• Daily Illinois
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Sitemap
  • Write For Us
Friday, March 31, 2023
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
  • Covid-19
  • News
    • All
    • Business
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • World
    Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

    50+ Ulysses S. Grant Quotes: Inspirational Words from a Great Leader

    George Washington Quotes

    45+ George Washington Quotes about his Life, and Impact on American History

    The Benefits of Studying Electronics and Computer Engineering

    Harry S. Truman

    40+ Harry S. Truman Quotes for Personal and Professional Growth

    John F. Kennedy Quotes

    55+ John F. Kennedy Quotes that Inspire Leadership, Courage and Hope

    Theodore Roosevelt Quotes

    75+ Theodore Roosevelt Quotes That Will Inspire You To Take Action

    Thomas Jefferson Quotes

    40+ Exploring the Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson Quotes

    Donald Trump Quotes

    40+ Donald Trump Quotes That Define His Legacy

    Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes

    40+ Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes to Inspire and Motivate You

    Abraham Lincoln Quotes

    60+ Abraham Lincoln Quotes That Will Inspire You

  • Science & Tech
    • All
    • Ai - Artificial Intelligence
    • Apps
    • Mobile
    The Top Python Development Skills for Developers in 2023

    The Top Python Development Skills for Developers in 2023?

    How to Delete a Friend on Snapchat

    How to Delete a Friend on Snapchat: A Step-by-Step Guide

    The Future of Information Technology Programs and the IT Industry

    The Future of Information Technology Programs and the IT Industry

    Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    5 Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    Make Clip on Twitch

    How to Make Clip on Twitch?

    Find Someone Information Using Phone Number

    Ways to Find Someone Information Using Phone Number

    What is the Structure of a Mobile App

    What is the Structure of a Mobile App?

    Limit the Damage in an Emergency

    Logging strategy: Limit the Damage in an Emergency

    Dev Ops Future And Free Platform To Learn

    Dev Ops Future And Free Platform To Learn

    Does discord notify you when you leave a group chat?

    Does discord notify you when you leave a group chat?

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    Best Online Games with Voice Chat

    6 Best Online Games with Voice Chat

    Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    5 Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    Make Clip on Twitch

    How to Make Clip on Twitch?

    The 12 Best Horror PC Games

    Best Horror PC Games: the scariest titles to play right now

    See a show on Broadway

    Ideas For Your Bucket List In 2023

    CBD DISPOSABLE VAPE PEN 1000MG

    CBD DISPOSABLE VAPE PEN 1000MG

    What Are The Benefits Of Using HWID Spoofer For Valorant

    What Are The Benefits Of Using HWID Spoofer For Valorant?

    Game studios are shelving play-to-earn games

    Game studios are shelving play-to-earn games

    Battle Infinity

    4,400% return! This coin could still increase its price a hundredfold

    Christine Settingsgaard sits in her yard on Wednesday, Sept 14, 2022, in Barrington. Settingsgaard was lured into sophisticated financial scam this summer via a man she met on Hinge, and “lost everything.”

    The case of the vanishing deposit – Chicago Tribune

    • F95zone
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    How Can You find True Calling

    How Can You find True Calling? These Tips Help You

    Mindfulness and motorhome vacation

    Mindfulness and Motorhome Vacation

    Can I wear a white shirt with grey dress pants?

    Can You Wear a White Shirt with Grey Pants?

    Cargo Pants Outfit

    How Can I Look Stylish with Cargo Pants Outfit

    New Trendy Bodysuit Outfit Ideas 2023

    New Trendy Bodysuit Outfit Ideas 2023

    How Do You Style A Simple Top

    How Do You Style Your Simple Tops?

    Great Ocean Road

    6 Things you can Experience along the Great Ocean Road

    So You Want to Be a Chef Here’s What You Need to Know

    So You Want to Be a Chef? Here’s What You Need to Know

    waterdrop reverse osmosis water filter

    Your Comprehensive Guide To The Tankless Reverse Osmosis System

    Best vegan gift ideas for every budget

    Best vegan gift ideas for every budget

33 °f
Chicago
35 ° Sat
35 ° Sun
35 ° Mon
37 ° Tue
No Result
View All Result
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
  • Covid-19
  • News
    • All
    • Business
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • World
    Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

    50+ Ulysses S. Grant Quotes: Inspirational Words from a Great Leader

    George Washington Quotes

    45+ George Washington Quotes about his Life, and Impact on American History

    The Benefits of Studying Electronics and Computer Engineering

    Harry S. Truman

    40+ Harry S. Truman Quotes for Personal and Professional Growth

    John F. Kennedy Quotes

    55+ John F. Kennedy Quotes that Inspire Leadership, Courage and Hope

    Theodore Roosevelt Quotes

    75+ Theodore Roosevelt Quotes That Will Inspire You To Take Action

    Thomas Jefferson Quotes

    40+ Exploring the Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson Quotes

    Donald Trump Quotes

    40+ Donald Trump Quotes That Define His Legacy

    Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes

    40+ Lyndon B. Johnson Quotes to Inspire and Motivate You

    Abraham Lincoln Quotes

    60+ Abraham Lincoln Quotes That Will Inspire You

  • Science & Tech
    • All
    • Ai - Artificial Intelligence
    • Apps
    • Mobile
    The Top Python Development Skills for Developers in 2023

    The Top Python Development Skills for Developers in 2023?

    How to Delete a Friend on Snapchat

    How to Delete a Friend on Snapchat: A Step-by-Step Guide

    The Future of Information Technology Programs and the IT Industry

    The Future of Information Technology Programs and the IT Industry

    Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    5 Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    Make Clip on Twitch

    How to Make Clip on Twitch?

    Find Someone Information Using Phone Number

    Ways to Find Someone Information Using Phone Number

    What is the Structure of a Mobile App

    What is the Structure of a Mobile App?

    Limit the Damage in an Emergency

    Logging strategy: Limit the Damage in an Emergency

    Dev Ops Future And Free Platform To Learn

    Dev Ops Future And Free Platform To Learn

    Does discord notify you when you leave a group chat?

    Does discord notify you when you leave a group chat?

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    Best Online Games with Voice Chat

    6 Best Online Games with Voice Chat

    Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    5 Best Apps for Android Music Downloads

    Make Clip on Twitch

    How to Make Clip on Twitch?

    The 12 Best Horror PC Games

    Best Horror PC Games: the scariest titles to play right now

    See a show on Broadway

    Ideas For Your Bucket List In 2023

    CBD DISPOSABLE VAPE PEN 1000MG

    CBD DISPOSABLE VAPE PEN 1000MG

    What Are The Benefits Of Using HWID Spoofer For Valorant

    What Are The Benefits Of Using HWID Spoofer For Valorant?

    Game studios are shelving play-to-earn games

    Game studios are shelving play-to-earn games

    Battle Infinity

    4,400% return! This coin could still increase its price a hundredfold

    Christine Settingsgaard sits in her yard on Wednesday, Sept 14, 2022, in Barrington. Settingsgaard was lured into sophisticated financial scam this summer via a man she met on Hinge, and “lost everything.”

    The case of the vanishing deposit – Chicago Tribune

    • F95zone
  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    How Can You find True Calling

    How Can You find True Calling? These Tips Help You

    Mindfulness and motorhome vacation

    Mindfulness and Motorhome Vacation

    Can I wear a white shirt with grey dress pants?

    Can You Wear a White Shirt with Grey Pants?

    Cargo Pants Outfit

    How Can I Look Stylish with Cargo Pants Outfit

    New Trendy Bodysuit Outfit Ideas 2023

    New Trendy Bodysuit Outfit Ideas 2023

    How Do You Style A Simple Top

    How Do You Style Your Simple Tops?

    Great Ocean Road

    6 Things you can Experience along the Great Ocean Road

    So You Want to Be a Chef Here’s What You Need to Know

    So You Want to Be a Chef? Here’s What You Need to Know

    waterdrop reverse osmosis water filter

    Your Comprehensive Guide To The Tankless Reverse Osmosis System

    Best vegan gift ideas for every budget

    Best vegan gift ideas for every budget

33 °f
Chicago
35 ° Sat
35 ° Sun
35 ° Mon
37 ° Tue
No Result
View All Result
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Puerto Rico: A Bad Bunny rant, an ex-governor in handcuffs, and a US territory on the brink

by Staff Writer
December 5, 2022
in News
Reading Time: 8 mins read
0
A man stands on a balcony in San Juan after a major power outage on April 6, 2022.
492
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

 

“We have a government over us that messes up our lives,” the 28-year-old artist told the crowd, echoing the frustrations of many Puerto Ricans.

Related posts

Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

50+ Ulysses S. Grant Quotes: Inspirational Words from a Great Leader

March 24, 2023
George Washington Quotes

45+ George Washington Quotes about his Life, and Impact on American History

March 24, 2023

“The country belongs to us and we are the ones in control,” he said at the sold-out July 28 concert, where he performed “El Apagón,” or “The Blackout” — an ode to the US territory’s familiar power outages. His message sent the packed arena into a frenzy.

“The government has turned its back on the people,” said Francisco Amundaray Diaz, 33, a tourist guide in San Juan, the capital of the US commonwealth. “Puerto Rico is a failed state. Our leaders are totally alienated from the real needs of the people.”

‘We live in constant crisis’

FBI agents arrested Vázquez August 4 at her home in the latest in a string of unrelated state and federal corruption cases against government officials, mayors, contractors and businesspeople across the island.

In May, the mayors of two Puerto Rican towns were arrested on federal conspiracy charges for allegedly soliciting bribes and extortion, according to the US Justice Department. Two months later, in July, the former mayor of another town was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which cash was exchanged for municipal contracts, the DOJ said.

“We live in constant crisis — whether it’s the electricity or the economy — and the people in our government continue to enrich themselves at our expense,” said Wendelys Ruiz Torres, 33, a home care attendant who lives with regular power outages and voltage reductions at home in the rural western town of Las Marías.

In Las Marías, nestled on the Cordillera Central mountain range, the slightest rainfall leads to blackouts, some lasting weeks, according to Ruiz. Other times the low voltage has ruined a TV, a microwave and a six-month-old laptop her son had bought with his savings. Occasionally, the house goes dark when the dryer starts. Her refrigerator makes strange sounds.

“Before outages,” Ruiz said, “the bulbs flicker like Christmas lights. On and off. And then, blackness.”

Feds: Bribery scheme rose to ‘highest levels’

Former governor of Puerto Rico Wanda Vázquez leaves court in San Juan after her arrest on bribery charges August 4, 2022.The arrest of Vázquez, 62, who was sworn in as the island’s top elected official in August 2019 after disgraced former governor Ricardo Rosselló stepped down following massive protests, represented a new low for a US territory with a long history of graft and corruption.

A onetime justice secretary and prosecutor whose job included combating corruption, Vázquez is the first former governor to face federal charges.

“I am innocent and a great injustice has been committed against me, ” Vázquez told reporters after her release last week. “I have committed no crime, no irregularity.”

From December 2019 through June 2020, the former governor allegedly conspired in a scheme to finance her gubernatorial campaign, according to the DOJ.

Former Puerto Rico governor Wanda Vázquez charged with bribery, US Justice Department says

Vázquez allegedly received more than $300,000 from two businessmen to finance political consultants during her campaign, according to Stephen Muldrow, US Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.

Vázquez and others are charged with conspiracy, federal programs bribery and honest services wire fraud. The ex-governor, who is named in three of seven counts in an indictment, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

“The alleged bribery scheme rose to the highest levels of the Puerto Rican government, threatening public trust in our electoral processes and institutions of governance,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. said in a statement.

The bribes were allegedly paid in exchange for Vázquez making an appointment to the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions that benefited businessmen involved in the scheme, Muldrow said.

The indictment alleged the owner of an international bank and his consultant — a former FBI agent — agreed to provide funding for Vázquez’s campaign. In exchange, she would replace the island’s top bank regulator with one of their choosing. At the time, the bank was the “subject of an examination” by the regulatory agency, federal prosecutors say.

A onetime political consultant for Vázquez and the president of an international bank have pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme, according to the DOJ.

Electric company shares ‘frustration’

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, who was elected in November 2020 after defeating Vázquez in a primary election, said his administration has “zero tolerance for corruption.”

“No one is above the law in Puerto Rico,” Pierluisi, a member of the same pro-statehood party as Vázquez, said in Spanish via Twitter. Island politics are dominated by two political parties — one favors the current commonwealth status, the other statehood.

When asked days after the concert about Bad Bunny’s criticism of his government, Pierluisi lauded what he said were his administration’s successes during the pandemic, in fighting crime and improvements to education and infrastructure, according to local media reports. He did not elaborate.

Bad Bunny performed "El Apagón," or "The Blackout," among other songs, at his July 28 concert in San Juan.

Pierluisi also said his government “will continue to monitor” LUMA Energy, the private Canadian-American consortium that began operating the island’s power transmission and distribution system in June 2021.

Manuel Laboy, executive director of the island’s Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resilience, said Maria’s path of destruction was unprecedented and that hundreds of reconstruction projects have already been funded for roads, bridges, hospitals and parks — along with dozens since April to replace electrical poles and street lights, substations and transmission facilities.

“I understand that frustration,” he said Friday, referring to complaints about frequent blackouts. “It’s painful. It does affect lives. It does affect the quality of life. It does affect our capability to achieve economic growth and economic development… But we’re making progress and headed in the right direction.”

Power has been restored to much of Puerto Rico following an island-wide outage

For its part, LUMA Energy has maintained that it inherited a troubled electrical system decimated by decades of mismanagement and corruption, bankruptcy and, most recently, the force of Hurricane Maria.

After Bad Bunny’s concert rant, LUMA issued a statement saying it shared the frustration “all our customers have with the reliability of Puerto Rico’s electric system which has suffered from years – if not decades – of neglect and mismanagement.

“The 3,000 men and women of LUMA are working hard every single day to repair, rebuild and transform the electric grid for our 1.5 million customers,” the statement said.

“All Puerto Ricans, including Bad Bunny, deserve a world-class energy system and LUMA is working every day to build a brighter future.”

Mario Hurtado, LUMA’s chief regulatory affairs officer, said Friday that power outages are down 30% — according to data presented to regulators — since the company took over operations of the electrical system a little over a year ago.

“We’re just getting going,” he said. “We’re aware that customers deserve better service… We have a lot more to do.”

Puerto Rico’s ‘crisis generation’

A couple walks on a dark street in San Juan after the April 6 blackout.

The latest political scandal comes at a time when many younger Puerto Ricans have only known a life of hardship. Years of economic recession and a ballooning debt crisis have resulted in shuttered schools, cuts in government services, layoffs and university tuition hikes.

In 2016, the US Congress created a board to oversee the island’s finances. Recent tax incentives meant to bring outside money to the cash-strapped island have led to protests against an unwelcomed surge in gentrification.

In July 2019, the embattled Rosselló, 40, stepped down after weeks of protests over a series of scandals that included the disclosure of crude, sexist and homophobic chat messages between the governor and members of his inner circle.

But the eventual downfall of his administration may have been set in motion by Hurricane Maria, which made landfall on the island on September 20, 2017, less than nine months after Rosselló took office. The Category 4 storm decimated the antiquated power grid, leaving more than a million people without electricity or running water for what would become months.

Puerto Rico Fast Facts

Problems with the distribution of food, water and other vital supplies were widespread. And it took the Rosselló administration nearly a year to admit the storm killed several thousand people — not the dozens that had been the official line.

Bad Bunny and other young Puerto Rican artists attended the July 2019 protests. He also helped write the song “Afilando los Cuchillos,” or “Sharpening the Knives,” which became an anthem for the movement. The song gave voice to the historic moment, touching on homophobia, government mismanagement and neglect, and homes left roofless by hurricanes.

At the July 28 concert in San Juan, Bad Bunny told the audience the island is “the only place” he performs where he needs to “install like 15 industrial electrical generators because I can’t trust Puerto Rico’s electrical grid.”

Mayra Velez Serrano, a professor of political science at the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, said Bad Bunny’s message resonates with “a lot of young people, the crisis generation” — which has only known despair and uncertainty.

“A generation that feels they don’t have a future on this island. They keep moving away. They’re highly educated. They can’t find decent jobs. And what they see is their politicians just not doing their job and stealing money and engaging in corrupt acts.”

Now, in the midst of new political turbulence, Puerto Rico’s slow recovery and renewal continues, as Hurricane Maria’s fifth anniversary gets closer.

“The economic and social circumstances on the island are so precarious that people who may feel the need to take to the streets will not, because they’re overwhelmed with their responsibilities, working two or three jobs to pay rent as the cost of living keeps rising,” said Amundaray, the tour guide in San Juan.

“But the energy of the people is increasing.”

‘The frustration is there’

Many Puerto Ricans were not surprised by Vázquez’s downfall.

“Year after year, it is the same thing,” Ruiz, the home care attendant, said of government corruption and mismanagement.

“We believed there would be change when they brought down a governor and look at what she’s accused of doing. Wow,” she said, referring to Rosselló and Vázquez.

In 2018, Vázquez came under fire for allegedly intervening on behalf of her daughter in a case stemming from a home theft. She faced charges of violating government ethics laws. But a judge later ruled there was insufficient evidence to arrest her.

Puerto Rico crews scramble to restore power after island-wide outage

Vázquez’s ties to Rosselló brought scrutiny during her brief tenure as governor under the ruling pro-statehood New Progressive Party. Critics accused her of failing to open investigations against members of her own party, particularly Rosselló and his administration’s handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

In January 2020, Puerto Ricans poured onto the streets of San Juan calling for her resignation after Maria relief supplies were found in a warehouse in the city of Ponce, more than two years after the storm.

Later that year, Puerto Rican officials confirmed Vázquez was being investigated for suspicion of mishandling resources meant to mitigate earthquake damage on the island.

“The frustration is there,” said Carlos Suárez, who teaches at the University of Florida’s Center for Latin American Studies and was in Puerto Rico last weekend for the funeral of his grandmother. “The question is what will be the spark needed to turn this moment to political mobilization where people take to the streets.”

Source by www.cnn.com

Related

Share197Tweet123Share49
Previous Post

4 Business Leaders On Knowing When It’s Time To Change Direction

Next Post

Avril Lavigne Creates A Clothing Collection + More Fashion News

Next Post
Avril Lavigne in Killstar

Avril Lavigne Creates A Clothing Collection + More Fashion News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Latest News - Daily illinois

Buying or Renting Heating Systems for Homes

Buying or Renting Heating Systems for Homes or Offices

March 28, 2023
The Top Python Development Skills for Developers in 2023

The Top Python Development Skills for Developers in 2023?

March 28, 2023
How to Delete a Friend on Snapchat

How to Delete a Friend on Snapchat: A Step-by-Step Guide

March 24, 2023
Ulysses S. Grant Quotes

50+ Ulysses S. Grant Quotes: Inspirational Words from a Great Leader

March 24, 2023
George Washington Quotes

45+ George Washington Quotes about his Life, and Impact on American History

March 24, 2023
The Advantages of Physical Therapy for Back Pain

The Advantages of Physical Therapy for Back Pain

March 17, 2023

The Benefits of Studying Electronics and Computer Engineering

March 16, 2023
cancer causing ingredients in cosmetics

Carcinogens in Makeup

March 15, 2023
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine

Copyright © 2020 Dailyillinois.com.

Navigate Site

  • Daily Illinois
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Sitemap
  • Write For Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us Page
  • Contact
  • Daily illinois
  • DMCA Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit, Guest Post, Write For Us and Become a Contributor
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2020 Dailyillinois.com.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.