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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Federal Gov’t OKs RR Group…SEMA: More Than $2.6m Disbursed To Families… EPA Does Not Rule Out Fines For Ondeo… Audit Reveals Irregularities In SJ…Governor Grants Christmas Bonus To Union Workers…2 Fill Executive Positions At Odecabe…7 More Towns Designated Disaster Areas, Over 1,800 Request FEMA Aid... Tiody De Jesus Ratified As Local Republican Party President
Federal Government Okays Local Roosevelt Roads Group November 25, 2003 11/25/03SAN JUAN (AP) — The U.S. Department of Defense endorsed Gov. Sila Calderon’s decision to appoint the Economic Development Department as the local agency in charge of negotiating the future of U.S. Naval Station Roosevelt Roads. Economic Development Secretary Milton Segarra made the announcement on Tuesday, one day after the group’s first meeting with representatives of the Defense department and the U.S. Navy. "We discussed the working plan and agreed that by summer 2004 the final version of the redevelopment plan for Roosevelt Roads would be ready," Segarra said in a press release. The working group representing the local government is called the Local Redevelopment Authority; the group has announced public hearings would be held prior to the presentation of the final plan. During Monday’s meeting, the government presented consulting firm CB Richard Ellis’ preliminary report for the development of the base. U.S. President George W. Bush already signed the law that calls for the closing of the base effective in early 2004. Segarra noted that the key to the base’s development is community participation, therefore he will maintain close communication with the residents of Ceiba. Meanwhile, the issue of cleanup of the base was also discussed. "The U.S. Navy is the entity responsible for the cleanup of the land, and during our first meeting representatives of the Navy acknowledged this," Segarra said. During the meeting, sub-committees were also formed in categories including health, education, planning, housing, economical development, infrastructure and environment. The Local Redevelopment Authority is comprised of Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo Vila; Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Secretary Luis E. Rodriguez; Planning Board President Angel David Rodriguez; Tourism Company Director Jose M. Suarez; Ports Authority Executive Director Miguel Soto Lacourt; Ceiba Mayor Gerardo Cruz; Ceiba business representative Ruben Melendez; and community base spokesman Ramon Carrera Romero. Segarra said the group will visit the base for the first time by mid-December and visit previously closed military bases abroad by [the end of] January.
SEMA: More Than $2.6 Million Already Disbursed To Affected Families By Melissa B. Gonzalez Valentin of WOW News November 25, 2003 State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Chief Rafael Guzman announced on Tuesday that to date more than $2.6 million has been disbursed from the emergency fund to aid more than 4,200 families who were affected by the heavy rain of the past few weeks. Guzman said the money--which was made available by Gov. Sila Calderon through an executive order-- has been distributed in amounts of $500, $700, and $1,000 according to the needs of each family. "Right now there are $7 million whose use has been authorized. Should that amount need to be increased, then it will be," Guzman said during a press conference at La Fortaleza to announce the latest developments of the relief efforts. He also said that $500,000 of that money has been disbursed for the purchase of household appliances for those who lost their belongings. However, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) presidential coordinator Justo Hernandez, who was also at the press conference, said federal inspectors are still assessing the damage and will continue to do so for some two months more before they can give an estimate of how many Puerto Rican families will benefit from the federal aid and how these funds will be disbursed. Hernandez said as of Tuesday morning, FEMA had received around 3,600 claims, which is double the amount of claims that had been received on Monday morning. Last Friday, U.S. President George W. Bush declared 16 island municipalities as disaster areas. These municipalities are Salinas, Guayama, Maunabo, Rio Grande, Santa Isabel, Guanica, Juana Diaz, Patillas, Yauco, Arroyo, Canóvanas, Fajardo, Loiza, Naguabo, Toa Baja, and Yabucoa. Hernandez said there are 286 FEMA inspectors working on the island. He urged people to dial 1-800-621-FEMA with any questions they might have regarding eligibility for federal aid. "Call us. Let our inspectors decide what aid you can apply for, regardless of whether you have received our help in the past," said Hernandez, who added that FEMA can also pay rent for 18 months for families who need to relocate from flood areas. He said the agency even helps pay funeral costs for those who may have perished due to the heavy rain. "What we are trying to do is to humanize the system," he said. On another note, Guzman said the island's agriculture sector has reported $30.3 million in damages, and that by Dec. 15 the government expects to have identified and certified the farmers elegible for emergency aid. He also said that the Department of Transportation & Public Works has estimated damage to the island’s highway infrastructure at $8 million.
EPA Does Not Rule Out Fines For Ondeo November 25, 2003 SAN JUAN (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) soon may assess fines against Ondeo for its poor operation and maintenance of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (Prasa). EPA Director for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Axel Soderberg said the agency has detected problems in treatment plants for used water; several units currently are out of order due to mechanical problems. "As the conflict between Prasa and Ondeo continues, we have noticed a deterioration in plant maintenance. The deterioration is evident. This is [grounds for] possible fines," Soderberg said. He added that the EPA will demand corrective measures be taken to "protect the environment and the [public] health," but did not reveal the dollar amount of any potential fines. A reaction from Ondeo officials was not immediately available.
Audit Reveals Irregularities In San Juan November 25, 2003 SAN JUAN (AP) — A federal Justice Department audit of the municipality of San Juan has found irregularities in the handling of $7.2 million from the Community Oriented Policing Service Grant, also known as COPS. The audit determined that the questionable use of the funds prevented the municipality from hiring 782 new police officers. The audit fails however, to reveal when the funds were misused. San Juan Security Commissioner Adalberto Mercado argued that the irregularities were not committed under Mayor Jorge Santini administration but under the three previous administrations. Mercado added that the current administration is complying with the law. He noted that San Juan is negotiating an agreement with COPS by which the municipality would be exempt from returning the funds. The audit also indicated that the municipal police did not keep records of receiving the funds and their subsequent use. In addition, the police incorrectly paid salaries and marginal benefits.
Governor Grants Christmas Bonus To Union Workers By Melissa B. Gonzalez Valentin of WOW News November 24, 2003 After days of intense demands and picketing by union leaders who were not going to receive an increase in their Christmas bonus, Gov. Sila Calderon ordered the Legislature on Monday to allocate the funds and amend the law to grant the $1,000 bonus to public workers belonging to unions. In a press release, Calderon acknowledged there is a discrepancy between the law and the collective bargaining agreements of several unions. Therefore, she ordered the Legislature to allocate the funds and amend the law. Earlier on Monday however Education Chief Cesar Rey reiterated that union workers were not eligible for the bonus and said he trusts that the good judgment of government employees will deter any possibility of a strike. "I trust that there won’t be any stoppage. I should reiterate that Law 45 stipulates that it is illegal, but I prefer to stay within the scenario of compromise that exists, mostly for the students, and I don’t see why that should change at this moment," Rey said during a last- minute press conference on Monday. Rey made his statements in reaction to picketing that took place in front of the department’s headquarters in Hato Rey to demand that the bonus increase be the same for all government employees regardless of contracts negotiated with the unions. The Education chief said that the bottom line is that Calderon’s administration has complied with its promise to increase the bonus to $1,000 by the end of her four-year term, the only difference is that union employees will have to wait until December 2004, as was agreed in their contract. He also reminded public workers that the bill approved to grant the $1,000 Christmas bonus one year ahead of time clearly stipulates that it will only be applicable to government employees who are not affiliated with a union. Furthermore, Rey denied ever ordering that Christmas bonus checks of $1,000 be printed although he didn’t rule out the possibility that someone at an administrative level may have made that mistake. Rey was referring to the allegations of PASO President Sandra Correa, who on Monday said that the printout was halted shortly before Gov. Sila Calderon announced that the $1,000 bonus would apply only to non-union employees. Jorge De Jesus, payroll official at the Education Department and a delegate of the Professional, Administrative, and Office employees of the Education Department (PASO by its Spanish acronym) said he believes the impasse response to Calderon’s alleged attempt to invalidate the union movement in Puerto Rico. Rey he said the increase from $750 to $875 for union employees at the department would cost $9.3 million; increasing the bonus to $1,000 for all employees would cost $17.7 million, a figure that Rey said is impossible to bear at the moment. Nevertheless, New Progressive Party (NPP) Senate Minority Leader Kenneth McClintock had said the government should be able to cover the difference with the alleged budget surplus that has resulted from the government increase in excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and sport utility vehicles.
Two Puerto Ricans To Fill In Executive Positions At Odecabe November 24, 2003 SAN JUAN (AP) — In the next few weeks, insurance specialist Jose Julian Alvarez and dentist Enrique Amy will be appointed to two executive positions within the Caribbean and Central American Sports Organization, known as Odecabe by its Spanish acronym. Odecabe president Hector Francisco Cardona, said Alvarez, currently secretary general of the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee, will be the new chancellor of the regional organization. "Jose Julian is a leader who has my complete trust," said Cardona, who also chairs the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee. Cardona said that Amy, a former president of the Puerto Rico Sports Medicine Federation, will chair Odecabe’s medical committee. Cardona is the third Puerto Rican to preside over Odecabe. The others were the late Julio Enrique Monagas and German Rieckehoff Sampayo.
Bush Declares Seven More Municipalities Disaster Areas By WOW Staff and Wire Resorts November 24, 2003 President George W. Bush declared seven other municipalities disaster areas, completing the list of towns for which Gov. Sila Calderon had requested the special aid for the losses due to heavy rains since November 10. Calderon’s Press Secretary Nilka Estrada issued a press release after 6 p.m. Monday which revealed Bush’s decision. The seven municipalities added to disaster area list are Arroyo, Canovanas, Fajardo, Loiza, Naguabo, Toa Baja and Yabucoa. On Friday, Bush declared as disaster areas the municipalities of Guanica, Guayama, Juana Diaz, Maunabo, Patillas, Rio Grande, Salinas, Santa Isabel, and Yauco. Meanwhile as of Monday the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had received more than 1,800 petitions for help from people who suffered losses due to the rain. Maria Davila, press official of FEMA on the island, said that as of 8 a.m. Monday, there were 1,811 people who had requested to participate in some of the agency’s aid programs. Davila said an undetermined number of FEMA inspectors are already in the municipalities street reviewing the reported damages. Meanwhile, agency coordinator Justo Hernandez said requests may be made by dialing 1-800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
More Than 1,800 People Request Aid From FEMA November 24, 2003 SAN JUAN (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has received more than 1,800 petitions for help from people who suffered losses due to the heavy rain in the nine municipalities that U.S. President George W. Bush has already declared disaster areas. Maria Davila, press official of FEMA on the island, said that as of 8 a.m. Monday, there were 1,811 people who had requested to participate in some of the agency’s aid programs. Davila said an undetermined number of FEMA inspectors are already in the municipalities street reviewing the reported damages. Meanwhile, agency coordinator Justo Hernandez said requests may be made by dialing 1-800-621-3362 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. On Friday, Bush declared as disaster areas the municipalities of Guanica, Guayama, Juana Diaz, Maunabo, Patillas, Rio Grande, Salinas, Santa Isabel, and Yauco.
Tiody De Jesus Ratified As Local Republican Party President November 23, 2003 SAN JUAN (AP) - The local committee of the Republican Party ratified on Sunday Tiody De Jesus, widow of former Gov. Luis A. Ferre, as the new president of that party on the island. Immediately, De Jesus said she doesn't intend to fill in the shoes of her late husband, who also presided the party, but that she would fight for the same pro-statehood ideals that the former governor fought. "I promised [Ferre] that I would continue working for his ideal and I won't stop; I will work," De Jesus said during an assembly held at the Pedrin Zorrilla Coliseum in Hato Rey. A week ago, Rene Vazquez Botet, who was campaign director of former Gov. Pedro Rossello, withdrew his aspirations for the post after seeing De Jesus' determination to become party president in Puerto Rico. That way, the widow of the New Progressive Party founder became the only candidate to the post.
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