The Weekly Journal - Wednesday, October 7-13, 2020

Wednesday, October 7-13, 2020 - // no. 076

Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

www.theweeklyjournal.com

B2B Funding Reaches Major Milestone P6 Cruiselines Hoping for a Life Preserver P7 Kevane Grant Thornton: Why Cash is King P9

Agribusiness Women Join Forces to Boost Puerto Rico’s Economy Agroempresarias de Puerto Rico shares education, resources to empower women in farming

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>Courtesy

Giovanna Garofalo

JLo: The Busy Diva P14

ggarofalo@wjournal.com

@giopgarofalo

uerto Rico’s economic devastation exacerbated by Hurricane Maria in 2017, combined with subsequent natural disasters and the current COVID-19 pandemic, have magnified the need to reinvigorate the island’s farming economy, which is why a group of women has joined forces to overcome economic stagnancy while aiming to reduce Puerto Rico’s dependency on imported produce.

Genoveva Lozada, president of Agroempresarias and co-owner of Agricultora Rivera in Las Piedras, told THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that one of the organization’s missions is to provide all the educational tools to women farmers so that they can form their own businesses, as well as to continuously support their entrepreneurial endeavors. Since its inception, Agroempresarias has helped raise the contribution of agribusiness women to the island’s farming sector by 3 percent.

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a week in review Puerto Rico Extends Current Executive Order on COVID-19 Measures

>Carlos Rivera Giusti

Puerto Rico’s government extended measures to fight COVID-19 for two more weeks, meaning that restaurants, gyms and theaters across the island will keep operating at limited capacity.

The extension also means bars and clubs will stay closed. In addition, a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will remain in place until Oct. 16, and face masks continue to be mandatory, according to the latest Executive Order.

Education Department Overpaid $84.2 Million in Payroll Since 2007

Savings and Credit Co-Ops Report Growth Amid the Pandemic

From 2007 to the present, the Puerto Rico Department of Education paid $84.2 million in incorrect compensation to over 17,000 people, of which 15,000 are former employees, reported the Financial Oversight and Management Board. Last year alone, Education paid $9.7 million to people who no longer worked at the agency, either because they retired, had quit or passed away. So far this year, payroll overpay is at $3.1 million.

Six months after the coronavirus pandemic began, Puerto Rico’s savings and credit cooperative system celebrated a 9.5 percent growth in its assets, attracted more than 10,000 new members and maintained its nearly 3,000 employees, said the Association of Cooperative Executives.

The co-op system received an additional $850 million in deposits between March and June, increasing its assets to roughly $9.8 billion.

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Many of them work in their husbands’ shadows and we are trying to get them on par, shoulder to shoulder…

— Genoveva Lozada, president of Agroempresarias de Puerto Rico

“In these three years, since we began, agribusiness women contributed 10 percent of Puerto Rico’s farming sector, and now we have increased to 13 percent. In Agroempresarias, we have 86 women who are certified as agroentrepreneurs in Puerto Rico. The Department of Agriculture has 869 women listed as farmers, but we want to provide them with education so they can take different courses that will set forth their development as agribusiness women,” she said.

According to the World Bank collection of development indicators, agriculture contributed only 0.78 percent of Puerto Rico’s gross domestic product in 2018. Agroempresarias intends to increase that percentage while empowering women, introducing them to a variety of resources and grants offered at state and federal levels, as

“Ají dulce” marmalade, produced by Hidropónicos Cesar y Lourdes, co-owned by Lourdes Pérez Ruiz >Courtesy

Queso de Cabra Lucía, goat cheese produced by Hacienda Renacer by Maria Teresa Juan-Urrutia >Courtesy

well as other nonprofits dedicated to helping this sector.

Moreover, the entity recognizes that Puerto Rico needs to have enough farming products grown locally to avoid food shortages if a mass-scale natural disaster were to destroy the island’s port facilities, thereby restricting residents’ access to imported foods.

Agroempresarias de Puerto Rico is a nonprofit entity attached to the P.R. Department of Agriculture, whose goal is to organize all women farmers and agro-entrepreneurs to train them, provide them with business and technical support through education, while also strengthening their economic independence and increasing the agricultural production of Puerto Rico. The organization was founded through Act No. 58 of 2017, by the Agriculture Department, to create the Women Farmers Program. During that time, the department held a meeting with roughly 50 agribusiness women from different corners of the island, whereby each detailed their experience and proposals, and a board of directors was selected among themselves.

How does a woman grow from farming to starting her own agribusiness, your correspondent asked. “It’s very simple. She must have an idea — what she wants to produce and what she wants to develop. Once she has that idea, she goes to www. agroempresariaspr.com. There, she will find all the information she needs to join our organization.

Once she’s there, she will pay for an annual fee, which gives her access to all the education she

/ Wednesday, October 7, 2020

needs, and then we help her develop her idea. We Overcoming COVID-19 give her the materials she needs, we introduce her According to Sánchez, the most pronounced to this world, and we will give shape to her idea difficulty some of the agribusiness women have for her to become an agribusiness owner,” Lozada faced amid the pandemic has been acquiring explained. quotations for the equipment The organization also lists its they need. “That is where they members with their respective have had a bit of a hard time farms, the types of products they because in order to obtain a grow and contact information to federal grant, they almost always shed a spotlight so that visitors require three quotes and that has The women in can learn about the variety of to be tied to our requests,” she Agroempresarias — products grown locally. The said. whose professional women in Agroempresarias — Meanwhile, some of them, backgrounds whose professional backgrounds such as their treasurer, also include include engineering, law, employ elderly individuals, but engineering, education, economics and more because they are at higher risk law, education, — grow and produce a variety of suffering complications from economics and of fruits, greens, dairy products, COVID-19, these employees more — grow and meat and more. cannot work for the time being. produce a variety When browsing the website, Despite these adversities, of fruits, greens, visitors can spot items as the women at Agroempresarias dairy products, commonplace in the Puerto have found creative ways to meat and more.

Rican diet as “recao” (culantro), keep participating in agricultural “ñame,” lettuce, plantains and markets. For example, Sánchez root vegetables, as well as exotic indicated that there has been an items like goat cheese, “panapén” “explosion” of farmer’s boxes, (breadfruit) flour, marmalade of “ají dulce,” cane in which they sell boxes with their products and juice and more. deliver them to their customers, or hand them “We are well aware that we have in our hands over via drive-thru services at a set location. everything we need to carry out agricultural Furthermore, they also feature products from developments to bring Puerto Rico’s agriculture to the level it deserves. And with all the situations that we have lived after Hurricane Maria, that concern has been created, that great need to promote agriculture in our country because we need it,” Lozada affirmed.

In fact,

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fellow members to promote one another’s businesses.

Another initiative in the works is a collaboration with the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. (PRTC) to support women who own agritourism farms.

“We are developing an initiative with the [PRTC] to do virtual tours of their farms. That way, you can be relaxed at your home, you are charged an economic amount via the Zoom platform, and you can see everything that is produced in that farm.

You can even learn as a consumer where that farm is located and that will catch your eye, so you may someday visit the farm personally after COVID,” Sánchez said.

Lastly, Sánchez stated that Agroempresarias is presently holding meetings with an undisclosed shopping center for the latter to feature a booth that includes products by the organization’s members. The measure would be akin to the “La Placita” venue at Plaza Las Américas shopping mall, but all the products would be grown and produced by women.

“Every day, more and more women are joining Agroempresarias de Puerto Rico. Many of them work in their husbands’ shadows and we are trying to get them on par, shoulder to shoulder… We have to fight so that the curtain that is covering them comes down and they can be on par with men, to make themselves known,” Lozada stated.

Women Supporting Women

One of the peculiarities of Agroempresarias is that although some of its members grow the same kinds of products, they all foster a sense of solidarity and help each other thrive. For instance, Nancy Sánchez, executive director of the organization, said that a fellow member allowed some space in her farm for Sánchez to use for beekeeping. “I think that the most important thing in all this is that whenever they see something beneficial, they share that information among themselves,” Sánchez said.

“There is great motivation because these women communicate by WhatsApp — because we can’t meet face-to-face due to the pandemic — but it is very interesting to see that if one of these women needs help with something, she immediately writes and not even five and 10 minutes pass and that’s it, one of us helps her. We help each other, we motivate each other. So, as these virtual talks are being given to them, they participate in everything.

These women are preparing themselves very well to face whatever situation they have in their agricultural developments,” Lozada added.

In addition, the women of Agroempresarias also hold workshops and seminars for young women to guide them on how they can eventually become entrepreneurs. Beyond women, the organization also educates children and minors with seminars and tours, giving them insider knowledge to promote interest in agriculture early in their lives.

The women of Agroempresarias sell a variety of products. Pictured is breadfruit flour by Amasar, owned by Marisol Villalobos Rivera. >Courtesy

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B2B Funding Reaches $30 Million Milestone

Helps business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic

B Rosario Fajardo

rfajardo@wjournalpr.com

@RosarioWJournal

2B Funding has reached an important milestone in its history.

The company has provided $30 million in direct loans to 1,000 local businesses since its founding in 2016.

Many of these small and mid-size businesses are restaurants, retail establishments, bakeries, cafeterias, small corner shops called “colmados,” independent pharmacies and distributors, among others — basically, essential businesses in many town and through their financing alternatives. They provided neighborhoods. additional money to existing clients and also offered “B2B Funding continues to support local the option to qualify for moratoriums and payment merchants who were directly affected by the modifications. “Our commitment goes beyond Covid-19 pandemic, so that they can continue granting a loan. We have to adjust to their needs operating their businesses successfully,” said and give them the necessary assistance so that they Rolando Romero, the company’s general manager.

He indicated that B2B Funding’s financing programs continue to operate,” he added.

B2B Funding is currently the only direct lender on are particularly important since federal aid the island, knows the Puerto Rican programs, such as the Paycheck market and directly understands Protection Program have ended. the needs of merchants, Romero COVID-19 has greatly impacted said, explaining that as a direct the island’s economy, in particular lender, there are no intermediary small and mid-size businesses. banks, which allows better terms The partial and total closures While COVID and direct business relationships. of businesses due to various cases are still high “We managed to impact the executive orders have led many in Puerto Rico, economy of Puerto Rico during merchants to rethink whether the private sector the most critical moment in they should keep their businesses continues to oppose history.

Like local merchants, our operating, according to Romero. more business goal is to continue adjusting to “This is the dilemma that restrictions, saying it this reality, to continue educating hundreds of businesses face on would be “disastrous” merchants on how to use our cash a daily basis. We are committed for local companies. advance product and to begin to helping merchants that helping Latino merchants in the were operating and needed to United States,” he said. counteract the decline in sales, To qualify for the company’s “accessible” retain their employees and cover fixed expenses financing options, the minimum criteria are as of their businesses,” he said. “Customers also leave follows: the applicant should be a business owner; their homes less and spend less. Already in the months of August and September, there has been a the business should be incorporated for at least four months; and the business should at least greater movement of the economy, but it is still not $10,000 a year in revenues. close to normal.”

While COVID cases are still high in Puerto Rico, According to Romero, they have been able to the private sector continues to oppose more help hundreds of merchants in recent months

In fact,

business restrictions, saying it would be “disastrous” for local companies.

The Coalition of Chambers of Commerce in Puerto Rico, which represents more than 1,100 companies and 80,000 employees, said: “If a total closure occurs again, it would be disastrous for companies, since many are reeling [while trying] to survive and maintain their operations amid the pandemic and the earthquakes that affected the south. It is time to focus on prevention and advise on compliance with COVID-19 plans.”

Juan Carlos Agosto, president of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, agreed. “We must not limit commerce again. The private sector has to return to normality in terms of its operations without lowering its guard in terms of safety measures. The opposite would keep our economy on the precipice, affecting our businesses and the quality of life of residents,” he said.

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Old San Juan’s cruiseship pier before COVID-19 >Archive

Congress Throws a Life Preserver to the Cruise Industry

Rick Scott, that aims to work on a plan to reopen the cruise industry while ensuring the safety of the passengers and employees.

The House bill would establish a Maritime Task Force with representatives from various federal agencies to address the health, safety, security and logistical needs to plan for the continuation of Rosario Fajardo rfajardo@wjournalpr.com @RosarioWJournal maritime travel to resume the cruise operations in the United States during the current COVID-19 public health emergency. he tourism and hospitality “The ongoing health emergency has showcased industries are among the hardest the vulnerabilities we face in coastal jurisdictions hit by the coronavirus epidemic. such as Puerto Rico where the first case of As a subsector, the cruise COVID-19 came from a passenger industry has on a cruiseline. Yet, this industry been severely is an important economic engine hit, as well as for our districts. Last year, the destinations that depend on Puerto Rico’s ports received cruise visitors. In fact, cruiselines 1.78 million passengers, a 7.3 Last year, have furloughed thousands of percent increase in 2019 with an Puerto Rico’s workers. Many industry analysts economic impact of $214,550,800. ports received predict that the cruise industry This bill works to ensure that 1.78 million cruise will take many months, or even when cruiselines start operations passengers, a 7.3 years, to fully recover. again, that they do so safely and percent increase Puerto Rico, and in particular reliably to protect passengers, compared with Old San Juan, is among the crew, staff at the ports of call, 2018, with an top cruise destinations in and our constituents to stop the economic impact of the Caribbean. Before the future spread of diseases and more than $214.55 coronavirus crisis, Puerto Rico pandemics,” said González. million. was receiving between 1.5 million H.R. 8471 is co-sponsored by and 1.8 million cruise passengers Representatives Donna Shalala a year, according to government (FL), Don Young (AK), Randy statistics.

Weber (TX), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL) and John To help the ailing cruise sector, Resident Rutherford (FL).

Commissioner Jenniffer González has introduced “Tourism is a pillar of our South Florida the U.S. House version of S. 4592, the Set Sail Safely Act, led by Florida Senators Marco Rubio and economy. Unfortunately, this industry has been

U.S. cruises vow 100 percent testing in plan to resume sailing

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In fact,

devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to help ports and cruise lines develop strong safety standards so they can resume operations while properly mitigating risk,” Shalala said.

Safety, safety, safety

Major cruise lines say they will test all passengers and crew for COVID-19 prior to boarding as part of their plan for resuming sailing in the Americas.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), a trade group that represents 95% of global oceangoing cruise capacity, said its members will also require passengers and crew to wear masks while onboard whenever physical distancing can’t be maintained.

No date has been set for the resumption of cruising in the Americas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a no-sail order for U.S. waters through Oct. 31. The association’s safety plan will now go to the CDC for consideration.

The safety plan requires testing of passengers and crew, but doesn’t specify the types of coronavirus tests that companies must use, CLIA Chairman Adam Goldstein said. It also doesn’t make clear that test results must be known before the ship sails.

The plan permits limited shore excursions and requires passengers to wear masks and stay apart from other people during those excursions.

Passengers who don’t comply won’t be allowed to reboard.

The plan also requires ships to increase the amount of fresh air in their ventilation systems and use advanced filtration methods where feasible.

—The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Importance of Cash Management During Turbulent Times

Cash is king

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Kevane Grant Thornton

s COVID-19 continues to spread worldwide, there is growing uncertainty pertaining to cash flows and economic activity. In these uncertain times, cash and liquidity needs are paramount.

Consequently, decisions taken when budgeting or overseeing tasks related to cash flows can determine the organization’s future trajectory.

Due to the importance of cash levels through turbulent periods, organizations should develop a strategy revolving around cash management as a key business risk and strategize moving forward. The approach that leadership takes has implications for the business, employees, suppliers and customers.

The following are examples of strategies that can be taken during these difficult times.

Cash is king; understand your cash and working capital needs. Throughout usual operating circumstances, organizations focus on increasing their revenues while controlling costs. Now it is more important than ever to redirect efforts on observing the procedures in place to collect receivables and pay suppliers. Shrewd businesses are directing their efforts from the income statement to the balance sheet, focusing on working capital requirements. While increasing or maintaining sales volume is always important, during a pandemic, time is imperative to increase collections and control disbursements. To reduce stress, it is crucial to apply a structured approach to all components of working capital.

One way to reduce disbursements is cost

While increasing or maintaining sales volume is always important, during a pandemic, time is imperative to increase collections and control disbursements. To reduce stress, it is crucial to apply a structured approach to all components of working capital. control. Some common cost decrease measures that your organization can implement include purchasing essentials, implementing hiring

caps, enforcing limitations on discretionary expenditures, reducing travel, and instituting policies that encourage and reward cost savings.

Lengthen the company’s payables due date.

Preserve working capital by comprising payment amount or due date with vendors. Some organizations arbitrarily decide to delay payments and force extensions on their suppliers. We advocate for working with providers to establish an arrangement that allows both organizations to maintain their business operations without harm. The key is to balance between preserving cash by delaying payments and maintaining a strong relationship with vendors until the situation stabilizes.

Make sure credit lines, financing and investment alternatives remain viable. In turbulent times, do not suppose that financing alternatives available pre-pandemic will continue to do so. Run different scenario analyses on your financial and cash forecast and understand how that interacts with short-term liquidity needs. It is very important to maintain open communication with your financing sources and discuss different options to meet obligations.

Managing cash should be a key priority for organizations conducting COVID-19 risk evaluations by developing appropriate strategies according to various scenarios and evaluate inherent risks inside the organization and equally as important, to providers and customers.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents novel challenges for all types of businesses.

Organizations that focus on cash flow and liquidity now, will have a better chance to survive this pandemic.

Contact details Marta RodrĂ­guez, CPA, CVA, CGMA Senior Manager | Advisory T 787 754 1915 Ext. 128 E marta.rodriguez@pr.gt.com

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Smart Island:

Infrastructure Solutions

Through the Internet of Things electric poles, the IoT system can notify it so that the maintenance and repair crew know exactly which areas are in need.

New tech promises to optimize resources and improve natural disaster response

T Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

Variety of Other Applications

@giopgarofalo

hroughout the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced people to remain home, and amid the post-Hurricane Maria concerns over infrastructure, one company is intent on providing smart technological solutions that could revolutionize and transform Puerto Rico into a smart island capable of optimizing its resource management.

Everynet, a leading Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) tech pioneer and network operator, announced that it completed the rollout of a new secure data network designed to enhance Puerto Rico’s infrastructure modernization initiatives. Its Chief Customer Officer (CCO), Tom Nelson, explained that the IoT (Internet of Things) technology is a low-data, encrypted system that, through sensors, emits signals to prompt action based on its detections.

“Think about the ability to have different kinds of assets that are connected; an asset could be like a vending machine that when it realizes it’s low on candy bars or low on products, it sends a signal up to the cloud and says ‘I need to be stocked, and by the way, I need to be stocked with these certain products,’ and then someone can come back and fill it,” he explained to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL. In terms of infrastructure, this tool promises to be a game-changer for areas such as water and electricity, which are not only essential services. but also critical as more people have increased their daily use of these resources due to remote work and learning, among others.

In the case of water, for instance, the sensors could detect leakage in the water pipes and alert the main system so that the situation can be addressed promptly and reduce interrupted

The IoT sensors can be used for a variety of sources and industries, such as water, electricity and agriculture. >Courtesy

services. By allowing a swift response, the water infrastructure would thus avoid losses as well.

“It’s a technology that allows you to detect leaks within the infrastructure, the pipeline if you will, where the leak is so those can be remedied.

And also the water meter side — especially in today’s time with the pandemic — rather than putting employees in harm’s way going out and reading meters, they would be able to do that with technology reading the information. And so, it becomes efficient, it becomes safe but probably most importantly, it is saving a valuable resource like water,” Nelson said.

Similar uses can be applied for electricity, in which strategically located IoT sensors can detect if a tree or random object falls or tilts on top of a power line. If there’s a major storm like Hurricane Maria or any sort of natural disaster that affects

Moreover, the network can be applied to businesses. “Think about when the power goes out on the island. One of the most important things is to continue that power source. Many enterprises will have generators that would keep the power on if the power goes off, and you can also put sensors and monitors in those generators to make sure that they’re there, they’re available and they can provide valuable backup resources.”

Beyond infrastructure and private uses, the IoT’s sensor mechanisms can be used for energy conservation, which would potentially reduce the expenses of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa), optimize the latter’s resources and help fight climate change. As an example, Nelson said that the IoT can be used in pole lights on streets and roads that would trigger lighting when it senses movement, rather than having a preset schedule that would have the lights turned on even when they’re not needed.

As for other smart solutions, the IoT may be applied in a variety of ways, such as to detect soil pH levels for farmers, reducing traffic jams by triggering traffic lights in accordance to volume rather than a regular schedule, assisting law enforcement in providing sensing information, helping ensure social distancing amid the pandemic and supply management, among others.

According to Nelson, Everynet has already made this technology available for most of Puerto Rico.

“It covers the entire island; 95 percent of the population.

“What we have built in Puerto Rico is this very robust network for the LPWAN, but the applications on top of the network can be provided by anyone; what we call an open-host, openneutral network. So, anyone on the island — developers or integrators, or solutions providers — can put their own applications on top, so it’s an open network available for Puerto Rico for developers that develop applications,” Nelson affirmed.

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SESA-PR, SunCast Media to Host Solar Energy Convention

Virtual event features industry leaders and solutions to achieve 100 percent renewable energy

T Giovanna Garofalo

ggarofalo@wjournalpr.com

PJ Wilson discusses the role of solar energy and renewable resources in ensuring Puerto Rico’s resiliency.

@giopgarofalo

he Puerto Rico Solar Energy and Storage Association (SESA-PR) and Suncast Media will host the 2020 Suncast Puerto Rico solar energy convention from Oct. 12-14, in which attendees can participate in a variety of activities to gain industry knowledge and boost their networking.

PJ Wilson, founder and president of SESA, explained to THE WEEKLY JOURNAL that the upcoming event will feature a series of conferences and workshops, as well as 20 companies that have so far signed up for booths.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this edition of Suncast Puerto Rico will be held virtually in what Wilson described as an “inperson online format” instead of the convention originally scheduled for last June at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. That is, rather than holding conferences through meeting platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, both of which have become commonplace during the worldwide pandemic, attendees will enjoy an immersive 3D experience that replicates the experience of physically visiting a venue.

“You download the program in your computer and it’s more like a game. It’s more like a video game, where you have an avatar, you can dress your avatar however you want, and you use your keyboard, the mouse and your headset, and you can talk to people. But even better than an inperson conference is that … everyone’s name is displayed above their heads,” Wilson said.

Some of the topics to be discussed throughout the event are Puerto Rico’s challenges in achieving 100 percent renewable energy, resiliency for those hardest hit by Hurricane Maria, Department of Housing funds for solar energy and storage, how to rebuild resiliently, incentives for utilities, Caribbean trends, storage trends, COVID-19’s impact on the renewable energy industry, microgrids, industry projections, climate wealth and the congressional perspective. In addition, attendees can access NABCEP-certified workshops

in Spanish and English on solar energy design and installation, offered by John Marlon Acevedo Ríos (Spanish) and Kyle Bolger (English), industry leaders from Solar Energy International.

Featured speakers include Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González; Jaime López Díaz, deputy executive director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Prepa); Kelly SpeaksBackman, CEO of the Energy Storage Association; John Berger, founder and CEO of Sunnova; Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, former governor and resident commissioner; and Lillian Mateo, associate commissioner of the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau.

“For anybody in the industry, this is the event of the year … The only thing that would help make this event more magical is for more people to know about it. It’s good for people who work in the solar industry or for people who are really passionate about the subject,” Wilson said.

Renewable Energy Key to Resilience

Wilson underscored the importance of transitioning to renewable energy, as established in the Puerto Rico Energy Public Policy Act of 2019, which states that Prepa must obtain 40 percent of its electricity from renewable resources by 2025, 60 percent by 2040, and 100 percent by 2050. According to the founder of SESA-PR, only 4 percent of Puerto Rico’s energy comes from renewable resources at the moment. “We can get there, but it is going to take it being a top priority

for everyone that works in energy on the island,” he said.

One of Wilson’s proposals is to enact a policy in which a portion of federal recovery funds for energy infrastructure is used to supply solar panels and storage systems to the population, particularly those who are more vulnerable to suffering greater repercussions from natural disasters. He argued that fixing the island’s outdated power infrastructure would take years, whereas this initiative would offer a fast solution to interrupted services as critical infrastructure projects ensue.

Specifically, he asserted that offering a swift alternative would save lives in the event of another large-scale natural disaster, such as Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the seismic activities that devastated Puerto Rico’s southwestern region earlier this year, before the pandemic hit. He also observed that some deaths in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane were caused by the lack of power that prevented people from getting medical attention. “The number one way to save lives is to use solar panels and batteries … that’s not what we’re hearing government agencies say,” he opined.

Wilson said that each conference costs $30, but for $275, attendees can have access to all the features. Those interested can get a preview of the experience in virtual demos until Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit https:// suncastpr.com/.

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Carol Kohn

Founder and President of 10-8 InService

A Healthy Generation for Healthier Business

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et’s talk about the heart of any business and the most important element of success, human resources.

Corporate success depends primarily on its personnel and their mental aptitude to perform. Many corporations include a comprehensive list of programs that are aimed at bettering the employee, from gym memberships to yoga and mental health services.

These programs are aimed at creating the right environment so the employee can feel good and ultimately perform at his/her best. While all of these programs are good, they are not enough.

10 Did you know that by eliminating external stressors such as bullying or other forms of bullying, you can increase your employee’s productivity?

The fact is that millions of employees

that were victims of bullying in school continue to carry their insecurities throughout their adulthood and some of them could be your employees.

What if I tell you that according to a 2017 study by the Workplace Bullying Institute, it was revealed that an estimated 60.3 million Americans have experienced workplace bullying?

Have you ever considered investing in growing a healthy generation that could safeguard a healthier business in the future? Current statistics by UNESCO revealed that 1 out of 4 children are victims of bullying in school. It’s not difficult to foresee the future of your business and how the consequences of bullying could directly affect your business due to the emotional unbalance of your employees, caused by stress, depression, anxiety and many other disorders that developed during their childhood and carried on through their

3 Tips toto Protect Strategy Reposition Puerto Rico as Your Company in 4 a Regional Times of CrisisEconomic Power

Gustavo Vélez,

By Gustavo Vélez

Founder of Inteligencia Económica Economist

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adulthood.

Employee performance is directly linked to their mental health. As a parent that lived firsthand the horrible consequences of bullying, I am aware of how devastating bullying is.

I have experienced firsthand the consequences of bullying to the point of losing my child. I lost my 14-yearold son due to suicide. I couldn’t do anything because I didn’t know anything. The truth was hidden from me out of fear. My son Sebastian pretended everything was “cool” and “good,” but it was not. I wish I knew what my son was going through so that I could help him and empower him to overcome the situation. I couldn’t do any of it, simply because I didn’t know what was going on in school.

After this tragedy, I decided to honor my son by turning my anger and sorrow into a positive new beginning.

We created a nonprofit organization

head of the next government side from cycle, the gubernatorial looking to candidate that is the multiple elected on Nov. incentives 3 enacted has the historic by the opportunity to lift local and federal Puerto Rico from economic stagnancy governments, it and bankruptcy. to 2024, is imperative toFrom think2021 outside the the new government will have over $20 box and begin to outline strategies billion to finance the island’s economic that will allow you to keep your reconstruction. company viable and profitable in Likewise, the next governor must these difficult times. collaborate with the Financial Oversight of the ideas strategies andSome Management Boardand (FOMB) to that we are sharing with our complete Puerto Rico’s exit from bankruptcy and lead governance. All in all, the country hopes that we will at last have a visionary administration that is able to guide us to prosperity for

the next decade.

In thisare: context, the government, the clients private sector and the FOMB must work . Evaluate each business, together on implementing an economic taking into account how the strategy that allows us to position company was doing in 2018 ourselves a receiver tourism, and 2019,asand make of projections investments and capital that flows from using different Fall scenarios due the north of the U.S. mainland and to the impact of COVID-19. south.of the continent.

Explore the various Thetechnological state of Floridaplatforms has managed that to position itself as the primary may enable you to keep receiver of these flows and that has operating during the quarantine. been the foundation of its economic Tools like Microsoft Teams and and commercial success. Annually, Zoom let merchants interact with the value of all those northern and their customers. southern flows have an added value of $28.5 trillion. With an asset-focused strategy, Florida today has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $1 trillion, one of the highest in the nation. Its

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By Richard Santana Villanueva Managing Partner Colectivo360, Real Estate and Business Consultant

. Maximize social networks to keep your company in the public eye and explore advertising options. The business’s presence, leadership and brand will be essential during the recovery process. . Use economic indicators to make short and medium-term projections. It is estimated that the economy could face a contraction between 6 percent and 8 percent during 2020. Inteligencia Económica offers Power personal income perMicrosoft capita is $52,000, while Rico’s is $22,000.

BI as Puerto an accessible business Puerto Ricoplatform can look to intelligence forFlorida your and begin using its main assets, such company. as the. weather, natural landscapes, Refinancing of commercial, macroeconomic and monetaryloans stability, personal or mortgage its hotel offerings, andinterest differentrates fiscal using the new incentives attract touriststoand that havetobeen lowered almost investors who may allow become permanent zero. This would you to residents on the costs. island. reduce capital As part of thatastrategy, we propose . Develop new business plan defining an area of geographical for when the island’s situation influence of 1,500 square miles from normalizes. This business Puerto Rico, or 3.5 hours of direct plan must incorporate different flights, to begin promoting ourselves changes that the economy may

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to different markets, such as Central America, Florida, Venezuela, Colombia and the Caribbean. Dubai, one of the that President Trump’s reform United Arab Emirates, didtax something succeeds in bringing jobs to U.S. soil. similar by defining an influential area

In the past couple of years, Puerto Rico has continually demonstrated its resilience, and today the stakes

called 10-8 InService that aims to help instill strong fundamentals to help grow a healthy generation for the future. 10-8 InService is a community nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing a support system for victims of bullying, cyberbullying and families that have lost a loved one due to suicide.

One of our programs is the “Grieving Alliance,” a virtual forum for individuals that have lost a loved one by suicide.

Grieving Alliance offers training, mental health support and a forum for sharing grieving stories with others who are experiencing the same type of grief.

The second is an educational program geared towards students (Elementary, Middle and High School) and community groups with the purpose of raising awareness, developing leadership skills and empowering our students with the right tools to prevent, manage and report bullying and cyberbullying. The program focuses on the importance of avoiding suicidal thoughts and strengthening the student’s mental health. This program offers the participants the opportunity to compete for the Golden Star Award.

As a nonprofit organization, / Wednesday, Aprilwe 8, 2020 are constantly looking for sponsors that believe in growing a healthy generation for healthier business. Visit our website: www.10-8inservice.org or email us at: info@10-8inservice.org. to attract investment and tourism. experience once things level off.

The small state managed to become a Among them, reduction of the regional power with that strategy. population and the market; a The proposed economic plan is reduction in the costs of energy, based on four strategic vectors. The gas isand transportation; and access first to improve competitiveness to financing. using as reference Florida’s experience, For further analysis and advice, including boosting manufacturing you can access Inteligencia and other key industries, such as Económica’s website at http:// agriculture. www.economiapr.com, and browse Second, the economic proposal through a collection of informative seeks for us to gain leverage on the articlesfunds on finance economics. federal that willand arrive to the Look for us on Twitter island as part of the recovery@programs gustavovelezpr, and anduse on part Instagram (CDBG/COVID-19) of those funds for strategic projects, such as as gustavovelez2020. physical and productive infrastructure.

This component includes separating 10 percent of the $20 billion that the island expects to receive to finance key projects and define economic poles or areas of opportunity to which theseThe funds can be allocated through business’s presence, competitive proposals. leadership and brand The third to will becomponent essential is during implement strategic regional the recovery process.projects such as airports, ports, marines, hotels and residential areas in different geographic points within a regional vision that includes municipalities.

Finally, the fourth component proposes increasing the budget for and science, well as reverting promoting andasmarketing Puerto Rico the trend of importing worldwide and in the U.S.food, mainland.

In fact,

choosing instead to promote local production. Let us be clear, this will be an uphill battle for all economies

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/ Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Life is a Jigsaw Puzzle A form of self-meditation and ‘escape’

L

Hallee Patterson

“

ife is like a jigsaw puzzle, you have to see the whole picture, then put it together piece by piece!” — Terry McMillan, American author I am a dissectologist, but I would prefer to refer to myself as a puzzler, jigsaw-ist, or puzzle-ologist. I have been putting together 500 to 700 piece puzzles for years. I find it’s a great way to self-meditate and when friends join me, it is a cozy way to interact.

John Spilbury, a British engraver and mapmaker, is credited with inventing the puzzle concept in 1767. He glued a map to a piece of wood and cut it up into bits. With a challenge to his friends to try to put it back together — thus, a craze was born!

Because the puzzles were cut by hand they were called “dissections” or “dissected puzzles,” hence the term “dissectologist.”

In 1873, the jigsaw, the tool that cut the wood into pieces was designed. The original meaning of the word jigsaw comes from the word jig and its sense of “up and down motion,” which describes the way a jigsaw moves as it cuts.

With COVID, many people have rediscovered the fun — and distraction — of puzzles. Some companies have reported seeing puzzle sales

of more than 300 percent since the coronavirus pandemic started in March.

As a long time dissectologist, here is my Step

by Step guide on how to organize yourself to put together a jigsaw puzzle.

1. As an experienced puzzler, here are a few of my “must have” accessories: A. A puzzle mat. The dimensions of the puzzle will be on the box. Make sure your board is bigger than the puzzle! I purchased a large flat, felt board which is easy to move.

B. Puzzle sorting trays: Most puzzle pieces fall into several shapes and categories: corners, regular, irregular, double wings and double ears.

You can also separate the pieces by colors; words are easy to pick out or any distinguishable designs.

These trays are a handy way to organize your pieces.

C. Good lighting D. A magnifying glass

2. If you are a beginner, I would suggest beginning with a 300-piece puzzle with a lot of color and variation. My best suggestion is to find a puzzle design and texture of the pieces that you will enjoy handling. There is a wide variety of materials: Paperboard, with its different widths of cardboard, is the most common since they are easier and cheaper to mass produce. Wooden pieces are more expense, yet the quality and the shapes are vastly more interesting. Other varieties of puzzle materials include fabric, glass and metal.

3. Set up: Separate the major colors or pattern features into the sorting trays; this is my system, but others prefer lining the pieces face up in cut and color.

4. It’s best to begin with the edges, giving the puzzle the “frame.” Move on to completing the larger shapes and color sections. Always check with the picture on the box, as this will help give you reference on where the pieces should be placed.

5. When you are tired or bored, take a break. A fresh look at it later may help you see things you missed.

7. Finally, when you compete the puzzle, what is your game plan? Do you want to deconstruct it and put back in the box? Or do you want to glue and frame your finished puzzle for display?

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest jigsaw puzzle had 551,232 pieces! It took 1,600 students working together 17 hours to finish it!

And as amazing as it may seem, puzzles are now selling on eBay anywhere from $25 to $4,500 each.

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/ Wednesday, October 7, 2020 >AP photo

Jennifer Lopez poses with her newly designed Coach handbag. >Courtesy

Jennifer Lopez Collaborates with Coach, Designs Luxury Handbag Bronx Diva to team up with Maluma during Latin Music Week

J

I really wanted the Coach x Jennifer Lopez Hutton to feel like me. The colorblock leather and polished hardware details are really my style.

It’s a bag that makes me look pulled together and ready for anything.

The Weekly Journal Staff

Lo is one busy diva.

Coach has introduced the Coach x Jennifer Lopez Hutton bag as part of the global superstar’s first collaboration with the house. Designed with Creative Director Stuart Vevers and inspired by the values of authenticity and inclusivity that Coach and Lopez share, the bag reimagines the house’s modern-day icon with Lopez’s singular approach to style.

Crafted in refined calf leather and genuine snakeskin, the Coach x Jennifer Lopez Hutton bag is finished with a special hangtag and storypatch featuring the star’s signature. Designed by a multihyphenate with multi-hyphenate lives in mind, the timeless, versatile bag is made for living on-the-go.

To launch the collaboration, Coach releases a series of social-first film vignettes and accompanying images that feature Lopez as the producer, the dancer and the recording artist–– spotlighting the multi-hyphenate she is, as well as the versatility of the bag’s design.

“It was really fun to create something unique and special with Jennifer,” said Vevers. “She brings her passion and style to everything she does and her approach to this design felt personal and authentic.”

“Designing my first bag with Coach was a great

- Jennifer Lopez

experience,” said Lopez. “I really wanted the Coach x Jennifer Lopez Hutton to feel like me. The colorblock leather and polished hardware details are really my style. It’s a bag that makes me look pulled together and ready for anything, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

Meanwhile, Billboard announced that the Bronx Diva will join Maluma for a can’t-miss Superstar

Q&A conversation set to take place during the 2020 Billboard Latin Music Week.

As per the Billboard report, “the chart-topping artists will speak about their new music together, their upcoming film, “Marry Me”– which will be packed with new original songs from both Lopez and Maluma – as well as how Latinos are changing the landscape in both Hollywood and the music industry.” The romantic comedy is scheduled to be released in February 2021.

Lopez and Maluma were among the latest superstars announced to speak at Latin Music Week, a three-day immersive experience dedicated to Latin music, culture and entertainment, taking place virtually on its new dates Oct. 20-23.

Other confirmed speakers include Afo Verde, the Black Eyes Peas, Los Tigres del Norte, Carlos Vives and Wisin.

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/ Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Reggaeton Redemption: Bad Bunny, Balvin Top Latin Grammy Nods

Ozuna also gets recognition

N

The Associated Press

EW YORK (AP) — At last year’s Latin Grammy Awards, popular reggaeton and Latin trap musicians such as J Balvin, Bad Bunny and Ozuna were dismissed in the show’s top categories. This year, they

dominate.

Balvin scored a whopping 13 nominations for the 2020 Latin Grammys, including two nominations for album of the year and two for record of the year. The Latin Academy announced that Bad Bunny and Ozuna are behind Balvin with nine and eight nominations, respectively.

Balvin has a chance to win his first album of the year prize — a category with 10 contenders — thanks to his fifth solo album “Colores” and “Oasis,” his collaborative project with Bad Bunny. Other nominees include Bad Bunny’s sophomore release “YHLQMDLG” as well as albums from Ricky Martin, Carlos Vives, Jesse & Joy, Kany García, Natalia Lafourcade, Camilo and Fito Paez.

For record of the year, which also has 10 nominees, contenders include popular hip-hopflavored Latin songs that have dominated the Latin music charts and earned hundreds of millions plays on streaming services, with some even reaching the billion-mark on YouTube, including Karol G and Nicki Minaj’s global hit “Tusa” and “China” by Anuel AA, Daddy Yankee, Karol G, Ozuna, Balvin and Marco Masis. Other nominees include Balvin’s “Rojo” and Bad Bunny’s “Vete.”

“Tusa” is the sole Latin trap nominee in the song of the year category, where 11 tracks are in contention. It’s a departure for Karol G, who didn’t receive a single nomination last year and was part of the group of uber-successful Latin trap and reggaeton artists who were dissed in top categories like album, song, and record of the year.

This year, the Colombian performer who was named the best new artist in 2018 has four nominations, including two shared with Minaj.

Karol G’s fiancé, Puerto Rican rapper-singer Anuel AA, marked a major breakthrough this year as a

Bad Bunny >Brandon Cruz González

first-time nominee. He scored seven nominations, including a bid for best new artist.

“Over the last year, we continued engaging in discussions with our members to improve the awards process and actively encouraged diverse Latin music creators to join and participate,” Latin Academy President and CEO Gabriel Abaroa Jr. said in a statement, calling this year’s nominees “a group that reflects the constant evolution of Latin music.”

As a result of last year’s debacle social media exploded as Latin artists posted images of the Grammy logo with a large red “X″ across it, with words on the image reading in Spanish: “Without reggaeton, there’s no Latin Grammys.” Balvin even skipped the live show and Bad Bunny, who won the best urban music album during the telecast, told the audience: “With all due respect, reggaeton is part of the Latin culture.”

To honor Latin rap and reggaeton performers, the Latin Grammys added new categories this year, including best reggaeton performance and best rap/hip-hop song.

Balvin’s 13 nominations include several categories where he will compete with himself: Outside of album and record of the year, he’s a double nominee in the best urban music album, best urban fusion/performance, and best reggaeton performance categories. Ozuna and Bad Bunny will also compete with themselves in several categories.

Ozuna >Brandon Cruz González

Others who scored multiple nominations include Juanes, Martin, Alejandro Sanz, Camilo, Carlos Vives, Kany García, and Residente, the most decorated winner in the history of Latin Grammys.

Rosalía, who won album of the year last year and became the first solo female performer to win the top honor since Shakira’s triumph in 2006, earned four nominations this year.

Apart from Minaj’s two nominations, other popular American artists who will compete for awards include rapper Travis Scott (best short-form music video for “TKN” with Rosalía); jazz master Chick Corea and his Spanish Heart Band (best Latin jazz/jazz album for “Antidote”); DJ-producer Diplo (best urban song for “Rave de Favela” ); and rapper Tyga (best reggaeton performance for “Loco Contigo” with DJ Snake and Balvin). Justin Bieber’s right-hand songwriter, Jason Boyd aka Poo Bear, earned an album of the year nomination for his work on Jesse & Joy’s “Aire (Versión Día).”

The 21st annual Latin Grammy Awards will air live on Nov. 19 on Univision. The nominees in the 53 categories were selected from more than 18,000 entries. Songs and albums released between June 1, 2019, through May 31, 2020, were eligible for nomination.

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