into the role of technology in moving our logistics industry forward. Terry helps us to understand that while technology is the tool, there must first be a clear and effective vision for the entire industry. He also explains how he believes we can go about formulating this vision. Visit https://www.rdleagle.com/podcast/ to join the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss logistics as a critical tool for moving our Caribbean investment allure from good to great. We also discuss strategies that can be implemented to help us achieve this goal. Visit https://www.rdleagle.com/podcast/ to join in on the discussion.

In this episode, we discuss international logistics and its relation to the sustainability and earning capacity of our people. We also examine the fact that there is no significant home-grown logistics solution in the Caribbean that we can lever on to enhance the sustainability of our people. Visit https://www.rdleagle.com/podcast/ to join the discussion on this episode and propose your solutions to this problem.

Welcome to the Then Let's Fix It! podcast where we discuss critical issues around logistics and supply chain management in the Caribbean. In this episode, Collis Williams shares more about what Then Let's Fix It! is about and why he decided to create this podcast. He also shares a little about his own story as a logistics and supply chain practitioner. Visit https://www.rdleagle.com/ for show notes and to join the discussion.

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria wiped out the electricity on the entire island of Puerto Rico. Six months later the lights are still off for too many people. In this episode, by hearing highlights of Congressional testimony from Puerto Rico's government officials and through stories of Jen's recent trip to the island, learn the good news and the bad news about life right now on Puerto Rico. Please Support Congressional Dish Click here to contribute using credit card, debit card, PayPal, or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD028: Crisis in Puerto Rico CD147: Controlling Puerto Rico Additional Recommended Listening The David Pakman Show Additional Reading Article: Needs go unmet 6 months after Maria hit Puerto Rico by Danica Coto, AP News, March 20, 2018. Article: Six months after Maria, the hardest hit city in Puerto Rico is still being ignored by AJ Vicens, Grist, March 20, 2018. Article: The battle for paradise by Naomi Klein, The Intercept, March 20, 2018. Report: U.S. executive appointed head Puerto Rico power company by Dalissa Zeda Sanchez, Caribbean Business, March 20, 2018. Report: Puerto Rico legislature sends education reform to governor's desk for enactment by Genesis Ibarra, Caribbean Business, March 20, 2018. Report: Gov presents Puerto Rio justice, agriculture reorganization plans, Caribbean Business, March 20, 2018. Article: 'We are the forgotten people': It's been almost six months since Hurricane Maria, and Puerto Ricans are still dying by John D. Stutter, CNN, March 15, 2018. Article: Puerto Rico reforms could boost GNP by 1.5 percent: Jaresko by Daniel Bases, Reuters, March 14, 2018. Press Release: Committee seeks answers on corruption at Puerto Rico Power Utility, House Committee on Natural Resources, March 12, 2018. Report: Recycled proposals in Puerto Rico's fiscal plans by Luis J. Valentin Ortiz, City & State New York, March 11, 2018. Article: 'This city has been ignored': Yabucoa, ground zero for Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, still reeling by Rick Jervis, USA Today, March 11, 2018. Article: The role of private investment in rebuilding Puerto Rico by The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC, March 8, 2018. Opinion: Puerto Rico? Guinea pig for water privatization by Britt Fremstad, Public Citizen, 2018. Article: Why Puerto Rico is pushing to privatize its schools by Mimi Kirk, City Lab, February 27, 2018. Report: Citigroup drove Puerto Rico into debt. Now it will profit from privatization on the island by Kate Aronoff, The Intercept, February 21, 2018. Report: Hedge fund-driven austerity could come back to bite the hedge funds driving it in Puerto Rico by Kate Aronoff, The Intercept, February 3, 2018. Article: Privatization won't fix Puerto Rico's broken power utility by Lara Merling, NACLA, February 1, 2018. Press Release: Bishop statement on Puerto Rico fiscal plans, PREPA privatization by House Committee on Natural Resources, January 25, 2018. Report: Puerto Rico governor seizes opportunity created by Hurricane Maria, plans to privatize electric power by Kate Aronoff, The Intercept, January 24, 2018. Article: The peril of privatizing PREPA by Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, January 24, 2018. Report: Puerto Rico to sell off crippled power utility PREPA by Daniel Bases, Reuters, January 22, 2018. Report: Puerto Rico utility workers charge that federal government is hoarding reconstruction supplies by Kate Aronoff, The Intercept, January 16, 2018. Article: PREPA "Warehouse 5" was no secret by Alex Figueroa Cancel, El Nuevo Dia, January 16, 2018. Article: Energy answers marchincinerator: the struggle continues by Leysa Caro Gonzelez, El Nuevo Dia, January 16, 2018. Report: Armed federal agents enter warehouse in Puerto Rico to sieze hoarded electric equipment by Kate Aronof, The Intercept, January 10, 2018. Article: Puerto Rico said 64 people died in Hurricane Maria. A new report puts the death toll over 1,000 by Aric Jenkins, Time.com, December 19, 2017. Report: Nearly 1,000 more people died in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria by Center for Investigative Journalism, Latino USA, December 7, 2017. Law Firm Post: Did you lose money investing in Puerto Rico bonds with Morgan Stanley financial advisor Robert Dennison? by Erez Law Firm, December 6, 2017. Article: The lineman got $63 an hour. The utility was billed at $319 an hour. by Frances Robles, The New York Times, November 12, 2017. Article: Ex-Morgan Stanley broker at center of Puerto Rico bond disputes by Bruce Kelly, Investment News, September 28, 2017. Report: Maps: Hurricane Maria's path across Puerto Rico by Sarah Almukhtar, Matthew Bloch, Ford Fessenden and Jugal K. Patel, The New York Times, September 26, 2017. Article: Incinerating the future: Austerity crisis threatens wetlands and economic opportunity for Puerto Rico by Adriana Gonzelez, The Planet: Sierra Club, August 14, 2017. Report: Puerto Rico's Fiscal Control Board spent $31 million in fiscal year 2017 by Julio Ricardo Varela, Latino USA, August 2, 2017. Report: SEC probes Barclays, Morgan Stanley bankers over Puerto Rico by Martin Z. Braun, Bloomberg, June 28, 2017. Report: Puerto Rico Senate approves bill to eliminate debt audit commission by Cindy Burgos Alvarado, Caribbean Business, April 18, 2017. Article: A glimpse of Natalie Jaresko by Jose A. Delgado Robles, El Nuevo Dia, March 29, 2017. Article: Ukraine must fully implement IMF Program, says former finance minister by Mitch Hulse, Atlantic Council, April 14, 2016. Article: How free electricity helped dig $9 billion hole in Puerto Rico by Mary Williams Walsh, The New York Times, February 1, 2016. Article: Puerto Rico - a way forward by Anne O. Krueger, Ranjit Teja, and Andrew Wolfe, GDB.PR.GOV, June 29, 2015. Article: Meet the woman overhauling Ukraine's economy - and born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago by James Ellingworth, Business Insider, March 1,2015. Article: Proposed Arecibo waste-to-energy plan gets EPA nod by Michelle Kantrow, Energy Answers, May 10, 2012. Research Paper: Does private management lead to improvement of water services? Lessons learned from the experiences of Bolivia and Puerto Rico by Susana Maria Cortina de Cardenas, University of Iowa Research Online, Spring 2011. Resources DESMOG Blog Info: Edison Electric Institute Energy Answers Resources: Puerto Rico Resource Recovery and Renewable Energy Project International Monetary Fund Bio: Anne O. Krueger International Monetary Fund Blog: Ranjit Teja LinkedIn Profile: Noel Zamot, Federal Oversight Management Board USDA Report: Arecibo Waste to Energy Generation and Resource Recovery Facility Arecibo, Puerto Rico Sound Clip Sources Hearing: Hurricane Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Power Utility Officials; Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, November 14, 2017. Witnesses: - Natalie Jaresko - Executive Director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico - Jose Roman Morales - Associate Commission and Interim President of the Puerto Rico Energy Commission - Ricardo Ramos - Executive Director of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority - Julio Rhymer - Executive Director of the US Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority 53:40 Ricardo Ramos: Many of the fallen poles fell because of the additional weight of infrastructure that originally was not supposed to be there, so the grid itself is old—are new. Design standards account for an amount of additional infrastructure for communications and other, but many of the poles were—they had communications because some local law of Puerto Rico permitted the common right-of-way usage, so we had to allow telecom companies to put the telecommunications cables there—but the pole itself not necessarily was designed to those standards. 59:10 Natalie Jaresko: So, as you know, Madame Chairman, the board took an action and filed in the Title III court to name a chief transformation officer. The court ruled yesterday against us in that action, although we have not yet seen the written judgment, so I can’t comment on it in detail. Hearing: Hurricane Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, Governors; Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Witnesses: - Donald Jackson - Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Civil and Emergency Operations - Kenneth Mapp - Governor of US Virgin Islands - Jose Roman Morales - Associate Commission and Interim President of the Puerto Rico Energy Commission - Ricardo “Ricky” Rossello - Governor of Puerto Rico - Bruce Walker - Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability 38:20 Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy Bruce Walker: PREPA, with the limited crews that it had—I will point to this map over here—made an early decision to have to tie the southern portion, where the generation is, to the northern portion, where the load is. And in doing so, they made a key decision to construct the 230 kV line from the south, bringing it up to the San Juan area, the Bayamon substation. On the map, you can see here, from down here, wrapping up through here, that that align is going to appear all the way over to here. What was important about that was that one decision and the efforts made by PREPA, with limited staffing, enabled the power to be distributed to where the load was and in conjunction with the other big decision, which is the next slide, Jennifer, the Army Corps, working with PREPA, installed two 25-megawatt generators at the Palo Seco generation plant, and that, in conjunction with the rebuild of the 230 line, enabled power to be distributed to the northern portion to start picking up commercial and residential customers. Those two efforts were monumental, given the facts and circumstances. The installation of this generator was, with the letting of the contract and the install—and I was at Palo Seco when this was being put in—and the work that had to be done was really incredible—we had fantastic support from PREPA in coordinating it particularly with the re-laying and the coordination with the Army Corps. 1:10:00 Governor Ricardo Rossello: We have several flaws in terms of the design, aside from having antiquated power plants. Most of our generation was done in the south, yet most of the people and most of the consumption is done in the north, so you lose about 12 to 15% in the transmission, going northward. It is time, it is an opportunity, to rethink that, where do we have that generation and make it better? Piggybacking on Senator Cassidy’s comments, I think it is an opportunity also to leapfrog in renewables. I’ve envisioned us leapfrogging to 25% renewables in Puerto Rico and recognizing that there are some mitigation strategies that we need to put in place. That is why we have worked with the PREPA governing board to have a group of thought leaders that can actually help us in the design, looking forward, and specifically looking where this could happen. Last-mile events in Puerto Rico are very important. It’s important to consider the terrain. Puerto Rico’s not flat; it’s got a mountainous region. And so we will be very aggressively pursuing that we get to 90, 95% of energy consumption and energy generation, but that last mile always takes more time because there are sort of remote areas of the island. This is an opportunity to make microgrids in Puerto Rico so that they can be sustained in different areas. And, lastly, adding to this whole component of renewables, I think it is an opportunity to look at this from a bottom-up-and-a-top-down approach. With the collaboration of FEMA, we were able to, for the first time in the STEP program, allow that either a power plant generator be added to the house or a renewable battery-pack solar combo be added to those homes in the STEP program. Now, we expect that there will be about 80,000 homes that will be introduced in the STEP program. Think about what that means if half of them decide to go with the renewable battery-pack route. It means that now you have the starting conditions to actually think about things like a virtual power plant in Puerto Rico, where you can have smart distribution of the energy; and where some days it might be cloudy in some areas in Puerto Rico—it’ll be sunny, certainly, in others as well—and that energy can be distributed alongside, of course, a complement of utility-size and industrial-size generation, which I envision, Senator, should start transitioning from petroleum-based generation, which is costly and, of course, more harmful, to liquid-gas and so forth generation. So, those are, in a nutshell, what we envision the sort of future grid of Puerto Rico looking like. 1:34:15 Senator Catherine Cortez Masto: It’s my understanding under the Stafford Act, it’s Section 406(e), that limits the use of federal disaster-relief funds for repairing, restoring, reconstructing, or replacing a public facility or private nonprofit facility on the basis of the design of the facility as the facility existed immediately before the major disaster. Now, my understanding of that, then, is that all of the talk that I’ve heard today, which is important talk about new infrastructure—burying lines, looking at how we add renewable capacity—that is something that is not going to be addressed through the funding, through the relief, that comes from the federal government. Is that correct? And I guess I’m asking Mr. Walker and General Jackson, is that your understanding? Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy Bruce Walker: That is my understanding. As I mentioned earlier, we’re doing emergency restoration work now. A number of the things that have been mentioned here, if the Congress approves additional appropriations, those would be opportunities that we could further, you know, build into— Masto: And that’s—are you asking today, then? That’s what you’re asking Congress today, additional appropriations outside of the Stafford Act be able to set up new infrastructure and do just what we’ve heard today, because we know another hurricane’s going to come through, or some other disaster. I think it’s just the way the climate is today. Is that the ask today from the governors? Governor Ricardo Rossello: To amend that, could you repeat the question, Senator? Masto: Sure. So, the Stafford Act limits the amount of— Rossello: Yeah. Masto: —money that you’re getting from the federal government for disaster relief to repair and reconstruct. Rossello: Yeah. Masto: It is not for new construction or new types of renewable energy or burying lines. So, are you coming today for additional funds outside of the Stafford Act, outside of disaster relief? Is that what I’m hearing today? Governor Kenneth Mapp: Yes. Yes, because under Stafford, if a system connected to the power generation isn’t damaged, it can’t be touched. If it’s cost effective, it can be mitigated, but the whole power system is all connected, and so if we want to change to more-efficient renewables—wind, solar—if the generation system hasn’t been damaged, then we can have an exclusion. So we will need changes in the language to permit that. Rossello: Yes. We are, we recognize what the limitations of FEMA funding are within this, so we’re asking for additional funding so that we can get that flexibility as well and actually rebuild better. I mean, again, you can discuss whether it’s a good idea or not on the context of the merit of the energy and the structure, but it is really just a bad idea to rebuild a system that is frail over again, spend good taxpayer money in that, because you’re going to have to do it once over again. 1:44:34 Senator Mazie Hirono (HI): Based on your estimates, how much are you asking Congress to fund in terms of the kind of modernization, resilience, etc. that you would like to see in Puerto Rico? Governor Ricardo Rossello: Yeah. It’s about $17 billion in damage estimates. Hirono: One year? Rossello: No. For the bulk of the process. Hirono: Seventeen billion dollars? Rossello: Yes, that’s right. Hirono: And is it your—well, I know that you hope that Congress will authorize that, and do you think that authorization or the funding to occur in one year, or is it over a period of time? Rossello: No, it would be over a period of time, of course. 1:53:28 Senator Bernie Sanders (VT): Puerto Rico is struggling with an unsustainable 75-billion-dollar debt and $49 billion in pension obligations. More than one-third of that debt is held by Wall Street vulture funds that are getting interest rates of up to 34% on tax-exempt bonds they purchased for as little as 29 cents on the dollar. Is that correct, Governor? Governor Ricardo Rossello: Yep. Hearing: Puerto Rico Recovery Challenges; House Natural Resources Committee, November 7, 2017. Witnesses: - Natalie Jaresko - Executive Director of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico - Angel Perez Otero - Mayor of Guanynabo, Puerto Rico - Noel Zamot - Revitalization Coordinator of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico 22:30 Natalie Jaresko: As the committee is aware, the board has recently named Noel Zamot as chief transformation officer of PREPA, with all the powers of a CEO and reporting to the board. We believe this is absolutely essential both to restoring service as soon as possible and to creating a sustainable, efficient, resilient, and fiscally accountable power system for the island. While the board is confident, the PROMESA, coupled with fundamental aspects of bankruptcy law, gives us the power and responsibility to do as we have done. Some parties are vigorously contesting our authority in proceedings before the Title III judge. To avoid uncertainty and lengthy delays and litigation, congressional reaffirmation of our exercise of our authority is welcome. 23:08 Natalie Jaresko: We have also implemented a contract-review policy as a tool to ensure transparency throughout the government, for the benefit of the people of Puerto Rico and all stakeholders. The policy applies to all contracts in which the commonwealth or any covered instrumentality is a counterparty, including those with the federal government, state governments, and private parties. The policy provides that all contracts of 10 million or more must be submitted to the board for its approval before execution. In addition, the board retains the authority to adopt other methods, such as random sampling of contracts below that 10-million-dollar threshold, to assure that they promote market competition and are not inconsistent with the approved fiscal plan. 26:48 Noel Zamot: I will retain key leaders on my staff to enable speed and effectiveness in our decision-making. I’d like to highlight two key roles. The chief operations officer will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the utility. This will initially be a senior leader from within PREPA but will be augmented by an industry executive identified in conjunction with input that we are receiving from the Edison Electric Institute. 27:41 Noel Zamot: I’ve also identified key executives to serve on a board of advisors. These are CEOs from public and private utilities who have generously volunteered to bring their considerable expertise to help with this task. I will also rely on an internal group of world-class experts from multi-national utilities, the energy sector, academia, and more. 28:22 Noel Zamot: Puerto Rico’s energy strategy calls for 50% renewables by 2040, with a balance of natural and LP gas mix; regional grids, with generation close to demand; physical hardening and control systems to provide resiliency; and widespread distributed generation, all wrapped by an empowered and accountable energy regulator. PROMESA is clear in its guidance to attract private capital to achieve this end state. We need to do just that, not only for generation but to attract innovative capital solutions from the private sector for transmission and distribution as well. 43:42 Representative Raul Grijalva (AZ): Do you or the board hold a view that, relative to Title V, waiving or eliminating additional federal environmental safeguards like NEPA or regulations will accelerate the recovery in Puerto Rico? Ms. Jaresko, you and then Mr. Zamot, if you don’t mind, as well, answering the question. Natalie Jaresko: I certainly believe that further expeditious permitting is a requirement. I’m not an expert on the individual sets of permitting, but I want to underline that it’s both federal, commonwealth, and municipality permitting at all levels. It needs to be expedited for any private-sector investment to become a quick recovery. Grijalva: Okay. Mr. Zamot, do you think that’s needed? Noel Zamot: Thank you, sir. My view is that economic growth and fast-tracking projects is not inconsistent with being good stewards of the environment, and we have a very robust process within Title V and within the working group that we have set with the government to ensure that we, the residents of Puerto Rico, are very respectful of that. Grijalva: If I may, sir, let me just follow up with you. You cite the proposed trash incinerators an example of a project Title V that could come to fruition, but I see an example of why Title V, in this instance, doesn’t work. Public comments about the project are overwhelming in opposition. It’s opposed by both mayors’ groups, representing all the mayors in the island. It was stalled in part because it couldn’t get a permit to drain 2.1 million gallons from a protected wetland. Farmers and residents concerned about the effects on their health, that it could undermine recycling programs that are in place. It flooded during the hurricane. We have a before-and-after situation, that’s up on the screen. It flooded during and released some of the hundreds of tons of toxic ash that could release, in the future, toxic ash into surrounding neighborhoods. And it requires a major loan from the federal government to go forward even though it’s fully privately funded for 67 megawatts of power. Is that what we can expect in terms of Title V critical projects? Zamot: Sir, there are many voices that, obviously, in a democratic process, voice their concern with such a project, but there are equal number of voices on the positive side. We don’t look at this project in Arecibo necessarily as even a power project. It is really a waste-management project. Puerto Rico has a critical, essentially a crisis, in waste management and landfill use that has been identified by the EPA, and that is why the EPA has actually been supportive of this program. 47:30 Representative Doug Lamborn (CO): Is it safe in assuming that pretty much 100% of the electricity generated in Puerto Rico today is from burning fuel oil? Noel Zamot: Sir, I would say it’s 96%. There is approximately 4% that is renewables in Puerto Rico right now. Lamborn: And as we know, fuel oil is very expensive and very dirty. Zamot: That is correct, sir. Lamborn: So, I like the plan. I think you said by 2040, 50% renewables, 50% natural gas through liquefied form. Zamot: That’s correct. Lamborn: Have you identified investors who are willing to make that huge investment in a LNG terminal? Zamot: Sir, there are a number of investors that are actually very bullish on Puerto Rico’s long-term prospects, and we and the board and specifically in my role as revitalization coordinator, we receive a lot of proposals, a lot of questions about how people can bring innovative capital solutions using private capital to bear, to benefit, the reconstruction of the grid and the people of Puerto Rico. Lamborn: Well, I would really urge you to keep pushing in that direction because I don’t think nuclear or coal is going to be a solution. Renewables are great, but to provide that much electricity in that short of time is unrealistic. So I welcome the discussion about LNG. 50:30 Representative Doug Lamborn (CO): And the last thing I want to ask you about is that 800-million-dollar project, and the ranking member referred to it: burning waste to create electricity. Is my understanding that that would be privately funded and would not need government subsidies of any kind? Noel Zamot: That is correct, sir. It’s entirely privately funded. Some of the capital structure includes some federal loans, but there is no money from Puerto Rico, and it relies on relatively new technology that is respectful of emissions. 51:53 Representative Grace Napolitano (CA): The incinerator would be built in an area in Arecibo previously contaminated by a battery recycling plant, and it was flooded during the hurricanes. Has the area been tested for lead, arsenic, and other contaminants? Noel Zamot: Ma’am, I do not have the specific details on what work has been accomplished to date, but we do know that the company that is planning that work has done extensive mitigation pre-work— Napolitano: How long has the plant been there, that it hasn’t been tested? Zamot: Ma’am, I do not have that information. Napolitano: Would you mind sending the answers to this committee— Zamot: Yes, ma’am. Napolitano: —so we can understand that. And how does the Energy Answers Arecibo, LLC plan to prevent their landfill from being flooded by future hurricanes? Zamot: Ma’am, could you repeat the question? Napolitano: How do you prevent landfill from being flooded by hurricanes? Zamot: That is an engineering question that I’m not prepared to answer right now. I would imagine that that has been looked at in the permitting that the company has received to date. Napolitano: Okay. When and—how and when does the company plan to bury the toxic ashes generated by the incinerator? Zamot: That is being currently discussed with the current Puerto Rico administration. Napolitano: Is, let’s see, how many Puerto Rico municipalities refuse to send trash to the plant incinerator? Zamot: I think the answer to that is many, because that represents a threat to current waste management in Puerto Rico, which the EPA has identified as a critical need to address. 1:19:36 Representative Steve Pearce (NM): Now, one of the problems that I see, just as a former business owner taking a look at it, one of the reasons that residents had to pay such a high rate is that certain entities didn’t have to pay for the electrical power. One of those would be the hotels. So are they still exempt from paying their power? Natalie Jaresko: Each of the economic development plans that Puerto Rico implemented over the years had individual tax agreements— Pearce: I’m just asking about the hotels. Jaresko: —between businesses and energy. Pearce: Are they still exempt? Are they not exempt? Jaresko: Some of them are, yes. Pearce: Some of them are exempt. Jaresko: That’s correct. Pearce: Now, also, cities were also exempt, and so city governments were exempt prior, according to what I’ve read. Noel Zamot: That’s correct, sir. 1:38:50 Natalie Jaresko: The board certainly considers privatization as one of the options going forward. There’s a question that remains open to see whether it’s privatization of the entire power sector, meaning generation transmission and distribution or some select part, or whether it just means bringing in private sector to compete and bring down the cost and bring up the efficiency of electricity. We’re looking at all of those as we define this fiscal plan for PREPA. 1:49:50 Representative Raul Labrador (ID): You stated that prior to the hurricane that the board possessed the authority to execute its mission and deliver on the underlying mandate Congress set with PROMESA, but with the devastation, you allude that those tools may be inadequate. So please tell us why does the board currently have—does the board currently have the tools necessary to facilitate efficient and effective recovery? Natalie Jaresko: I will try to be clear. I believe the board has the tools, that PROMESA gives us the tools. That said, when there are disagreements, the use of those tools ends up in costly and time-consuming litigation. Today more than ever that time and that cost is not helping Puerto Rico, so we asked for clarity of the tools that we have—whether it is in the appointment of a CTO through Title III, whether it is the implementation of our contract-policy review, or whether or not it is the implementation of the fiscal plans in full when certified. Labrador: So, what else do you need to be successful? Is there anything else that we need to give you to be successful? Jaresko: I think we would appreciate a legislative affirmation of those and/or conditioning of appropriations on those powers as you see fit. 2:11:11 Representative Garret Graves (LA): The governor recently proposed a law to address emergencies and disasters. Part of that law would allow, basically, eliminating or waiving sales tax in Puerto Rico. Are you aware—is that proposal on your radar screen? Were you consulted? Natalie Jaresko: No, we were not consulted. And I am aware that there has been a problem because of the lack of electricity and the collections of the sales-and-use tax. However, as electricity comes back, the collection process should also return. Graves: So you were not consulted. You were not aware on the front end. If ultimately the governor certifies that this is in compliance with the fiscal plan and you determine otherwise, what happens then? How does that play out? Jaresko: Well, I would hope that they would consult prior to putting that policy in place because it is something that can have a direct adverse fiscal effect, and it could be not in compliance with the fiscal plan. If they certify that it is, as you described, then we have a situation which could potentially, again, lead to difference of opinion in terms of what our role is in PROMESA. And it is very difficult for us, once it is certified by the government as being in compliance, if we disagree, to reverse that. Graves: I’m sorry. Say that last part again. Jaresko: If the government certifies that the executive order or law is in compliance with the fiscal plan, it is difficult for us to reverse that. Graves: Your hands are effectively tied. Do you think Congress should revisit that in terms of something that you believe causes economic harm or undermines the objectives of the fiscal plan but you don’t have the ability to actually help reset that? Jaresko: I think it should be very clear that the intent of PROMESA was for us to be able to stop things that were having an adverse effect on the fiscal plan, yes. 2:26:37 Representative Luis Gutierrez (IL): Arecibo incinerator, Mr. Zamot, I would hope you would talk to Secretary Vilsack because you seem to have a different perspective than he does, since the loan from the USDA is through the Rural Utilities Services. In other words, the money is not in order to do something with waste management; the money is to create energy. But you said to us earlier—and correct me if I’m wrong, if I misunderstood—that the purpose is one of for garbage, basically, disposal, and not for energy. How do you see it? Is it garbage disposal or energy? What is the primary purpose of it? Noel Zamot: Sir, the government of Puerto Rico has a letter out, and they consider that plan in Arecibo to be both a provider of energy— Gutierrez: But when you said primarily, you said primarily. Zamot: The plan at Arecibo, where about 2% of the aggregate electrical demand— Gutierrez: Okay. So primarily, I heard you—and we can go back to the record—you said that it was primarily; yet, they are asking for a loan between half a million and 750 million dollars. And let me just assure you and everybody here: Given the fact that the government of Puerto Rico already owes over $2 billion, unless Mrs. Jaresko’s going to use some of her skills to eliminate that debt, I don’t see how we’re going to do that. And in the last 25 seconds, because I want to focus on this issue with you, do you believe that the control board has such power that you do not have to take into consideration the concerns of the duly elected mayors of the cities that will be affected by the incinerator? Or do you feel you need to consult with them before you make a decision going forward? Zamot: Sir, in 9 seconds, the statute provides for a public comment period that in conclusion— Gutierrez: So, you don’t believe. You do believe that you’re supreme. You’re kind of a dictator over everything. 2:32:05 Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez (PR): You say that the board has the power to name a chief transformation officer to take over the management of PREPA, and at the same time, I know the state government, state legislator, the governor is against that. And you filed a motion in the court to allow that to happen. Do you have the power or you don’t have the power to actually name the coordinator board? Natalie Jaresko: Thank you. We believe we do have that power, and that’s why we filed that petition in court. We believe we have that power under Title III as any representative of a debtor, and the board is named the representative of the debtor, in the law in PROMESA, to name a chief restructuring officer, a receiver, a chief transformation officer, as we call it. Gonzalez: So, sorry to interrupt you, but then you don’t need any change in the PROMESA law? You don’t need any power to make that happen, because that’s the question this committee is doing. What do you need in terms of helping the people of Puerto Rico to recover power? I think that’s the main question. If we were a state, we will not have you. If we were a state, we will have full funding in all federal programs, and now that’s a problem all territories got. Jaresko: The board believes that in appointing this CTO will help us move more quickly to restoration of power. That is the only reason the board took this position, and they took it at this time. 2:43:30 Representative Luis Gutierrez (IL): Mayor, thank you very much for being here with us. Could you tell us your annual salary? Mayor Angel Perez Otero: My? Gutierrez: Yes. *Otero: 96,000. Gutierrez: $96,000. Mr. Zamot? What’s your annual salary? Noel Zamot: That’s a matter of— Gutierrez: I’m sorry? Zamot: Sir, that’s a matter of public record. Gutierrez: How much is it? Zamot: I think it’s in the record, sir. Gutierrez: Just—can’t you tell us how much it is? You know how much you’re getting paid. Why are you so reluctant to give us—this is a committee. Just want to know how much you’re getting paid. The mayor was very forthcoming. Zamot: The board found a competition competitive compensation of $315,000. 2:55:30 Representative Luis Gutierrez (IL): So, I’ll ask Mrs. Jaresko—I didn’t get to ask you—what’s your annual salary? Natalie Jaresko: $625,000. Gutierrez: $625,000. Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)  

What is Puerto Rico? Many Americans - if not most - are unaware that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States. In this episode, learn the history of our scandalous treatment of the US citizens living in Puerto Rico and explore how Puerto Rico’s past foreshadowed the United States' present… and possibly our future. Please support Congressional Dish: Click here to contribute with PayPal or Bitcoin Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Mail Contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North #4576 Crestview, FL 32536 Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD128: Crisis in Puerto Rico Additional Reading Book: War Against All Puerto Ricans by Nelson A. Denis, March 2016. Article: Puerto Rico Warning Congress Its Health Crisis Will Impact U.S. States by Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, March 22, 2017. Document: Testimony of Jose B. Carrion III, Chairman, Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico, March 22, 2017. Article: Why the GOP's proposals to cap Medicaid funding won't work by Ana Mulero, Healthcare Dive, March 21, 2017. Article: Fed Raises Interest Rates for Third Time Since Financial Crisis by Binyamin Appelbaum, The New York Times, March 15, 2017. Letter: Fiscal Plan Certification, Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico, March 13, 2017. Press Release: Jenniffer Gonzalez Calls for Fiscal Oversight Board Action to Prevent Medicaid Crisis by Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, March 13, 2017. Article: Tensions heighten following control board rejection of fiscal plan by Luis J. Valentin, Caribbean Business, March 9, 2017. Article: A bad deal for Puerto Rico, Globe control board opinion, The Boston Globe, March 5, 2017. Article: Quest for statehood: Puerto Rico's new referendum aims to repair economic disaster by Danica Coto, Salon, February 3, 2017. Letter: Letter to Governor Rossello Nevares, Financial Oversight & Management Board for Puerto Rico, January 18, 2017. Article: Puerto Rico's New Governor Takes Over as Debt Crisis Reaches Climax by Tatiana Darie, Bloomberg, January 3, 2017. Article: Puerto Rico Control Board Names Carrion Chair Amid Protests by Katherine Greifeld, Bloomberg, September 30, 2016. Article: Puerto Rico's Invisible Health Crisis by Valeria Pelet, The Atlantic, September 3, 2016. Op-Ed: Understanding Puerto Rico's Healthcare Collapse by Johnny Rullan, Morning Consult, June 20, 2016. Article: Puerto Rico not sovereign, Supreme Court says by Richard Wolf, USA Today, June 9, 2016. Article: US supreme court says Puerto Rico must abide by federal double jeopardy rule by Alan Yuhas, The Guardian, June 9, 2016. Op-Ed: No More Colonialism Disguised as Financial Assistance: The US Must Relinquish Puerto Rico by Nelson A. Denis, Truthout, May 19, 2016. Article: Sea Turtles Delay Debt-Ridden Puerto Rico's Gas-Switching Plan by Jonathan Crawford, Bloomberg, March 23, 2016. Article: There's a big sale on Puerto Rican homes by Heather Long, CNN Money, February 21, 2016. Article: The US shipping industry is putting a multimillion dollar squeeze on Puerto Rico by Rory Carroll, Business Insider, July 9, 2015. Article: Harvard's billionaire benefactor also a GOP sugar daddy by Vanessa Rodriguez, OpenSecrets.org, June 4, 2015. Interview: How the United States Economically and Politically Strangled Puerto Rico by Mark Karlin, Truthout, May 24, 2015. Article: Why Have So Many People Never Heard Of The MOVE Bombing? by Gene Demby, NPR, May 18, 2015. Article: Puerto Rico Expands Tax Haven Deal For Americans To Its Own Emigrants by Janet Novack, Forbes, January 27, 2015. Article: Citizenship Renunciation Fee Hiked 422%, And You Can't Come Back by Robert W. wood, Forbes, January 13, 2015. Article: Puerto Rican Population Declines on Island, Grows on U.S. Mainland by D'Vera Cohn, Eileen Pattien and Mark Hugo Lopez, Pew Research Center, August 11, 2014. Article: Puerto Rico woos rich with hefty tax breaks by Sital S. Patel and Ben Eisen, Market Watch, April 22, 2014. Article: Bankers Crashed the Economy - Now They Want to Be Your Landlord by Rebecca Burns, Michael Donley, and Carmilla Manzanet, Moyers & Company, April 2, 2014. Article: 'Backdoor bailout' boosts Puerto Rico's revenues, Bond News, Reuters, February 10, 2014. Article: Economy and Crime Spur New Puerto Rican Exodus by Lizette Alvarez, The New York Times, February 8, 2014. Article: Everything You Need to Know About the Territories of the United States, Everything Everywhere, June 27, 2013. Document: Puerto Rico's Political Status and the 2012 Plebiscite: Background and Key Questions by R. Sam Garrett, Congressional Research Service, June 25, 2013. GAO Report: Economic Impact of Jones Act on Puerto Rico's Economy by Jeffry Valentin-Mari, Ph.D. and Jose I. Alameda-Lozada, Ph.D. April 26, 2012. Article: Massive Puerto Rico pipeline triggers debate by Danica Coto, The San Diego Union-Tribune, May 14, 2011. Article: Island residents sue U.S., saying military made them sick by Abbie Boudreau and Scott Bronstein, CNN, February 1, 2010. Article: At Riggs Bank, A Tangled Path Led to Scandal by Timothy L. O'Brien, The New York Times, July 19, 2004. Case Study: Money Laundering and Foreign Corruption: Enforcement and Effectiveness of the Patriot Act by the Minority Staff of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, United States Senate, July 15, 2004. Article: MIT to Pay Victims $1.85 Million in Fernald Radiation Settlement by Zareena Hussain, The Tech, January 7, 1998. Article: Police Drop Bomb on Radicals' Home in Philadelphia by William K. Stevens, The New York Times, May 14, 1985. References U.S. Energy Information Administration Puerto Rico Territory Energy Profile Puerto Rico Territory Profile and Energy Estimates Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector Video: 1985 Philadelphia MOVE bombing This Day in History: March 2, 1917: Puerto Ricans become U.S. citizens, are recruited for war effort FBI Files Pedro Albizu Campos - includes letter about his radiation torture Pedro Albizu Campos - full files Luis Munoz-Marin 1986 Congressional Report: US Army & US Atomic Energy Commission radiation experiments on US citizen prisoners 1995 Dept of Energy Report: Human Radiation Experiments OpenSecrets Excelerate Energy: Profile for 2016 Election Cycle Crowley Maritime Excelerate Energy Company website Lobbying Report American Maritime Partnership Company website Lobbying Report Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico Control Board Website Control Board Document List Website: Puerto Rico Tax Incentives Law 20: Export Services Act Law 22: Individual Investors Act Department of Economic Development & Commerce: Act 73: Economic Incentives for the Development of Puerto Rico 26 US Code 936: Puerto Rico and possession tax credit IRS: Expatriation Tax Forbes Company Profiles Johnson & Johnson Pfizer GlaxoSmithKline Travelponce.com: Ponce Massacre Museum Sound Clip Sources Hearing: Oversight Hearing on The Status of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA) Restructuring Support Agreement, Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs, March 22, 2017. Witnesses Panel I The Honorable Ricardo Rossello, Governor of Puerto Rico Mr. Gerardo Portela-Franco, Executive Director - Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority Panel 2 Mr. Jose B. Carrion III, Chairman - Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico Mr. Luis Benitez Hernandez, Chairman - PREPA Governing Board Mr. Stephen Spencer, Managing Director - Houlihan Lokey Mr. Adam Bergonzi, Managing Director & Chief Risk Officer - National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation Mr. Rob Bryngelson, President & CEO - Excelerate Energy Ms. Ana J. Matosantos, Member of Financial Oversight and Management Board of Puerto Rico Interview: Interview with Luis M. Balzac, March 7, 2017. Luis: Puerto Ricans in Puerto Rico, contrary to common opinion, we do pay some federal taxes. What we don’t pay is federal income tax. Jen: Okay. Luis: So we don’t pay federal income tax. However, Puerto Ricans pay Medicare at the same rate that you pay in San Francisco/California. Jen: Do Puerto Ricans get the same benefits that I get in San Francisco? Luis: No, we do not get the same benefits that you get in San Francisco. Jen: Oh. Luis: So, for example, there are states like California, New York, and other states that I believe get about an 83 percent federal subsidy for Medicare expenses. There are other states—and I realize I’m being recorded, but don’t quote me on it. This you can check, also, very easily— Jen: Sure. Luis: Other states—I think it’s Tennessee— Jen: And you don’t have to give me exact numbers. Just go ahead and, like, big picture, tell me the situation. Luis: Got it. Jen: Yeah. Luis: Even better. So, there are states like California and New York that get about 80-some percent of reimbursement on their major expenses from the federal government. There are other states that get less. I think Tennessee gets less; I think Tennessee gets, like, 50-some percent. Puerto Rico, I think it gets about 23 percent. Jen: Oh, god. Luis: It’s important to understand that, where does the other—if we use 23 percent as an example for Medicare—where does the other 77 percent come from? State funding. Jen: Okay. Luis: So, please understand that if you move to Puerto Rico as a U.S. citizen, and you, for any reason, need Medicare, and you go to the hospital, those hospitals that you go to have to comply with MCS, which is part of HHS—Health and Human Services. And you have to comply with all the regulations and requirements of a hospital to be reimbursed and enjoy federal dollars. However, that institution/Puerto Rico is only getting cents on the dollar compared to other states, but someone needs to make up for that short fall. Jen: Yeah. Luis: The state does. Jen: Well— Luis: That lack of equality translates to Puerto Rico’s budget. Luis: I’m a proud American, and I will defend our country wherever I go. Jen: Mm-hmm. Luis: But I’m also a realist. I cannot expect Congress to give the people in Puerto Rico a fair share of the pie when we don’t have a delegation sitting at the table when the pie is divided. Luis: When I ran the office of the governor of Puerto Rico in New York, and we were lobbying to be included into the Affordable Care Act, my biggest argument, when I met with members of the Senate or the House, in states that had a large Puerto Rican population—Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, by way of example—my point to these members of Congress was, I need your help; I need you to be a voice to Puerto Rico to be included in the Affordable Care Act. And the staff would be like, are you kidding me, Luis? That is none of our business. And I will be like, well, let me—give me an opportunity to maybe convince you that it is your business. The problem is— Jen: Yeah, because you’ll pay for them when they come here. Luis: —you will pay for it. And by the way, we don’t even have a way to qualify because guess what, a lot of them are coming in, getting services, and going back to Puerto Rico once they’re done. Some are staying— Jen: Yeah, that's what I would do. Luis: Some are staying, but others are just coming here, and you have no way of qualifying and quantifying it because they’re United States citizens. You can’t stop it. Jen: Yeah— Luis: And how could you blame them? How could you blame them if Puerto Rico does not have the facilities to treat a cancer or SSI or any other initiative and my mother is risking her life? I’m going to take her to Orlando— Jen: Mm-hmm. Luis: —without a doubt. Jen: Yeah. Luis: I will say that Puerto Rico, even though we have all the issues that you and I have been talking about, we are still part of the United States, and it’s somewhat similar to the changes that we see here, stateside, in the contiguous 48 states, where I would say that from coast to coast, from Florida to California, I think the middle class in the United States has been shrinking. Jen: Mm-hmm. Luis: Likewise in Puerto Rico. Jen: Okay. Luis: But I would say that it is more like the United States, and we are not like Latin America and other third-world jurisdictions. We have a decent-size middle class because we don’t have the IRS because we are not paying federal income tax. There is in Puerto Rico a large underground economy where people work on the side, get paid in cash, and don’t report their earnings to the—there's no IRS—or to the local version of the IRS which is the Treasury Department. So, what you have in Puerto Rico is that you see somewhat of a thriving economy. So those people that are in commercial real estate and they’re doing business with big national chains like Macy’s and JCPenney and all that stuff, you will see in Puerto Rico sales records being broken and people spending a lot of money in the island. So, it’s not like the Dominican Republic. Even people in the projects that are subsidized by state and federal dollars, you can see that they have a/c in the walls, the projects are made out of cement, and you will be able to see all that when you go there in person. So, when you drive around Puerto Rico, all over the island, it is nothing like the Dominican Republic. We are way better, and— Jen: Well, I’ve never been there, either, so a comparison doesn’t really… Luis: Yeah. We are way better—and I realize that I’m about to contradict myself, okay?—we are way better, and it is thanks to the United States. So even though inequality has got all these problems and it’s affected the debt and all that stuff and we are looking now at serious issues, Puerto Rico is still better than—I will never move to Cuba because I think Cuba is better than Puerto Rico, so I get it— Puerto Rico is United States, and we’re doing better than most. Jen: So that brings me to the control board, because now we have Puerto Ricans saying on paper, no doubt, we want to become a state, and yet Congress just did this thing where your government, your state government, or closest thing—what do you call it? Territorial government? Luis: Yeah. Jen: Is that the proper phrase? Luis: Territory. Jen: Okay. Luis: Yeah. Jen: So your territorial government was, basically just taken over by this weird board that has some dictatorial powers. Is there any one in Puerto Rico that’s happy about this? Is there something I’m not seeing? Luis: Yeah. Okay, so, I’m going to compare that. First of all, let’s be fair, and we’re not the first jurisdiction that, let’s say, enjoys the benefit of a control board, because D.C., New York City, have both had it in different jurisdiction relationships, but they did, and it helped. Okay? Jen: O-kay. Luis: The difference between New York City is the following: you have a city that imposed a board by the state. So people in the city of New York, even though they had a control board years back, they had a control board what was decided by politicians who they elected. Jen: Yeah. Luis: Okay? Jen: Mm-hmm. Luis: So, that makes it—but it’s still the same in that you have a higher jurisdiction imposing a control board for fiscal reasons over a lower jurisdiction. Correct? Jen: Yes. Luis: And then you have D.C. They also had a control board, and the list goes on and use the federal government, if I’m not mistaken. So there you have a jurisdiction of a federal imposing in D.C., which is not independent. Now, let me tell you where emotions can go a little crazy here. And remember I’m a stakeholder; I’m pro American. Jen: Yeah. Luis: However, we did not invite the United States of America, back a hundred-and-some years ago; we were invaded. Jen: Yeah. Luis: So, we are invaded, we are treated unequally, that inequality causes financial chaos. We are told by the Supreme Court that our constitution is not really a constitution—you should research that; that was recent—an opinion by the Supreme Court. So, really, our constitution, that we thought we had a constitution, is not worth anything on paper because Congress has complete control of that jurisdiction. Jen: Mm-hmm. Luis: So, what we have is, back to your question about a board, is a federal government imposing a board on people who did not vote for those that imposed that board. Jen: Yeah. And I know that in Congress Puerto Rico has a representative at the time that this was created—I think it was Pedro Pierluisi—but he didn’t have a vote, so— Luis: No. Jen: And even on the board, the governor gets to sit at the table, but the governor of Puerto Rico doesn’t get a vote of the board. Luis: No. And there’s a slight correction to what you said about Pierluisi in your podcast: the resident commissioner does have a vote in Congress—not on committees, on subcommittees. Okay? Jen: Okay, so he has a vote on a subcommittee but not— Luis: No. Jen: —in the committee or the main House. Luis: Correct. Now, are you ready for the kicker? Jen: Yes. Luis: If the vote on a subcommittee comes to a point where the resident commissioner becomes the deciding vote, it doesn’t go. You’ve got to vote again. Jen: No! Luis: Yeah. Jen: So, that’s— Luis: Can I give you an— Jen: —kind of not really having a vote. I mean— Luis: No. Jen: —he does— Luis: No, I know. Luis: Let’s talk for a second about the pharmaceutical industry, okay? Jen: Yeah, because— Luis: Not to be confused— Jen: —just so that I’m on the same page as you, you worked for Pfizer for a while, too, right? Luis: I directed governor affairs for Pfizer, and that included jurisdictions of New York City and Puerto Rico. Jen: Okay— Luis: And San Francisco. Jen: —and when did you do that? Luis: I did that in 20—I took a year off of the government and I went to Pfizer, did not like it, then went back to Puerto Rico government. So that was 2011. Jen: So was that before the Clinton administration took away the tax credits or after? Luis: Oh, no, after. Oh, yes. Jen: Okay, okay. Luis: 2011, before I became a deputy secretary of the United States. Jen: Okay, got you. Luis: Okay. Jen: So this is after all the tax benefits were gone, and was Pfizer still—when did the pharmaceutical industry, like, leave Puerto Rico? When did they leave? Luis: No way. Why are you saying that? Jen: Because that's what I read. Luis: That's wrong. Jen: Is that not what happened? Luis: No! That’s wrong. I’m about to clarify that. Jen: Okay. Luis: All right. So, if you look at the pharmaceutical industry, if you search, let’s say, BIO, I believe BIO is still the pharmaceutical, big pharma association, the industry association, trade association, okay? If you look at that, you will see that in Puerto Rico BIO had a membership of a huge number of pharmaceuticals. And then you may look at BIO now, and the Puerto Rico chapter, which has another name, has way less pharmaceuticals. So the normal person that doesn’t understand how things work will say, well, everyone left. Well, let’s slow down and look at what are the names that are missing. Well, some of those names don’t exist anymore because the industry has completely merged and consolidated their resources. By way of example, I will tell you that in Puerto Rico alone, Pfizer bought Wyeth. Jen: Pfizer what? Luis: Pfizer bought Wyeth. Jen: Oh, okay. So, okay. Luis: Okay? Jen: Gotcha. So Pfizer got bigger by eating a smaller company. Luis: Correct. And there’s nothing wrong with that. So what happened was that I believe at that time when that happened, Pfizer had three operations in Puerto Rico, Wyeth had three operations in Puerto Rico, okay? So now when they merge, they have six plants in Puerto Rico. So what do they do? They are able to— economies of scale and to do streamline, and they are able to close two and stay with four. And now Wyeth is not in Puerto Rico— Jen: But the effect— Luis: —and people think Wyeth— Jen: Is the effect of that, of the people of Puerto Rico, that the people that worked in those two plants are now out of a job? Luis: But it has nothing to do with 936. Jen: Remind me. I did that episode, like, eight months ago. 936 was the tax credits disappearing? Was that…? Luis: That’s exactly—they disappeared with a coin toss, you said. Jen: Okay, okay. Thank you. Luis: So, so, that consolidation, that example that I’m sharing with you, I believe all happened after 936 stopped, but the reason why Pfizer and Wyeth consolidated was for reasons that had nothing to do with 936. Jen: Yeah. Luis: It had a lot to do with being more productive and being able to share assembly lines and being able to share resources and the same CEO and all that stuff. And so, to the untrained eye, to the Puerto Rican, what they think or see is, oh, Wyeth left. No, they didn’t leave; it was absorbed by a larger pharmaceutical. Jen: So, is the pharmaceutical industry still a major employer in Puerto Rico? Luis: Yes, it is. And I will tell something else: Pfizer and many pharmaceuticals, for many years, are enjoying tax benefits on—there’s something called CFC—controlled foreign corporations—and they are able to enjoy benefits that are comparable to 936. It’s just a different name; a different loophole, you want to call it—I don’t want to call it a loophole—it’s a different tax advantage. Luis: Remember, the pharmaceutical industry, way back when—and we’re talking about right after Puerto Rico changed from an agricultural economy to a manufacturing economy, okay? Jen: Mm-hmm. Luis: I really need you to follow me on this. Puerto Rico used to be sugarcane industry. Jen: Yeah. Luis: And we changed. Take my great uncle. He was the governor of Puerto Rico for the other party, the commonwealth party, and him and Governor Luis Munoz Marin came up with this tax incentive with the federal government and 936 were invented, and Puerto Rico changed—completely—and became a manufacturing economy. Jen: Okay. Luis: No more sugar cane; now we’re manufacturing. And when that happened, pharma came to Puerto Rico. What we have to remember is manufacturing industry also included, probably, the largest textile industry. Textile was huge in Puerto Rico. Now— Jen: Is it still there? Luis: No! Why—now, you’re smart. Why do you think textile is gone in Puerto Rico? Where is textile nowadays? Jen: Probably China, India. Luis: Yes, yes! So, in this case, it left to other jurisdictions for minimum wage and for a bunch of other reasons. 936? Yes! It was not great when it left, but the industry changed. Textile goes wherever you have the cheapest labor. And Puerto Rico— Jen: So— Luis: —cannot compete with India, China, Dominican Republic, where people get paid a dollar an hour. Forget it. You can’t compete with that. Jen: And it sounds like the same problem we’re having in California, in Texas, and Massachusetts, and everywhere. Luis: Yeah, yes. Jen: What would you like to see happen on the island? What do you think could help? Luis: Becoming a state. Jen: So that's the goal. Luis: Yes, without a shadow of a doubt, because if we become a state, we are able now to have the congressional mitigation to help us, and we’re able to fight for equal funding so that the state does not need to subsidize such huge percentages. And now we have an equal playing field. Now if I get in debt— Jen: Okay. Luis: Now if I get in debt, go ahead and criticize me all you want. Jen: Well, then you have bankruptcy protection if you go into debt. Luis: Also. Luis: So, you understand the reason why people are going to Puerto Rico is because of Law 20 and 22, right? Jen: Um, I don't know. No. Luis: So, I’m going to share with you the Law 20 and Law 22. Both laws were passed by Governor Luis Fortuno, which is a governor that I worked for. Jen: Okay. Luis: And those two laws were used, pushed, and promoted big time by the previous governor, Alejandro Garcia Padilla. You can do a quick Google, and you will see how most people went nuts over those two laws, and those two laws is the sole reason why people in stateside, mainland U.S., are fleeing to Puerto Rico to enjoy those tax benefits. Jen: Well, what are those benefits? Luis: I'm going to tell you. Jen: Okay. Luis: So, first, you have Law 20. Law 20 is better known as Export Services law, meaning you and I can open a corporation in Puerto Rico that exports services outside of Puerto Rico. Services, not manufacturing. So you and I can open a consulting firm that consults on any issue, and if our clients are not in Puerto Rico, if our clients are in Europe or New York or California, when that company in Puerto Rico bills those accounts, that corporation will only pay local four percent tax and no sales tax. Wow! Jen: Okay. That's crazy. Luis: Okay? So that means that you and I can have an existing company and have a law firm in New York, and you and I are the partners, and we’ll make—and let’s say that half of our clients are not in Puerto Rico, so why don’t we just open an office in Puerto Rico and do all the billing out of Puerto Rico and serve those clients from Puerto Rico—by the way, you and I can hire attorneys in Puerto Rico that are bilingual; graduated from Harvard, Yale, all those popular universities; pay even a fraction of what you and I would pay a lawyer in New York, and we bill them to the clients that are outside Puerto Rico, and we only pay four percent tax. That’s Law 20. It’s beautiful. Jen: Wow. Okay. Luis: All right. So, now, Law 20 was supplemented, complemented, by Law 22. Law 22 is called the Investor Act. So, now, you and I are the partners of that law firm, and we’ve moved operations and the corporation is only paying four percent tax, local tax, okay? Jen: Okay. Luis: Got it. You and I have not lived in Puerto Rico for the last 15 years. Jen: Okay. Luis: So we, you and I, have our attorneys will review Law 20, and what Law 20 says is you and I can move to Puerto Rico personally, and when we’re in Puerto Rico, our Puerto Rico-sourced income will be tax free. Jen: So the income—so, it’s the Investment Act. So are you talking about, like— Luis: Yes. Jen: —instead of paying capital gains tax, they pay nothing. Luis: Nothing. Now, it needs to be Puerto Rico-sourced income. That means that if you and I own Apple shares, or Microsoft, and we move to Puerto Rico, that’s passive income. We’ll pay taxes because that income is generated outside of Puerto Rico. Jen: Okay. Luis: But if you and I go to Puerto Rico like Paltry and Paulson moved to Puerto Rico, and we invest in property, and we invest in the business of Puerto Rico, that Puerto Rico-sourced income will be tax free. Jen: Federally or are there any state taxes? Luis: Both. Jen: Wow. So the state— Luis: I don’t have the law— Jen: —doesn’t even get anything from that. Luis: Well, yeah, they do because think about all the jobs. You know it’s crazy how much money is generated by having those people in Puerto Rico. Of course it generates— Jen: Yeah. I guess that makes sense. Luis: It’s called economic development. Yes, it generates—I have a lot of people that have new accounts with those individuals all the way from real estate, legal fees, engineering. They’re all millions and millions and millions of dollars that were not moving around the economy until they moved there. Jen: And so, are these two laws something that you personally support? Are they a good idea? Luis: I think it’s a good idea. We somehow need to generate some federal activity. Jen: We do, but at the same time, your government is broke. So isn’t raising revenues, isn’t that a solution? Luis: Well, no. Well, you know what? It’s a little contradicting, so when I say I endorse it, but I just told you a little while ago that I want to be a state. And if I was a state, that would probably not be possible. Jen: Yeah. Luis: Those two laws would not be possible if we’re a state, but guess what—we’re not a state. Jen: Yeah. Luis: And what the heck are we supposed to do? Jen: Yeah. I guess that’s true. You’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt. Okay. Luis: I would rather not have those two laws and be a state. Jen: Okay. That's fair. Luis: Education. I think that your podcast touched on education about 100 schools being closed. Jen: Yeah. Luis: Yeah, but how many people have moved to Orlando? We do not have— Jen: So there's not as many kids? Luis: No! No! Now, I’m going to defend, I’m going to defend this. With me, you may go crazy because I jump from side to side, so for one, one part of me says— Jen: I do that, too. I totally get it. Luis: One part of me says, the student body—I think the island student population went down from half a million to 400,000 students. That’s 25 percent. Jen: Okay. Luis: Okay. That means that I should be able to cut 25 percent of schools and 25 percent of my budget. Right? Well, let’s look at the other side. You and I, again, are married, right? Jen: Uh-huh. Luis: And you and I have a boat, and we have two kids, and the schools that we have our kids are three blocks away. Beautiful. Well, you and I bought a house because it was right next to the school. So now they’re going to close that school, and the next school is five miles away. Jen: Yeah. Luis: Are you and I pissed? Jen: Of course. Luis: I don’t give a crap that there’s less students. I’m going to picket, and I’m going to make a lot of noise, and I’m going to make it impossible for the government to close that school, which is what happens. You know what? Somebody else should sacrifice, not my wife and I. We have it good. I like to be able to walk three blocks and grab my children by the hand, have a beautiful conversation with them while we eat cookies, and we go to the school right next door. Well, guess what? The population is so much smaller now that somehow we cannot justify having the same number of schools open. I believe that happened in Chicago under new jurisdictions. We have to adjust. So guess who needs to deliver those bad news? The fiscal control board, because you cannot possibly justify having all those schools open. So who’s going to be the bad guy? Thank God there’s a fiscal control board, because if you leave, you allow the local elected official to make those decisions, it would be political suicide. And that transfers to any state. Ask any governor to close down 25 percent of schools, and they’re going to lose the election. Jen: Well, I mean, I think that’s just a part of the job. The problem— Luis: I know! Jen: —that I’m seeing as— Luis: No, but wait a second the problem is that the governor can’t do it because when you commit political suicide, and you need to support the legislature to do that, the elected officials in the legislative body would be the first ones that won’t back you up. They’ll say, you crazy? I’m not going to back you up; I want to get elected next time. That’s a huge problem. He says, I can’t do it without you. People are like let’s not do it; let’s let the other guy do it. And he’s like, no, we don’t have enough money. The students are leaving Orlando and New York. They moved away. We don’t need so many schools; we need to close. And the senators will be like, I’m not going to pass that law; are you kidding me? We’re all going to be out of a job. Jen: Well, I mean, and that’s the thing, like, maybe you’re not supposed to serve forever. Like, I just feel like those tough decisions are a part of a job of being elected, and one of my concerns of this control board is that those families, they can’t petition to this board. There is no voice for the Puerto Ricans where the governor doesn’t have a vote. I guess I’d feel more comfortable with it if I thought that those families could petition to their governor, and it would be one vote at the table that would have those political calculations in mind. But with these seven people that were selected by Congress, I mean, is there any concern that they’re going to prioritize the bankers over the Puerto Rican people? Luis: I think a lot of people are concerned about that. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations

Vanessa Alvarado ha dedicado su vida profesional al campo de Recursos Humanos. Con más de 20 años de experiencia en la industria de Dispositivos Médicos, ella es actualmente la Directora de Gestión de Talento de Manufactura Global, Reprocesables y Consumibles de la región para Stryker. Anteriormente trabajó en Roche Diagnostics, CooperVision y Essilor. Durante todos estos años se ha sentido atraído tanto por la misión de la empresa, como por el rol de RH en sí, el saber que cada día tiene la oportunidad de mejorar la calidad de vida de cientos de personas.Conoce el concepto de las Fortalezas de Gallup al iniciar su carrera en Stryker e inmediatamente se identificó con el concepto y se convirtió en su tema favorito. Después de completar su certificación en Fortalezas Gallup, usa las herramientas todas las semanas.En este programa Vanessa nos platica de su impacto en su país con los retos actuales utilizando sus Temas de Talento dominantes y apoyando en el desarrollo del Talento en otros.Tiene un título universitario en Administración de Negocios y maestría en Recursos Humanos. Durante su carrera ha recibido múltiples reconocimientos significativos como son: "Gold and Platinum Global Award para el Desarrollo de Personas" en Stryker, "40 Under 40 of Caribbean Business" - en el que se reconoce a los 40 líderes jóvenes de negocio más prometedores para el mañana en Puerto Rico, el reconocimiento de Entrenamiento y Desarrollo Profesional del Año, "ASTD - Training & Development Professional of the Year"- y con su equipo, SHRM - PR el reconocimiento "Chapter's Manuel Laborde Human Resources Professional of the Year". Este es el mayor reconocimiento en el campo de Recursos Humanos en Puerto Rico.Lo más importante para Vanessa, es que ha podido retribuir a la sociedad través de su trabajo de voluntariado. Desde que estaba en la universidad, asumía posiciones de liderazgo para los estudiantes el en campo de RH "SHRM Student Chapter". Una vez iniciada su carrera profesional, ha sido distinguida en varios roles, incluyendo Directora de SHRM en la Región Sur. También lidera el Comité de Educación para la renombrada Conferencia Anual en Puerto Rico y, el año pasado fue Presidente de "SHRM Power Chapter de Puerto Rico". En este tiempo, recibieron el reconocimiento de " SHRM Learning System Champion". SHRM le ha dado la oportunidad de invertir, no sólo en el esfuerzo de desarrollo de talento de Puerto Rico, pero también en muchas otras organizaciones sin fines de lucro con sus programas de responsabilidad social. https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/Home/es-AR/Index/

Vanessa Alvarado ha dedicado su vida profesional al campo de Recursos Humanos. Con más de 20 años de experiencia en la industria de Dispositivos Médicos, ella es actualmente la Directora de Gestión de Talento de Manufactura Global, Reprocesables y Consumibles de la región para Stryker. Anteriormente trabajó en Roche Diagnostics, CooperVision y Essilor. Durante todos estos años se ha sentido atraído tanto por la misión de la empresa, como por el rol de RH en sí, el saber que cada día tiene la oportunidad de mejorar la calidad de vida de cientos de personas. Conoce el concepto de las Fortalezas de Gallup al iniciar su carrera en Stryker e inmediatamente se identificó con el concepto y se convirtió en su tema favorito. Después de completar su certificación en Fortalezas Gallup, usa las herramientas todas las semanas. En este programa Vanessa nos platica de su impacto en su país con los retos actuales utilizando sus Temas de Talento dominantes y apoyando en el desarrollo del Talento en otros. Tiene un título universitario en Administración de Negocios y maestría en Recursos Humanos. Durante su carrera ha recibido múltiples reconocimientos significativos como son: "Gold and Platinum Global Award para el Desarrollo de Personas" en Stryker, "40 Under 40 of Caribbean Business" - en el que se reconoce a los 40 líderes jóvenes de negocio más prometedores para el mañana en Puerto Rico, el reconocimiento de Entrenamiento y Desarrollo Profesional del Año, "ASTD - Training & Development Professional of the Year"- y con su equipo, SHRM - PR el reconocimiento "Chapter's Manuel Laborde Human Resources Professional of the Year". Este es el mayor reconocimiento en el campo de Recursos Humanos en Puerto Rico. Lo más importante para Vanessa, es que ha podido retribuir a la sociedad través de su trabajo de voluntariado. Desde que estaba en la universidad, asumía posiciones de liderazgo para los estudiantes el en campo de RH "SHRM Student Chapter". Una vez iniciada su carrera profesional, ha sido distinguida en varios roles, incluyendo Directora de SHRM en la Región Sur. También lidera el Comité de Educación para la renombrada Conferencia Anual en Puerto Rico y, el año pasado fue Presidente de "SHRM Power Chapter de Puerto Rico". En este tiempo, recibieron el reconocimiento de " SHRM Learning System Champion". SHRM le ha dado la oportunidad de invertir, no sólo en el esfuerzo de desarrollo de talento de Puerto Rico, pero también en muchas otras organizaciones sin fines de lucro con sus programas de responsabilidad social. https://www.gallupstrengthscenter.com/Home/es-AR/Index/

Bueno. Según publicado por el Inter News Service y el Caribbean Business, Jaime Perelló recibió $45 mil en una bolsita que le dio Lutgardo Acevedo en frente de Anaudi Hernández en una trillita de bote por las costas de Boquerón, cercano a la época fuerte de elecciones del 2012. Hoy es la Nación Chancleta, los chancleteritos y chancleteritas via telefónica, los que le dan consejos a Jaime Perelló.

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