In her first year as governor of Puerto Rico, the governor pledged on Thursday to repair the island’s crumbling energy grid and boost the economy as tensions mount over persistent power outages and rising living costs. Gov. Jenniferfer Gonzalez Colon, a member of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, spoke for nearly two hours as she outlined her achievements since taking office in January and announced multimillion-dollar opportunities to enhance Puerto Rico’s wellbeing, education, and public health. Without a doubt, the journey has been hard and full of lessons that we must learn to avoid repeating, she said. As health experts continue to relocate to the U.S. island, leaving Puerto Rico with few or no professionals in some places, Gonzalezalez Colon said the upcoming funds includes funds to hire 800 new officers officers,$ 12 million to get new firefighters, and$ 24 million to get resident doctors. She noted that heath, education, and public health make up more than 60 % of the future standard fund resources, or approximately$ 8 billion. The funds has not yet been approved. After the president’s address, Maria de Lourdes Santiago, vice chairman of Puerto Rico’s Independence Party, claimed that the figures released are insufficient given the need for thousands of some government workers, including police officers. During her speech, Gonzalezalez Colon, a supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, criticized federal government, noting that her administration may continue to push for the release of$ 18 billion in federal money set aside to repair Puerto Rico’s electricity grid, which Hurricane Maria destroyed in September 2017 as a Category 4 wind. She also pledged to renounce her commitment to the president’s agreement to end its relationship with Puerto Rico’s Luma Energy, a private organization that regulates the transmission and distribution of strength. As followers gathered and applauded, she said,” The cancellation of this deal will be a reality.” According to Gonzalezalez Colon, having dependable power is necessary to get purchase because she promised to keep attracting more production to Puerto Rico. She stated that she would reveal the island’s five-year industry development in the coming months. Some people were surprised by how long and quickly she delivered her target. Jorge Schmidt Nieto, a political scientist and professor at a school, said it appeared to be a plot to dissuade those who have criticized her administration for her actions and the government’s recent failure to pass some rules. She made an effort to convey optimism because she is aware of the high level of criticism she has received, Schmidt Nieto said. Pablo Jose Hernandez, Puerto Rico’s agent in the US Congress and leader of the opposition Popular Democratic Party, was another critic who criticized Gonzalez.” If one word describes the beginning of this state, that word is disorder,” he said. He noted that Gonzalez has submitted three applicants for Puerto Rico’s secretary of state, two prospects for its justice ministry, and two candidates for its work office in the past five months. Because Gonzalez’s party has not yet approved her nominees, none of those positions have been filled.
