SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico's Governor Jenniffer González Colón made a strong commitment on Thursday to address the island's deteriorating electric grid and boost the economy during her first major address since being elected last year. This comes amid escalating public dissatisfaction due to continuous power outages and rising living costs.
González Colón, who represents the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, delivered a nearly two-hour speech where she highlighted her achievements since assuming office in January and announced significant multimillion-dollar investments aimed at enhancing the island's health, education, and public safety sectors.
“Without a doubt, the road has been difficult and full of lessons that we must ensure we don’t repeat,” González Colón stated, emphasizing the challenges her administration has faced. She unveiled budget proposals that include funding for hiring 800 new police officers, $12 million dedicated to recruiting new firefighters, and $24 million allocated for resident doctors, amidst an ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland.
More than 60% of the forthcoming general fund budget, amounting to approximately $8 billion, is earmarked for health, education, and public safety. However, this budget has yet to be approved, leading to skepticism from some political figures regarding its sufficiency given the current workforce shortages in various sectors, particularly law enforcement.
Maria de Lourdes Santiago, the vice president of Puerto Rico's Independence Party, voiced concerns following the governor's remarks, arguing that the numbers presented are inadequate in light of the pressing need for additional government personnel, especially police officers.
As a supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, González Colón criticized federal bureaucracy during her address, emphasizing her administration's commitment to unlocking $18 billion in federal funds intended to rehabilitate Puerto Rico's power grid, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.
She also reiterated her promise to terminate the government's contract with Luma Energy, the private firm responsible for managing the transmission and distribution of electricity on the island. “The termination of this contract will be a reality,” she affirmed, prompting applause from her supporters in attendance.
González Colón stressed the importance of a reliable power supply as a crucial factor for attracting investment and promised future announcements regarding the expansion of five industries within Puerto Rico. Her lengthy address and the sometimes rapid pace of her delivery caught many by surprise, leading some to interpret it as an attempt to divert attention away from criticisms concerning her administration's perceived inaction and the lack of progress in passing new laws.
Political analyst Jorge Schmidt Nieto suggested that the speech served to project an optimistic tone in light of the growing discontent towards her administration. Additionally, Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico's representative in Congress and president of the opposition Popular Democratic Party, criticized González Colón's leadership, describing the early phase of her administration as one marked by “disorder.”
Hernández pointed out that in the last five months, González has nominated three candidates for Puerto Rico's secretary of state and has introduced two candidates each for the justice and labor departments, none of whom have yet been confirmed by her party, indicating a gridlock in filling critical governmental positions.
