The Weekly Journal - July 24, 2019

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

Wednesday, July 24 -30, 2019 - // no. 013

“MARCH OF THE PEOPLE” CALLS FOR GOV. ROSSELLÓ TO RESIGN P6 NEW CAR SALES INCREASE IN JUNE P12 INVEST PUERTO RICO SHOWCASES THE ISLAND P14

NEW COACH BUS SERVICE TAKES OFF BETWEEN CAGUAS AND SAN JUAN

ALSA invests more than $1 million in endeavor, creates 15 jobs

F Rosario Fajardo

THE MAC: AN OASIS OF MODERN ART P18

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

or years, government officials have tried to launch a light-rail train project between Caguas and San Juan, but the initiative floundered due to the high costs involved.

Now, a new coach bus service has been launched between the two cities, as part of efforts to provide residents in the Caguas area with a safe, convenient and modern mode of travel.

ALSA – National Express , an international transport

company, has begun operating a modern coach service between Caguas and San Juan, with service seven days a week. When asked by THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, company officials said 15 new jobs have been created with the initiative.

“We need to facilitate capital investment in Puerto Rico to move the economy forward,” said Omar Marrero, executive director of the PublicPrivate Partnerships Authority, during an activity launching the service. “This alliance with the private sector is evidence of Spanish company ALSA’s confidence in entering Puerto Rico.”

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A WEEK IN REVIEW WAITING ON REPORT REGARDING THE GOVERNOR’S IMPEACHMENT PROCESS

>AP/Alex Brandon

>Josian Bruno

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

Puerto Rico House of Representatives President Carlos “Johnny” Méndez reiterated that he is waiting for a report from the Special Advisory Committee to the President regarding the governor’s impeachment before deciding the next steps to follow.

“As you know, last Friday I convened a Special Advisory Committee to the President on the governor’s impeachment process after a series of text messages from a chat in which the governor actively participated were leaked. The governor’s statements regarding his resignation from the presidency of the New Progressive Party, as well as the giving up his personal aspirations for reelection, do not interfere with the process ,” said the legislative leader in a written statement.

The Special Committee is expected to finish their study and relay its conclusions to the president of the House of Representatives on Saturday, July 27th.

TRUMP SLAMS PUERTO RICAN POLITICIANS

MEMBERS OF THE CABINET STEP DOWN AMID CHAT SCANDAL

While thousands of people protested in San Juan on Monday, President Trump defined Gov. Ricardo Rosselló as “corrupt and incompetent.”

Speaking to reporters at the White House, the president said, “[Rosselló] is a terrible governor.” Trump then praised his administration’s efforts with Puerto Rico’s recovery after Hurricane Maria, incorrectly claiming that the federal government provided $92 billion in reconstruction aid to the island, when in fact it was nearly $14 billion. The president also took the opportunity to criticize another Puerto Rican politician, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz, saying she is “terrible, incompetent, seriously incompetent.”

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Puerto Rico Chief of Staff Ricardo Llerandi, Chief Investment Officer Gerardo Portela, interim Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Executive Director George Laws, interim Director of Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (Aafaf by its Spanish acronym) José Santiago Ramos and Press Secretary Dennise Peréz have presented their resignations. The controversy surrounding Gov. Ricardo Rosselló started when private messages from a Telegram group chat between him and his closest advisers were leaked. The content of the chat included the discussion of public policy matters with officials from outside the government and comments meant to mock some of the governor’s allies, political opponents and the LGBTTQ community.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ALSA has five modern coaches for the service, which have capacity for 54 passengers, air conditioning and a bathroom. An added plus is that all seats have a seatbelt, USB and power port.

The buses also have security cameras and to help ensure safety, all drivers must pass a breathalyzer test before the start of each route.

ALSA has two routes to San Juan, both starting at the Caguas bus terminal, with stops at Catalinas Mall in Caguas, the Río Piedras Medical Center and Plaza las Américas mall in Hato Rey. At this point, the buses will follow two routes, depending on one’s destination: one route ends at Covadonga in Old San Juan, with stops at Minillas and Paseo del Caribe and the other route ends at Isla Verde Avenue, with stops at the Urban Train stations in Hato Rey and the Sacred Heart area.

The service is operating exclusively on highways PR-52 and PR-18, instead of the old PR-1 route, which are used by other public carriers (known locally as “carros públicos” or “guaguas”), offering customers considerable savings in travel times, according to government officials.

The routes are operating daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The buses from Caguas leave every half hour to 1 hour, depending on the route. Tickets vary in price from $2.50 to $4.00 each, depending on the destination. Discount prices are also available for multiple trips.

The potential ridership in Caguas is about 125,000 residents, according to a 2018 U.S. Census population estimate. This figure does not include the populations of nearby municipalities such as Cidra, Cayey, Juncos, Las Piedras and San Lorenzo.

“For decades, the route between San Juan and Caguas has been considered one of the most important to achieve greater economic activity, which benefits not only the people of the area, but all of Puerto Rico. For this reason, there have been many proposals for public transportation that have been discussed publicly, including a connection by train,” said Transportation Secretary Carlos Contreras.

“However, after a serious analysis of the economic, environmental and social challenges of each proposal, we have been consistent that before considering a train for this route, we must establish a system such as the one we are announcing today, which allows us to educate in a cost-effective manner about the advantages and benefits of collective transportation,” he added.

“This project comes with guarantees backed by the experience and prestige of this company, which has a successful track record in countries on multiple continents. Therefore, we are very optimistic that this will result in an attractive service for citizens, with reasonable prices, comfortable and reliable travel schedules, and respect for the environment, by using modern vehicles that release less emissions, among other benefits,” Contreras said.

ALSA: Service Fills a Transportation Need

Company officials said operating a coach of this kind is “absolutely innovative” in Puerto Rico, as public bus transportation on the island is very underdeveloped, since the use of the private vehicles is the primary mode of transportation, due to the lack of an attractive public transport offering.

For ALSA, the new service is a “win-win” for all, as it positions the firm to expand coach bus service

to other parts of the island, raises the “standards” of bus transportation in Puerto Rico, improves the quality of life, helps boost the local economy and eases traffic congestion.

“We want to affirm our long-term commitment to Puerto Rico, offering a service that we believe can result in improving the quality of life of its inhabitants and boosting the local economy with a policy of promoting quality local employment by providing a transportation service that is

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sponsored by

We want to affirm our long-term commitment to Puerto Rico, offering a service that we believe can result in improving the quality of life of its inhabitants and boosting the local economy.

-Enrique Blanco Souto, director of international business development at ALSA

top quality, safe, reliable and comfortable for passengers,” said Enrique Blanco Souto, director of international business development at ALSA. The Caguas municipality is also on board. “We support this project, definitely. We are focusing on developing collective transportation options for citizens and the dream of the train has not progressed. So this is along those same lines, an intermediate step,” said Luis Herrera, director of the city’s Projects and Citizen Mobility Department.

“But we have not discarded the idea of the train.

That project is on hold. We are hoping that with better times, the cost of investment and the cost of operations will be more feasible,” he said to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. The $400 million train project between Caguas and San Juan, called Novotrén, was effectively derailed in 2017 due to the high investment cost.

Officials were hoping that once the project was completed, around 15,000 residents in the Caguas area would use the Novotrén on a regular basis.

The ALSA project has many positives for

Caguas, Herrera noted. “The bus service gives people flexibility of travel, in a rapid, comfortable and safe way, between Caguas and San Juan.

There is the creation of new jobs for Caguas.

ALSA can also work with us on other collective transportation projects in the region, as part of a feeder network,” he said. “This project will help change the mentality on public transportation in Puerto Rico.”

There is also the added bonus that San Juan residents could also use the ALSA service to travel to the “Ciudad Criolla” and enjoy its tourism offerings, such as its Arts Center, he indicated.

Herrera said although the ALSA project is specifically with DTOP, Caguas officials first talked with ALSA more than two years ago, as part of the planning process. Among the issues discussed were the need for collective transportation, the planned route and other details. “We have given ALSA space in the Caguas bus terminal and they are also renting an office at the terminal,” he said.

ALSA – National Express operates a number of bus fleets and railways in the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, North America, North Africa and the Middle East, with a fleet of 29,000 vehicles and some 45,000 employees worldwide.

Puerto Rico government officials, ALSA executives and staff at the ribbon-cutting ceremony launching the new coach service between Caguas and San Juan. >Photos Courtesy ALSA

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Protests Grow as Gov. Rosselló Reiterates he’s Staying in Office

Although the governor announced he won’t seek reelection and stepped down as head of the pro-statehood party, for protesters, his actions are not enough

A Cynthia López Cabán

clopez@wjournal.com

@cynthia_lope

sea of people flooded the streets of Hato Rey on Monday paralyzing the main highway for hours as part of a wave of relentless protests against Gov. Ricardo Rosselló, less than 18 hours after the embattled politician announced via a brief Facebook live video that he wouldn’t seek reelection and would step down as head of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party (NPP).

Far from quelling the rage and indignation sparked by leaked derisive text messages between him and his inner circle, Rosselló’s announcement seemed to fire up protesters and renew calls for his dismissal from powerful political figures, artists of different ideologies, cultural and civic organizations and former allies.

Rosselló not only ignored the generalized clamor for his resignation, but in his address

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

vowed to fight future impeachmment proceedings, a statement that many detractors, and some statehood supporters, interpreted as an act of denial of the impending crisis.

Hours after the message, protests and calls for his resignation had spread all over Puerto Rico, Grand Central Station in New York and even aboard a plane that landed at the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport. Hashtags calling for Rosselló´s resignation were trending on Twitter and major international news outlets were covering the biggest march in the island´s history, according to some observers.

But, before demonstrators inundated stretches of the Las Américas Highway and other local roads in the heart of Hato Rey, Raúl Grijalva (Arizona-D), chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, the committee which oversees Puerto Rico in Congress, reiterated his call for Rosselló to step down “immediately to allow Puerto Rico to move forward” and warned that important discussions couldn’t happen in the midst of the current political crisis.

Other politicians and members of Congress like

Jenniffer González- the non-voting representative of Puerto Rico, congresswomen Nydia Velázquez and Alexandra Ocasio Cortez- have expressed a preoccupation with the civil unrest and have called for Rosselló to initiate a peaceful transition of power. Hawaii’s Democrat representative and presidential contender Tulsi Gabbard joined protesters on Saturday, and Melissa Mark-Viverito -mentioned in the fouled chat- has attended several anti-Rosselló rallies, including Monday’s massive protest.

Early on Monday, hundreds of thousands of protesters from all corners of Puerto Rico descended on Roosevelt Avenue causing Plaza Las Américas, the largest shopping center in the Caribbean, and other businesses to shut down.

Other companies and main universities also closed and gave employees an opportunity to attend demonstration.

Young and old -from all walks of life- arrived armed with Puerto Rican flags, whistles, umbrellas and sharp placards that expressed their disdain toward the governor and politicians in general.

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>Brandon Cruz González

“Ricky Game Over”, “You are fired” and “They took away so much, that they took away our fear” were some of the banners that demonstrators carried during the demonstration just blocks away from the island’s financial district.

Defying the heavy rain, the crowd intoned catchy chants and passionately sang protest songs in a political show of force against Rosselló, who miles away gave an interview to Fox News.

Facing tough questions from anchor Shepard Smith, he insisted that he was not going resign, despite the unrest. “There are people who support me… from different groups… from the administration,” Rosselló said. Smith interrupted him several times, saying, “name one person, governor.”

Finally, an uncomfortable Rosselló mentioned the mayor of San Sebastián, Javier Jiménez, who later clarified that he supports the impeachment process.

Yesterday, Rosselló recognized the legitimacy of the protests while being “attentive and silent”.

“The people are talking and I have to listen. This has been a moment of total reflexion and I have made decisions in response to the concerns of the people”, he said in his first comments after the massive rally. In the written statement, the governor indicated that his future expressions would be about “the actions we are carrying out as part of our work agenda, as promised and expected by the people”.

But protesters have rejected Rosselló’s apologies as insincere. During the 12 days of continuous demonstrations, they have also made it clear that the rage goes beyond the misogynistic and discriminatory comments in the chat. Protesters have criticized his mishandling of the emergency triggered

by Hurricane Maria and

have called for a transformation of the political system because of the decades of mismanagement and corruption that bankrupted the island.

Talking from the stage, Saadi Rosario from the feminist group Colectiva Feminista warned Puerto Rico Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, who is now the interim New Progressive Party president, that his leadership was not welcomed. “Don’t dream about it”, Rosario stated as the crowd roared.

Later on, artists Ricky Martín, Residente, Bad Bunny, Kany García, Pedro Capó, Ednita Nazario, Olga Tañón and former boxer Félix Trinidad, among others, took to the stage bringing the house down. However, it was Tañón’s rendition of “Preciosa” that seemed to capture the full emotion of the historical moment.

In front of the governor´s mansion, rapper Daddy Yankee, who years ago endorsed the Republican presidential nominee John McCain, stopped by to support demonstrators.

>Brandon Cruz González /EL VOCERO

This was the second massive demonstration in a week. Last Wednesday, a day after Rosselló fended calls for his dismissal, in his first and only press conference since the protests erupted, thousands of men and women participated in a march convened by singers Bad Bunny, Residente, Ricky Martín, Ileana Cabra and Tommy Torres.

Enraged by the governor’s offensive messages, Bad Bunny interrupted his European Tour, while Residente and Ricky Martin flew to the island twice in order to participate in the protests. Since their job is to create music, hours before the march, Bad Bunny, Residente and Ileana released the tune “Afilando los Chuchillos” (Sharpening the Knives), a protest song that spread across the island like wildfire.

“This is just getting started... This is not about colors or parties, this is about the governor’s actions and how he failed us. Ricky has to go to hell,” Bad Bunny said.

“Ricky and the bandits around him have to go, including Tata (local House Representative María Milagros Charbonier),” Bad Bunny insisted.

Just like Monday night, Wednesday´s demonstration ended in a violent confrontation between protesters and the police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in front of the governor’s mansion. On Monday night, a car caught fire after a can of police tear gas broke the vehicle´s window.

As the crisis continues, political analysts and citizens alike wonder if Rosselló, whose father, former governor Pedro Rosselló, disaffiliated himself from the NPP on Monday, can govern alone as members of his administration continue to step down.

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Businesses in Old San Juan Acclimate to Daily Protests Not all businesses have felt the impact of the continuous protests the same way

I

Claudia Guerrero Negrón

newsroom@wjournal.com

@cguerreronegron

n the midst of government-related, turbulent protests in the streets of Old San Juan, some business owners worry about the negative effects in sales that these could represent, while others think they are necessary for real change to emerge.

It was a mixed bag. Not all businesses have felt the impact of the continuous protests the same way. For some businesses, mainly restaurants and bars, it has been business as usual. But, for other shops, like clothing and souvenir stores, sales have Wood panels blocked the windows of some of the historic city’s businesses. While some businesses closed, been moving at a turtle’s pace. Others simply got others remained open but expected less customers than usual. >Carlos Rivera Giusti “lucky”.

Ingrid Jeffs, owner of Olé, a genuine Panama hat emergence of people in the area as an opportunity.

Protests started the week that nearly 900 shop in Fortaleza street which has been the object On Wednesday afternoon, La Rosa de Triana, a revealing pages of a group chat between Gov. of vandalism, graffiti and other damages, says restaurant and bar located just a block away from Ricardo Rosselló and his closest government that if the protests get the job done -the job being Fortaleza Street, was advertising its Sangria as a officials were leaked. Aside from containing getting the governor to resign- then so be it. reward for protesting. mockeries and insults to members of the LGBTQ The proprietress said that she had never seen “Proteste con Gusto, Sangria To Go” read community, overweight persons, members of anything like it, referring to the manifestations an advertising blackboard inside the eatery, the press and harsh threats and attacks directed occurring. meaning “protest with pleasure, Sangria to go”. at women and people in opposition of the “This is a historic Other restaurants have created drinks like “The government, these moment, this has to Telegram”, inspired in the scandal that engulfed pages contained happen,” Jeffs said.

Rosselló into the deepest crisis of his political highly confidential Jeffs also mentioned career. government that it is low season “People are walking in, asking for appetizers information, being right now in the tourism and drinks before joining the protests”, Alejandra shared among persons sector, meaning that Lloret told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL hours prior to who were not qualified not a lot of money was the multitudinous event that ended with the Police to have access to such being made anyway. using tear gas to disperse protesters. information.

This is the first time “It feels like the SanSe Festival”, the waitress at Since then, protests Jeffs experiences the restaurant La Rosa de Triana said. have grown in size anything like this, and Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián is a famous -George Paizy, worker at and in energy. It is she has worked in the four-day street festival -like Mardi Gras in New Lord Jim Leather Shop. estimated that the store her entire life as Orleans- celebrated the third week of January in manifestation on she stepped in for her the historic district of San Juan.

Wednesday, July 17 father who opened the An employee at another business store made drew in thousands store in 1977. the same comment, but for a shop that sells of people to the streets of Old San Juan, all “We withstood four months of not working leather, the Sanse festivities are a little different; demanding the resignation of the governor. Wood due to Hurricane Maria because we did not have they don’t make as much as bars or restaurants on panels secured the windows of some of the historic electricity… being like this for a week?,” she said, the party-filled days. city’s businesses and, while some remained closed, questioning the protests’ veracity in comparison to others opened, but with expectations of receiving economic losses. less customers than usual due to the cancellations Other businesses have continued with business of two Royal Caribbean cruises, meant to dock on as usual and have even seen this sudden Tuesday and Wednesday.

I didn’t notice a drop in sales.

I wasn’t expecting to sell a lot, but I did. It was luck more than anything. I have worked less hours.

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Protests’ Impact on Local Economy “Limited”

Economist warns corruption allegations pose greater threat Giovanna Garofalo

A

ggarofalo@wjournal.com

@giopgarofalo

s thousands of Puerto Ricans continue to protest every day in Old San Juan in a collective call for Gov. Ricardo Rosselló’s resignation, concerns have arisen regarding the impact of these demonstrations on the island’s tourism economy.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (PRTC), warned last week that the cruise line Royal Caribbean had canceled the programmed stops of cruises Empress of the Seas, which had 1,718 passengers, and the Harmony of the Seas, with 6,546 passengers.

According to the PRTC’s executive director, Carla Campos, these arrivals would have contributed $657,154.39 to the tourism economy.

At a later date, the official said that Royal Caribbean and MSC would cancel stops that had been scheduled for Monday. These cruises, the Celebrity Equinox and MSC Seaside, would have reportedly contributed $311,000 and $439,000, respectively.

Between these four cancellations, the economic impact is estimated to be more than $1.4 million, when comparing the data provided.

Despite continuous protests, not all cruiseships have discarded the Port of San Juan.

The official also explained that Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Fascination used Old San Juan as their homeport on July 21 and everything transpired “with total tranquility.”

At the time of this writing, the PRTC informed that two more cruise ships, Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Conquest, would not make changes to their itineraries and arrive on Tuesday to the Port of San Juan at 6:30 a.m and 12:30 p.m., respectively. As of yet, no cruise lines have reported cancellations for the current week.

“We remain in constant communication with all government agencies to update and bolster our contingency plan, as necessary, and with our industry partners to inform them of any future occurrence,” Campos added.

Four cruise ships have canceled their scheduled stops in the Port of San Juan in light of ongoing protests. >Josian E. Bruno Gómez

Moreover, Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization (DMO), said in an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that the organization and its key local partners are working together to identify options and services so that cruise lines continue their scheduled stops in Puerto Rico.

“In some cases, the Tourism Co. is making accommodations in terms of special services to assist [cruise lines] and, where possible, they will make the calls, but that usually depends on the cruise ships themselves,” said Dean, whose organization is in charge of marketing Puerto Rico’s tourism qualities to foreign markets.

For example, the Muelle Panamericano is being offered as a docking alternative. However, because of its size, it cannot cater to larger cruise ships that require greater water depth to make the stop.

“Overall, Puerto Rico remains very much open for tourism. All hotels, airports, and taxi services are operating normally, as well as a broad range of tourist attractions. Flights continue to arrive each day as scheduled,” Dean affirmed.

Regarding the possible strain that protests may have on the tourism economy, Dean said that, based on information shared between its local partners, “the impact on most businesses has been limited.”

Moreover, José Caraballo Cueto, an assistant professor at the University of Puerto Rico’s Cayey campus and director of the Census Information Center (CIC by its Spanish initials), told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that a distinction needs to be made between cruiseships that set anchor on docks one through three and the ones that stop on the other side of the bay.

The former, he said, have less impact on the tourism economy, given that they only stop on the island for a couple of hours.

Caraballo Cueto stressed that the aforementioned cruise ship cancellations do not represent a heavy blow to the macro of this economic industry.

“Those visitors’ expenses are diminutive when we compare them to the big picture... Although

/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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it is true that those visits are the others who are benefitting from sustenance of some artisans and this... But in the macro, the greatest some restaurants that are located impact to the economy per se are in that area, it will not cause brutal not protests or these cruiseship damage to the economy,” he stated. cancellations,” he affirmed.

Caraballo Cueto also stated that locals who were interested in Corruption Allegations visiting San Juan to consume specific Responsible for Possible products or services could simply opt Economic Strain to visit on a more tranquil day or take Despite the ongoing emphasis their pockets elsewhere. on the tourism economy, Caraballo Thus, he explained, some Cueto stressed that protests are individual business owners could be not the cause of any potential affected, but not the economy as a economic blunder; but rather, whole. ongoing international media The economist also noted that coverage regarding the corruption tourism economy only contributes allegations surrounding the current around seven percent of Puerto administration.

Rico’s gross domestic product (GDP), This, due to a profanity-laced a number that was echoed by Dean. chat in which Gov. Rosselló, key “Historically, Tourism has been 6 José Caraballo Cueto, an assistant professor in the University of Puerto Rico’s Cayey Cabinet members and individuals in to seven percent of the GDP, most campus and director of the Census Information Center. >Twitter Caraballo Cueto the private sector incurred in such people are surprised to see that its questionable conduct as discussing arriving in San Juan but visiting other parts of the contribution is so small... Today it’s 6 to seven public policy with non-government employees and island, so he cannot provide a solid comparison percent, but we anticipate it being much larger in making light out of situations impacting Puerto for the last couple of weeks. the future,” Dean said.

Rico’s most vulnerable communities.

“We do believe that Dean added that The Puerto Rico Bar Association released a there are more people one of Discover statement last week indicating that this and other visiting outside the Puerto Rico’s goals is topics discussed provided enough reason for the metropolitan area, to double tourism’s Legislature to initiate an impeachment process, which has not been current impact on the given that Rosselló has doubled down on retaining disrupted for the economy. his title despite numerous calls for his immediate most part by any of “Regardless of what resignation. these events.

That was plays out over the next Additionally, on July 10 federal officers issued happening before the few days or weeks, arrest warrants for prominent officials and events took place, so tourism is the way contractors over wire fraud, conspiracy and money I don’t know that I can forward for Puerto - José Caraballo Cueto, economist laundering charges.

Two of these officials included draw any comparisons Rico,” Dean said. the former secretary of Education, Julia Keleher, from the last couple of For his part, and the former director of the Health Services weeks,” Dean said.

Caraballo Cueto said, Administration (ASES by its Spanish acronym), Both he and Caraballo Cueto noted that Puerto “there are people who have said that tourism has a Ángela Ávila.

Rico needs to promote other tourist attractions lot of potential. I know it has a lot of potential, but Caraballo Cueto said that these events, not the and destinations beyond San Juan and the rest those cruise lines are not it.” protests, could lead the U.S. Congress to deny of the metropolitan area, which are the areas Concerning any possible impacts these protests Puerto Rico billions in federal funds. Specifically, experiencing the largest demonstrations—with could have, Dean said that Discover Puerto Rico he pointed to the $12 billion currently under the largest being Monday’s general strike, which had already reported record levels of people consideration for Medicaid in Puerto Rico. He also saw a blockage of noted that the island still requires federal funding the Las Américas to recover from 2017s Hurricane Maria. expressway and the “It is fair to say that Puerto Rico’s reconstruction interrupted schedule of is not even halfway... And [these events] give credit Plaza Las Américas, the to arguments made by republicans, including largest shopping center [President] Donald Trump, who have never been in the Caribbean. pleased with the amount assigned for recovery.

Moreover, Caraballo It gives credit to the argument, which they have Cueto observed that used from the start, that we cannot give money to some individuals are directly benefitting from Puerto Rico,” the economist said.

That impact, he affirmed, should be a primary these protests, such concern amid these trying times on the island. as Uber drivers and “That is the one that worries us [economists], walking merchants who in terms of recovery, because you don’t need are selling Puerto Rico flags, refreshments and to redo the fiscal plan over those tourist visits’ cancellations. But, if Congress starts blocking aid other items. to Puerto Rico, then perhaps the fiscal plan will “In individual terms, have to be recalculated because it was already yes, there are some relying on those funds for a monumental recovery, business owners and and with that they were going to increase the employees who can be government’s revenues so as to be able to pay negatively impacted.

DMO President Brad Dean affirmed that “the impact on most businesses has been back bondholders,” Caraballo Cueto said.

Meanwhile, there are limited.” >Carlos Rivera Giusti

In the macro, the greatest impact to the economy per se are not protests or these cruiseship cancellations.

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New Car Sales in Puerto Rico Bounced Back in June Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

Positive numbers spurred by fleet sales

A

fter two months reporting a dip in new car sales in Puerto Rico, the numbers moved back to positive territory in June, according to the United Automobile Importers Group (GUIA by its Spanish acronym), which represents the automotive industry in Puerto Rico.

The month ended with a total of 10,200 units sold in Puerto Rico in contrast to the sales of June 2018, which totaled 9,596 units, according to GUIA. The sales number shows a 6.3 percent increase compared with June of the previous year.

The increase in new car sales in June represents 2,182 additional units so far this year, or 4.4 percent more than in 2018.

The increase in sales during the month of June responds to an increase in fleet sales, which represented 23.9 percent of the total sales last month. In contrast, retail sales decreased by 7.8 percent, GUIA reported. In fact, so far this year, fleet sales have grown by a whopping 29.7 percent and retail sales by only 2.2 percent.

In June, the segments that showed an increase compared with the same month last year were the Minivan segment with a 54.5 percent jump, followed by the Sub-compact sedan segment with 11.8 percent and the SUV segment with a 9.2 percent increase. To date, the fastest growing

segments are SUVs and Vans with increases of 15.2 May 2019 results for new car sales also showed a percent and 12.3 percent, respectively. drop of 3.1 percent compared to the same time “The good news is that the month of June ended period last year, GUIA reported. in positive territory, after two consecutive months below the previous year. However, the growth was Check Vehicles for Recalled Takata Airbags due to an unusual increase of 106.3 percent in GUIA is also continuing to urge consumers, fleet sales. So far this year, fleet sales have shown for their safety and well-being, to verify if their a considerable increase of 29.7 percent while vehicles have the faulty Takata air bags that retail sales reflect a growth of only 2.2 percent, have been recalled by logging on to www. which indicates that there is more confidence in checktoprotect.org and checking their car’s the tourism sector and daily car rentals versus the vehicle identification number (VIN) or by calling pattern of sales by local consumers,” said Ricardo their concessionaires.

M. García, president of “Changing the GUIA. airbags is completely “What the country free. We urge people needs is greater to contact their economic stability so authorized service that the investments workshops and make of private companies the appointments, as continue, eliminating it can be a matter of all those elements that life or death. Nothing create uncertainty, is more important than so that consumer your safety,” García confidence increases said. and the progress The massive recall of Puerto Rico is first began in 2014 achieved in a solid and after Takata airbags -Ricardo M. García, president of GUIA sustainable manner, exploded upon not looking from deployment, killing a month to month,” reported 15 people García added. and injuring at least 100 people in the U.S. Tens The positive numbers of the past two of millions of vehicles worldwide—including years in the sale of new cars, with a rebound those manufactured by Audi, BMW, Chrysler, after Hurricane Maria that had exceeded the Ford, Honda, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and conservative forecasts of the industry, appeared to Volkswagen—have been affected by the recall. have reached its end in April 2019, when there was Takata Corp., based in Japan, has since filed for a drop of 9.3 percent compared with April 2018. bankruptcy.

The growth was due to an unusual increase of 106.3 percent in fleet sales. So far this year, fleet sales have shown a considerable increase of 29.7 percent while retail sales reflect a growth of only 2.2 percent.

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< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 24 , 2019 >

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Rodrick Miller has played a lead role in projects such as the attraction of Microsoft Regional Headquarters to Detroit, Michigan. >Gabriel López Albarrán

Rodrick Miller Bets on the Island of Enchantment F

Invest Puerto Rico’s CEO has played a lead role in a diversity of projects, including the attraction of Microsoft Regional Headquarters to Detroit, Michigan Yennifer Álvarez Jaimes

yalvarez@wjournal.com

@yalvarezjaimes

or Rodrick Miller it’s a professional challenge in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria; for his wife and three children, aged 12, 7 and 5, it is an adventure in a beautiful place.

Miller will serve as the CEO

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

of Invest Puerto Rico (InvestPR), a new private, nonprofit organization created under Law 13 of 2017 with the objective of promoting Puerto Rico abroad as a competitive investment jurisdiction. For Miller, part of his work is to attract good jobs to the island and improve the quality of life of its residents.

Miller has played a lead role in a diversity of projects ranging from the attraction of Microsoft Regional Headquarters to Detroit, Michigan to the launch of the Motor City Match grant program for small businesses.

Miller has also helped structure transactions that led to significant real estate developments such as the Outlets at the Riverwalk in New Orleans, the Louisiana and the Coyotes Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona and handled large real estate deals including the Ally Financial Inc. move from the Renaissance Center to what is now Ally Detroit Center, the Little Caesars Arena construction process and the Detroit Pistons’ move from The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Miller, 41, who is fluent in Spanish, was appointed on February 21th and is expected to soon complete the promotional plan to attract business and investment capital to the island.

THE WEEKLY JOURNAL sat down with Miller at his office in San Juan to talk about what motivated him to move to the “island of enchantment”.

What makes Puerto Rico attractive?

“Puerto Rico is a fascinating place culturally, socially and in terms of some of the challenges that it has to overcome. When I thought about what I wanted for me and for my family, Puerto Rico seemed like a great opportunity. I want to expose my children to a different culture and language and we also wanted to have some assurances for our parents that are aging. When I learned about Puerto Rico’s economic struggle and population decline, I also thought to myself that are a lot

of opportunities for someone with my background.”

What would you say to a person with children who wants to move to Puerto Rico to do business?

“The quality of life is very high, with great resources, amenities and great school options.

People are open and friendly and it is an opportunity for the kids to have a different kind of experience but not a difficult one.”

In professional terms, what stands out about Puerto Rico?

“I have found some of the most incredible professionals, of a world class experience, who have worked in major corporations, not only in Puerto Rico but around the globe. It is professionally and personally fulfilling.”

Which kinds of strategies used Detroit to attract investment?

“The incentives help close deals, but incentives do not begin the deal. We used a combination of both statutory incentives as well as customized incentives.

With the statutory incentives we had certain rules related to the amount of investment that the company was making and the amount of work that they are doing; if they met those benchmarks, we could lower the property taxes. From the customized incentives perspective we would be lowering the price of land; we used tools like that.”

Do you think Puerto Rico offers the necessary tools?

But, we do not want to say that our market is “a piece of junk so I will give you this money to come here”. What we want to say is that our market is the best. We are not trying to compete with Dominican Republic, we are not trying to compete with Jamaica, we want compete with Miami. I don’t want a bunch of companies paying $10 per hour. We want to work with value added companies that have intellectual property, because of the assets of Puerto Rico; we want to say that we have the best universities, the strongest talent and customized real state and infrastructure because when you build your market you have to offer something so that the companies don’t go away.”

“Puerto Rico has good incentives that can be better.

What are some similarities between Puerto Rico, Detroit and New Orleans?

“In the three cases we are talking about the population declining for many years and that is a signal of bigger economic challenges. The second is the different types of fiscal challenges because of the lack of public income in terms of tax and revenues; there was a lack of investment and infrastructure. The other thing is, that the people stop to believe it, is a self-esteem kind of challenge, we need to really be able to reinvigorate hope because the reality is that there are challenges but not only you are still here, but you are still here and well. What I see is that Puerto Rico has a really great story to tell, Puerto Rico is cool, its fun, its innovative, but that’s not that the way the Puerto Ricans describe the island. In Detroit we developed a brand that said Detroit vs. Everybody.

Detroiters have worn the bold all-caps logo on shirts, hats and hoodies with pride since a homegrown entrepreneur launched the brand in 2012.”

Eficiencia Energética

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Supporting the Arts in Times of Need Many cultural organizations feeling the pinch

T Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

he importance of the arts in our lives is immeasurable. In these tough times, arts and cultural organizations often face funding cuts but despite this challenge, many have continued their mission to engage and educate their local communities as they seek creative ways to find additional resources.

One such organization is the Puerto Rico Contemporary Art Museum (MAC for its Spanish acronym), in Santurce. The museum has a budget of some $3 million a year, of which some $346,000 is earmarked in from the government’s General Fund.

The $346,000 allocation for fiscal year (FY) 2020, which has just begun, is the same as that of last year, according to MAC Executive Director Marianne Ramírez Aponte. “We hope that amount stays the same because sometimes they approve a certain number and then it gets cut.”

For FY 2020, the museum has also received a special allocation from the Legislature of $376,405.

MAC has suffered government budget cuts of more than 55 percent since 2012 and 2013, Ramírez indicated.

“Government funding is very important to us,

but we also get a lot of grants that are directed MAC, founded in 1984 and located at the for special projects. But we can also use a small historic Labra building in Santurce, is home to a amount of these grants for operational costs wide variety of artwork from the mid-20th century because they are very clear about how the funds onwards, from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and should be used,” she said. The grants are specific Latin America and artists from these areas who to art-focused activities such as temporary exhibits have migrated to the mainland U.S. and other and educational programs. areas.

For example, MAC has received grants from Other arts organizations are also feeling the the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the National pinch. The arts and culture area in the government’s Endowment for the Arts and the FY 2020 budget reportedly includes National Endowment for the a $5.3 million cut for various Humanities. organizations, including the Puerto She indicated that government Rico Institute of Culture, Musical funding is important to cover Arts Corp. and the Fine Arts Center operational costs such as in Santurce. maintaining the infrastructure, The Puerto Rico Symphonic The Puerto Rico salaries, utilities and security.

Orchestra is facing a budget cut Contemporary Like other museums, MAC has of at least $1.3 million, which Art Museum, developed a host of revenuethreatens its existence, according to known locally as generating activities to add supporters. Recently, the nonprofit MAC, has suffered government to its coffers. These include a organization Pro Arte Musical budget cuts of membership program, entrance issued a statement defending the more than 55 fees, a museum store and Symphonic Orchestra. “ Our duty percent since 2012 benefit events. Just as important is to support them and defend the and 2013. are the many businesses and existence of our orchestra and a organizations that sponsor MAC, space worthy of work for them,” including the Banco Popular said the Board of Directors of Pro Foundation, Condado Plaza Hilton Arte Musical and its president, and Merrill Lynch.

Myrna Rivera Cardona.

To augment its revenues, MAC has launched “We demand the Fiscal Control Board and several special projects, among them, designing government agencies and officials in charge of the murals at the Mall of San Juan and the Caribe country’s budget to ensure the permanence of Hilton and Trypp hotels. This year, MAC also held these cultural institutions, which make us proud as its first fundraising gala in Old San Juan; the activity a country and that are the heritage of the people of is sure to be the first of many such soirées.

Puerto Rico,” said the missive.

In fact,

Marianne Ramirez Aponte, executive director of the Puerto Rico Contemporary Art Museum. >Gabriel Lopez Albarran

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

By Maria de los Angeles Rivera,

By Ricardo Álvarez-Díaz

CPA

Architect, Husband and Father of Three Girls

F

The Stability of Instability: A Study in Fear

or the last couple of weeks, the people of Puerto Rico have spoken.

Yet, for decades we all have had an extremely passive approach to politics.

Yes, we have shown to be passionate about our future.

Yes, we have been passionate about our economy. Yes, we have also shown to be extremely passionate about our politics. Yet, that passion mysteriously dissipated when time came for us to approach the ballot box.

As citizens, we trembled at the prospect of stepping outside of our own political affiliations. By force of habit, every four years, we aligned ourselves to a political party rather than to a candidate.

In fact, oftentimes, we voted against a candidate - and not for a candidate.

By choosing passiveness, we decided to live in fear. Fear of change, fear of crossing party lines, fear of losing government contracts, fear of losing our government sponsored food stamps. Fear of loss.

When fear permeates, fear limits growth.

Our economy has been inexorably linked to politics.

So, when our private sector relied largely on government contracts to remain profitable, can we really continue to call that sector truly private? When our not-for-profit organizations relied primarily on legislative funding to stay afloat, do they not simply become another branch of the government?

When a disproportionate percentage of the populace on the island worked and works for either local or state

governments agencies… how can we honestly ever expect to get out from under the yoke of our political affiliations?

It is no surprise that this “welfare party system” failed.

We have allowed politics, politicians and our respective political parties to decide for us. Still, we as a collective group are not immune to our share of responsibility. We are the ones who have allowed fear through political linkage in order to achieve our own economic survival. Sadly, the cost of this fear is not insignificant. This sense has dramatically eroded our entrepreneurial spirit. We no longer dared to create, instead we just enjoyed the comforts of the status quo.

Yet there is change in the air.

Seemingly overnight, we, the people of Puerto Rico have chosen not to remain passive and fearful anymore.

By shedding our fears and reconnecting with our inborn sense of pride and passion, we have opened the possibility of change. Still, a word of caution, change for the sake of change, without direction or leadership, can be an empty exercise.

In a democratic state we must allow the government structures to serve their purpose. However, if we continue the course of recent days with the same entrepreneurial spirit that has been so vividly demonstrated, and refuse to revert back to the passivity of our comfort zones and embrace an active role in our own future, we will not only change history; we will create history.

The choice is ours.

Tax Partner and IBC Director Kevane Grant Thornton

P

Opportunity Zones: The Disruption Puerto Rico Needs

uerto Rico has, at this moment in time, the best recipe to attain sustainable economic growth.

Growth that will be the foundation to position us better when evaluating our competitiveness with other jurisdictions in the world. To achieve this, all sectors, private, public and non for profits, need to align objectives, goals and strategies.

What are the ingredients for this recipe? The most important components are: a robust and tested industrial incentives program, the P3 legislation, the CBDGR funds that sooner or later we will be receiving as part of the recovery process after the 2017 storms and the US tax driven qualified opportunity zones program (“QOZ”). We must also add other ingredients such as our geographical location, our people and our connection to both US and Latin America, for example.

QOZs are designated low income levels sectors within a state and possessions. The purpose of the program is to incentivize investment on these areas through tax benefits to the investors: income tax deferral and exclusion of capital gains which are realized and in turn invested in businesses and projects in the QOZs. Around 8,700 zones were designated in total, of which 863 are in Puerto Rico. In order to conform to the federal legislation and provide additional incentives to increase the advantage of investing in the Puerto Rico QOZs, Act 212019 was signed last May 14, 2019.

The provisions of Act 21, which were later incorporated into Act 60-2019, The Puerto Rico Incentives Code, provide local and foreign investors similar tax benefits in Puerto Rico in connection with the deferral and exclusion of certain capital gains if the property is in Puerto

Rico. In addition, it establishes a new incentive program for projects that are designated as priority projects and are not eligible for any other incentive program in Puerto Rico.

The supporters of the QOZs list several benefits of investing in the zones and these will be different depending on the role being played: investors, funds, developers and communities.

On the other hand, the critics of the program list several issues that may arise, including gentrification of the areas. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines gentrification as “the process of repairing and rebuilding homes and businesses in a deteriorating area (such as an urban neighborhood) accompanied by an influx of middle-class or affluent people and that often results in the displacement of earlier, usually poorer residents”.

Although the goal of the program is to generate economic growth and development in the designated areas, this can lead to displacement if the income levels of the current residents are not increased because they won’t be able to afford the new prices.

Therefore, close collaboration between all parties involved is vital.

We are already seeing examples of developments in the US, where one of the requirements is to provide affordable housing to current residents while increasing their income levels and improving their neighborhood. They substitute the term gentrification for revitalization and refer to it as gentrification without displacement.

Our local recipe will attract investors looking for projects that will generate the benefits they are looking for. All sectors must work together in order to obtain the best results for them but, most importantly, for Puerto Rico and its people.

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Celebrating Contemporary Puerto Rican Art at the Santurce museum offers visitors inclusive, interactive experience

I

Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournal.com

MAC

@RosarioWJournal

n these turbulent and uncertain times, many of us may feel the need to seek a haven of calm and peace.

The Contemporary Art Museum of Puerto Rico (MAC for its Spanish acronym) is one such haven, where art lovers can appreciate modern art with a Puerto Rican and Latin American flair that is relevant, thought-provoking and accessible.

“We are a community-based organization, active in our local communities. We are providing a different content of contemporary art in Puerto Rico,” said Marianne Ramírez Aponte, executive director of MAC. “We offer multidisciplinary works in the visual arts, even sometimes performance art, that reflect the realities of the modern world in Puerto

Rico,” she added.

During an interview with THE WEEKLY JOURNAL, she emphasized the museum’s focus on being inclusive and its efforts on attracting a wide audience, especially those who would not normally visit an art museum.

“We also see ourselves as a creative, productive space, where the community can engage with artists through the various workshops that we offer. Through these workshops, visitors can see art in the making, not just the final piece itself. In contemporary art, the process is sometimes more important than the end product,” Ramírez said.

MAC, founded in 1984 and located at the historic Labra building in Santurce, offers visitors modern art from the mid-20th century onwards, from Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Latin America, and artists from these areas who have migrated to the mainland U.S. and other areas.

The museum’s open-air environment, with a brick façade and an interior courtyard with glass ceilings, allows visitors to enjoy the natural light and the artwork in a spacious setting.

Among the museum’s rich and diverse offerings are paintings, drawings, sculptures made of wood, rocks and other materials, video content and photography. Some are even interactive, helping visitors to engage with the art, rather than just seeing it passively.

Permanent Collection Highlights

The permanent collection includes artists such as Myrna Báez, Noemí Ruiz, Olga Albizu and Julio Rosado del Valle, all from Puerto Rico; Joscelyn Gardner, Rosa Irigoyen, Zilia Sánchez and Silvano

The historic Labra building in Santurce, home of the MAC. >Photos by Gabriel Lopez Albarrán

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

The artist Marta Pérez García discuss the gender violence in “Si te cojo...cuerpo, mujer, rotura”.

Lora from the Caribbean; and Elías Adasme, Ismael human beings were Frigerio, Mathias Goeritz and Carlos Mérida from made subject. The Latin America. power of language is THE WEEKLY JOURNAL went for a quick evident in the painting, walkabout with Ramírez around the museum and as the child is clearly not your correspondent was pleasantly surprised by understanding English the quality of the works and how accessible they and perhaps is receiving are for visitors. As someone who is not well-versed a poor education, and in Puerto Rico, Caribbean and Latin American art— yet, is dominated by Natural light is the centerpiece of the MAC’s interior courtyard. your correspondent is much more knowledgeable what is now the global about classical art and Western European art— lingua franca. the North” (1955), is one of the Puerto Rican artist’s there was much to enjoy and appreciate at the “Sweet Dreams are Made of This” (2004), also most well-known prints, depicting hurricane MAC. the title of the Eurythmics hit song in the 1980s, is winds blowing people away. But, with the face of “Domineichon a sculpture by Puerto Death, there can be seen the rich; figures wearing Milenium Edichion” Rican artist Jeannette sunglasses and carrying briefcases, who seem to (2000), a painting by Betancourt. Made be smiling. The Caribbean has been living with Puerto Rican artist from recycled rubber the motif of the hurricane as the harbinger of Nora Rodríguez Vallés, and tires, the piece of death and destruction since pre-Columbian times. stops visitors in their black, intertwined balls, Clearly, the “Hurricane of the North” is the U.S. and tracks. Looking very reminds one at first of a much like a child’s beautiful necklace—until could the rich be those from the mainland U.S. or are they Puerto Rico’s own? This work is as relevant notebook, the text the realization sinks in in broken English, that the material is toxic. today as it was nearly 65 years ago.

Come to MAC and experience the art for floating above a Thus, the contradiction yourselves. peaceful landscape, between the title and the - Marianne Ramírez,

belies the satire of the work. Many of us aspire Puerto Rico Contemporary Art Museum words: “domineichon to have material comfort executive director of MAC Parada 18, Santurce is in fact el lleneral and luxuries, but we are Corner of Ponce de Leon and Todd avenues stroctiur of pauer…” doing so at our own peril Tel: 787 977 4030 The original text was written by French philosopher and the planet’s.

For more information, log on www.mac-pr.org Michel Foucault, who studied power and how Carlos Raquel Rivera’s work, “Hurricane from

We offer multi-disciplinary works in the visual arts, even sometimes performance art, that reflect the realities of the modern world in Puerto Rico.

The MAC’s permanent collection is a visual treat.

MAC’s permanent collection at the “Sala Contrapunto.”

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Showcasing the Colors of Puerto Rico Pop-up museum opens its doors at San Patricio Plaza shopping center

C

Jorge Rodriguez

jrodriguez@elvocero.com

olors of Puerto Rico, a pop-up museum has just opened its doors in the basement of the San Patricio Plaza shopping center in Guaynabo, offering an alternative art show with cubicle installations about the nature and customs of Puerto Rico, using an array of colors to attract a new audience.

“This concept is a trend occurring in metropolitan cities like New York and Los Angeles, where they are using new spaces [for museums]. We decided to do it in Puerto Rico with our own social collective of artists and designers. We wanted a space to exalt everything that happened after Hurricane Maria but we needed a theme; that’s where Colors of Puerto Rico came from,” said Jorge Marrero, co-

>Photos Courtesy of Colors of Puerto Rico

producer of the event.

Designer Yadira Torres anticipates that the project, after being fully promoted on social media, will help the island’s tourism sector by

highlighting, through different prints, Puerto Rico’s culture, El Yunque rain forest, the beaches, the capital city of San Juan and various patron saint festivals. Visitors and their children can

/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

ride a “caballo de pica,” a type of wooden horse, interact with the art and take photographs that can be posted on social networks to share with friends.

“Along with a team of graphic designers, set designers, producers and exterior designers, we created seven spaces [in the exhibit] that highlight the good side of the island. At the end of the tour, there is an area with black curtains where young artists can exhibit their works. The idea is to make this the first of many such editions all of them about Puerto Rico. We invite everyone to come and spend time with their family. We can host schools, corporations, birthdays and other activities,” Torres explained.

“We wanted to focus on the quality of the photography, the lighting and the instrumental music so that this would be a space that the public fills with its strength. We are sure this will continue to grow and evolve,” Marrero added.

General admission prices vary from $10 to $12 per adult, depending on the day of the week, admission for seniors is $5, and children under 3 enter for free. Colors of Puerto Rico is open Tuesday to Thursday, from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibit will end on Aug. 31.

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PALS

/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

A New and Creative Way to Eat Cereal The cereal bar has two locations, one on de Diego Ave. in Santurce and another at San Patricio Plaza in Guaynabo

P Bárbara Sepúlveda

bsepulveda@elvocero.com

sepulvedbarb

als Company in Santurce has turned eating cereal into a totally different experience.

With their innovative and family-oriented concept, they have brought to the island a cereal bar in which customers can create their own concoctions.

Juan Pablo Gutiérrez, one of the owners of the company, explained how a product as ordinary as cereal can be reinvented and turned into a treat that can be eaten at any time of the day, thus completely changing the traditional way of eating it.

Inspired by their sons, Juan Pablo and his brother Andrés, decided to leave the bar business in order to bring this new concept to the island.

“We decided to transition, to embark on a project where our kids would be our business partners, even though in the process we had to sacrifice hours away from our children. But, ultimately, they are the reason we created this project,” said Juan Pablo.

PALS Company

The company offers four different products that can be enjoyed, the classic “Cereal Bowl”, the “Cereal Cream”, “Cereal Shake” and the “Last Call”, which is of great significance to the Gutiérrez family.

The “Last Call”, a reinvented version of the classic affogato, has a “special connection to us,” said Juan Pablo.

“My brother and I switched from our other venture, a cocktail bar, to a cereal one. I would always say that we needed to add coffee [to the cocktail bar menu] to be offered at any time of the day. With the “Last Call” we are including it as an option, so the the customers can get home alert and awake,” he commented.

/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

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Juan Pablo y Andrés Gutiérrez, owners. > Photos Courtesy Pals

This cereal-loving family experiments daily with combinations of the products they offer, while ultimately allowing the customer to be the creator. They claim that because the customer is the creator, it is very uncommon for combinations to be repeated.

Focused on Family

The name of the company PALS, another word for friends, is the first letter of the names of Andres’ and Juan Pablo’s children, Pablo, Andrés, Lucas and Sebastián.

The company opened after Hurricane Maria on February 19, 2018, on President’s Day. “We decided that company had to have symbolism and valor, because we are putting our treasured children on the line. They are the bosses, that is why we chose Presidents Day to inaugurate. We are passionate about family, they are our inspiration. We have worked very hard to be a family-owned business with the purpose of contributing to families,” he expressed.

Even though they are very active on social media, the owners assure that the clients are the ones who promote the product because “until the customer tries the product, any explanation

is unjustifiable.”

Even though the island finds itself in a difficult economic situation, Juan Pablo hopes that “being alive one more day” is enough of a motive for those who are

considering starting a business, even though the future might seem uncertain. “Being innovative is not for everyone, it is for people who can capitalize on their ideas, for those take risks in an effort to succeed.”

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/ Wednesday, July 24, 2019

This coastal municipality caters to a broad range of interests

D Melissa M. Cruz

mcruz@elvocero.com

@mmcruzrios

ue to its privileged location, beautiful beaches, magical waters and easy access to the archipelagos of Vieques, Culebra and other cays, Fajardo is one of Puerto Ricans’ favorite places to vacation.

Without a doubt, it is an idyllic destination in which to enjoy memorable family adventures.

This town, located on the eastern region of Puerto Rico, offers tourist attractions that have earned it the nickname of the “Navigation Capital” by lovers of water activities, fishermen, sailors and boat owners.

However, aside from water sports, Fajardo houses a range of cultural attractions and an ample culinary offering in which fresh fish takes center stage.

This offering has been recently expanded with the opening of a new restaurant on PR #987, Km 2.4. El Yate (787-655-4244), headed by Chef Myrta Pérez, specializes in tapas, meats and Spanish pastries. The locale has a privileged view of the Puerto Chico marine and Fajardo’s coasts that you can’t miss out on.

In addition to a new restaurant, the municipality recently celebrated the opening of the Parque de Niños Activos de Las Croabas (787-295-6635), a fun recreational area that has a water park, go-karts, a mini-golf park and gazebos available for rent, which are perfect for any celebration. The park is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

These two attractions join the newly restored 35th flag of the movement “78 pueblos, 1 bandera”

(78 municipalities, one flag), by artist Héctor Collazo, known as Héctor PR across social media.

The original flag, painted on the observation tower of the Parque Pasivo de Las Croabas in Fajardo in May 2017, was deteriorated by the onslaught of Hurricane Maria in September of that year.

However, the municipal administration and a group of volunteers committed to rescuing the mural, which today stands more elegantly and majestically than before.

In addition, this weekend, from July 24 to 28, Fajardo will celebrate its patron saint festival, in honor of Apostle Santiago.

The event will feature multiple celebrities, such as El Gran Combo, Limi-T 21, Marileyda, La Tribu de Abrante, Algarete, Michael Stuart, Grupo Manía, Johnny Ventura, Plenealo and Tito Nieves, among others.

This activity, mere days before the start of the new school year, is an excellent excuse to plan a weekend escape.

Below is a list of places that you can include in your visit to this coastal town.

Points Of Interest: Apostle Santiago Cathedral

The Cathedral was established in 1766, but it wasn’t until September 18, 1984 that it was included in the U.S. National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Services. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI erected the Diocese FajardoHumacao, designating the Apostle Santiago Parish of Fajardo as the cathedral of that diocese. (787863-2365).

Seven Seas National Park

This blue flag beach stretches roughly 2,000 feet long and 165 feet wide and maintains its crystalline waters and bay-like appearance thanks to its formation between two rocky points and a coral reef on the outskirts of the coast, which are the beach’s main attraction. This park, frequently visited by tourists, also has camping areas, gazebos and barbecues.

Las Cabezas de San Juan

An important natural reserve because it houses seven different ecological systems, including beaches, lagoons, a dry forest, coral reefs and mangroves within a relatively small area. It is perched atop the island’s northeastern cliff and it is currently managed by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico.

In addition to a spectacular view of the sea, this jewel guards the Fajardo Lighthouse, one of Puerto Rico’s oldest lighthouses and the only one still used on the entire island; a bioluminescent bay; plant and wildlife; several hiking trails and boardwalks; and a center for scientific research.

In 2012, it won the award for Best Environmental Management at an international level. For the time being, they are not offering tours because the facilities are undergoing repairs, according to a staff member of Para la Naturaleza.

The Fajardo Bioluminescent Bay

Laguna Grande, one of only five of its kind in the world, is the result of a delicate ecosystem where unique cells called dinoflagellates (pyridinium bahamense) thrive in a protected environment.

When agitated, these organisms release energy in the form of light. The light resembles an ethereal aura in shades of neon green.

Bioluminescence exists throughout the world, but there are few bioluminescent bays in the planet and this one in Fajardo is managed by the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. To access this bay, visitors need to request guided tours with private companies that offer kayak trips and electric boats.

The excursions begin at dusk with an intriguing trip through a mangrove, toward a wide and quiet bay. It is, undoubtedly, a great experience. (787722-5858).

Icacos, Lobos y Ratones

These are a trio of cays with clear waters that allow for exploration of the zone’s marine life by diving or snorkeling. Getting there is half the fun, given that they can only be accessed with a catamaran, motorboat or sailboat departing from one of the ports in Fajardo.

>Melissa Cruz Ríos

Fajardo

Navigation Capital a Must for Next road Trip

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DESDE EL 2 DE AG OSTO TEATRO AMBASSAD OR

Boletos: tcpr.c om / 787-792-50 0 0

teatroambassad or

< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 24 , 2019 >

Carmen Nydia Vel ázquez VICTOR ALICEA R aúl Carbonell, hijo Nashali Enchautegui Joealis Filippetti Jas ond Calderón

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For those who love to kayak, Puerto Rico offers unforgettable experiences. >iStock

Kayaking & Canoeing in Puerto Rico Experience the island’s aquatic and natural reserves Melissa M. Cruz

K

mcruz@elvocero.com

@mmcruzrios

ayaking is more than a popular water sport or hobby. According to experts, it may be considered low impact training with high cardiovascular effectiveness.

Kayaking also helps increase resistance, reduce stress levels, lose weight and, because of the paddle, tone central muscles in the back, arms, shoulders and chest, as well as

strengthening abdominals.

The benefits don’t end there, however. Gliding over water gives you the chance to get closer to nature while enjoying intimate and secluded sights and sceneries away from city noises and urban congestion. Kayaking also offers an opportunity to get to know the island from another perspective.

Ranging from reefs, keys, mangroves, lakes, and rivers to bioluminescent bays, Puerto Rico offers great places to kayak. Regardless of whether you are a water sports enthusiast or merely an admirer of the island’s natural beauty, here are a few ideas on where to go. But before requesting the services of a tour operator, make sure that you have the corresponding liability policies and endorsements from the Tourism Company and the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources as well as making sure that the staff chosen is qualified and well-trained.

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Caño Tiburones Natural Reserve, Arecibo It is one of the largest wetlands in Puerto Rico, stretching some seven thousand acres. Its ecological value consists of purifying runoff waters and then gradually discharging them to the sea. It also serves as the main habitat for a wide variety of bird species, insects, reptiles, crustaceans, fish, and native, endemic, migratory, rare or endangered animals. Giant Kayak (787-384-2218) is one of the companies that offer services in this area with a view to the statue “Birth of the New World” -also known as the Christopher Columbus’ statue -, located on Road 681 in the Islote neighborhood.

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Caño Tiburones Natural Reserve in Arecibo is one of the largest wetlands in Puerto Rico. >Archive

Condado Lagoon and Jaime Benítez Park, San Juan This spot is a perfect place for eco-friendly water sports in San Juan. Enjoy spectacular views of Condado and Ashford Avenue set against a breathtaking sunrise or sunset. At this park, you can rent kayaking equipment, practice paddleboarding, surfing or snorkeling. The options don’t end there, however. Aside from water sports, visitors to the park can take a yoga class, sit down and enjoy the view or partake in any of the tours that depart from there.

Tanamá River, Utuado Enjoy a one of a kind speleological adventure in Cave Portillo, navigating through a thousandfoot-long tunnel. Hidden in the central region of the island, hikers can listen to nature’s heartbeat and savor lush trails and breathtaking views of Utuado’s limestone landscape. You can only reach this place paddling a kayak. Batey Adventure has packages (787-331-0888) that include approximately 3.5 hours of exploring through the natural river and forest treks that connect you with the setting where Taínos, Puerto Rican indians, lived. It also includes a walk along the river through pebbles and natural pools surrounded by majestic limestone walls that form the canyon, which lead to Cueva del Arco, where you can conclude your journey with a bath under a waterfall. To secure a spot, small groups should make their reservations with a minimum of three days in advance and five days for groups of 10 participants or more.

The beach in Condado extends several miles east of Old San Juan. It is a haven for water sport enthusiasts and sun worshippers. >iStock

La Parguera, Lajas An important natural reserve on the southwestern part of the island. This seaside fishing village is an ideal place for diving, swimming, bird watching and night kayaking, among other water sports. Its main attraction is the Bioluminescent or Phosphorescent Bay. The glow or lighting is produced by microorganisms known as dinoflagellates. These microorganisms glow briefly, usually in a blue-green color, whenever they move. There are only five bioluminescent bays left in the world and Puerto Rico has three of them: one in La Parguera, Mosquito Bay in Vieques and Laguna Grande in Fajardo. Several companies offer kayak excursions.

Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Ceiba.

The organization “Para la Naturaleza”, (787722-5882), offers several tours that combine mountain biking and kayaking through channels surrounded by mangroves and wildlife in Medio Mundo and Daguao, a protected area that offers an intense coastal adventure. You can still book tours for July 28 and August 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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USVI Bans Sunscreen Products That are Harmful to Coral Reefs Hawaii and Key West have passed similar measures

T Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournal.com

@RosarioWJournal

he government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) has joined the ranks of Hawaii, Key West, Florida and the Pacific island nation of Palau in banning sunscreen products with chemicals that are deemed harmful to coral reefs and other marine life.

On June 25, the USVI Legislature unanimously passed Bill 33-0043 that bans the sale, distribution and import of sunscreen products with the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate.

USVI Gov. Albert Bryan is expected to sign the bill, which will be implemented in three stages starting Dec. 31, when importing these sunscreens will be prohibited. On March 30, 2020, the sale or distribution of these sunscreen products will be banned while, after Jan. 1, 2021, transporting them into the USVI or possessing them will be banned.

First time violators face a fine of $1,000.

University of Central Florida (UCF) Associate Professor of Biology John E. Fauth was part of the international team whose 2015 study on why coral reefs were declining on St. Johns, one of the islands in the USVI, spurred the bans. According to the university, “Their experiments demonstrated that oxybenzone caused corals to bleach, which is a major cause of coral mortality worldwide.

Oxybenzone also damaged coral DNA and deformed coral larvae.”

“It’s good to see our research making an impact to safeguard our natural resources under water,” Fauth said. “Not only will coral reefs have an opportunity to recover, but this also makes sense because so many places rely on natural resources as part of their economy. More than 2 million [people] visit the U.S. Virgin Islands each year and frequent the famous reefs. This is a good step toward protecting the natural treasure and the islands’ economic livelihood,” he added.

“The Virgin Islands is a popular tourism destination because of its beautiful countryside and warm and friendly people,” said fellow scientist Craig Downs, who also worked on the study. “Unfortunately, it also susceptible to the impacts of overtourism and unmanaged tourism, which has been shown around the world to be a devastating threat to coral reefs, as well as

to the tourism industry that depends on them. of the U.S. National Park Service, also supported Sunscreen pollution, and especially the chemicals the measure and pointed out that only mineral of oxybenzone, octocrylene and octinoxate, can sunscreen products with zinc oxide and titanium poison coral reefs so dioxide can be used by that a next generation visitors and residents of corals and fish can alike. They also never be established, recommend that when ultimately giving rise to people are out in the ruined seascape,” he sun, they seek shade pointed out. and wear protective Environmentalists clothing such as hats, in the USVI lauded the long-sleeve rash ban. “Oxybenzone, guards and dive skins octinoxate and when in the water. octocrylene devastate The movement to coral and marine life ban certain sunscreen and are also known products seems to carcinogenic and be gaining traction hormone disruptors in nationwide, as a bill humans,” said Harith has also been filed Wickrema, president in Congress to that John E. Fauth, UCF of Island Green Living effect. U.S. Rep. Francis associate professor of Biology Association, in a Rooney (R-FL) filed H.R. statement. “In addition 1834 in March that to environmental would prohibit the use and human harm, tourism-based economies of sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate in will experience financial devastation if coral and a National Marine Sanctuary in which coral is present. marine life die off. The ripple effect would be huge The bill, which was referred to the House Committee and we need to take action now.” on Natural Resources, does not provide details on The Virgin Islands National Park, which is a part how such a ban would be implemented.

It’s good to see our research making an impact to safeguard our natural resources under water. Not only will coral reefs have an opportunity to recover, but this also makes sense because so many places rely on natural resources as part of their economy. -

Scuba diving is a popular sport in the USVI. >Courtesy USVI Tourism Department

29 < The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, July 24 , 2019 >

Be on trend... be on trend...

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www.elvocero.com/revistas/zona

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EnCaminARTE Dozens of Puerto Rican artists grace the streets of Old San Juan with their works in the second edition of this “walk-through gallery.”

When: Sunday, July 28, 11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Where: 201 Calle Tanca, Old San Juan

The Jukebox Beatles! Abbey Road: The ConcerT In commemoration of Abbey Road’s 50th anniversary, Puerto Rican group The Jukebox Beatles will interpret this classic album by one of the most influential artists of all time. To purchase tickets, visit www.tcpr.com.

When: Saturday, July 27, 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Where: Centro de Bellas Artes Ada Mage Zayas, Juana Díaz

Farewell Summer BBQ Bid farewell to summer with live DJ entertainment, a pool pass and one free beer in this poolside bash.

For more information, visit the event’s Facebook page or www.fangig.com.

When: Thursday, July 25, 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Where: San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino, 1309 Ashford Ave., San Juan

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Rincones Pocos Conocidos del Viejo San Juan: Ruta I Straight Up Jazz!

The Richard Peña Trio delights with their jazz.

When: Tuesday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Where: Don Rey Cigar, 1348 Roberts St., San Juan

The Puerto Rico Historic Building Drawings Society invites you to explore lesser-known destinations in Old San Juan. To save a seat or for more information, call (787) 671-8492.

When: Thursday, July 25, 3:00 p.m. until 4:45 p.m.

Where: The meeting point is at the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. in Old San Juan’s Paseo de La Princesa

Noche de Arte y Gastronomía Mojito Happy Hour, artisans and live art performances await you! For more information, call (787) 420-4116.

When: Thursday, July 25, 7:00 p.m.

Where: OjaViva Bar & Tapas, 60 Celis Aguilera St., Caguas

LGBTT Tropical and Summer Canvas Beach Night

Taller: Escribir para Sanar

The Puerto Rico LGBTT Community Center hosts a get-together! Free tickets are available on the event’s Facebook page.

Editorial Zayas hosts a dynamic and interactive workshop on how to cope with loss and hardship through the power of writing. For more information visit the event’s Facebook page.

When: Friday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. until 11:30 p.m.

Where: Ely’s Place Sports Bar and Grill (Kiosk #10), Kioscos de Luquillo, Luquillo

Come paint with your kids at this family friendly activity! There will be games, music and food for the whole family. $20 fee per family. For more information, call (787) 2255997 or write to embelequeando.juntos27@ gmail.com.

When: Friday, July 26, 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Where: Café D’Luna, 1966 Loíza St., San Juan

When: Saturday, July 27, 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Where: Ponce Lions Club, Carr. 14, Bo. Cerrillo, Ponce

Tropicaleo Summer Party Sip on cocktails and jam to tropical vibes with Puerto Rican artists Pirulo y la Tribu. RSVP and table reservations are available at events@ laconcharesort.com.

When: Saturday, July 27, 9:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m.

Where: La Concha Resort, 1077 Ashford Ave., San Juan