Puerto Rico’s Economic Crisis: The Impact of PROMESA and Hurricane Maria
By 2016, it became painfully clear that Puerto Rico was facing an insurmountable economic crisis. The island’s government was unable to pay its bills, and amidst this financial turmoil, the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States was put under scrutiny. The 1950 law that established U.S. jurisdiction over nonstate territories turned Puerto Rico into what many viewed as a "possession" of Congress, resulting in the absence of a vote for the island’s elected delegate in crucial federal decisions.
In light of this situation, Congress enacted the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, commonly known as PROMESA, or "promise" in Spanish. This legislation created a fiscal control board appointed by the White House, which gained significant authority over the revenue and expenditure decisions of the island’s government. The shift alarmed many Puerto Ricans as it marked a substantial reduction in the island’s autonomy and self-determination.
The Critique of PROMESA
In a 2018 landmark paper published in the Harvard Law Review, the late federal appeals court judge Juan R. Torruella sharply criticized the legislation, likening it to a "colonial experiment." Torruella argued that the prevailing relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico constituted a grave violation of civil rights. He called for urgent reforms to address the democratic deficits inherent in the current status of Puerto Rico, advocating for a reevaluation of how Congress engages with its citizens in territories like Puerto Rico.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Maria
Just over a year after the implementation of PROMESA, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, casting a long shadow over the recovery landscape. While official reports stated that dozens lost their lives due to the hurricane, the reality was tragically more severe. In the months that followed, a staggering number of deaths were linked to the extended period without power, access to medicine, and clean water. The electric grid, crippled during the hurricane, took nearly 11 months to fully restore, but even after its revival, electrical outages remained a distressing normality.
The Controversy over Electricity Privatization
Amid this chaos, the fiscal control board, often referred to as “la junta,” recommended privatization of the state utility, viewing it as the only viable path toward economic recovery. In 2020, the board approved a controversial contract with Luma Energy—a joint venture comprising the Texas-based Quanta Services and the Canadian company ATCO. Critics raised alarms about the lack of transparency in the contract awarding process, with many arguing that it was plagued by inadequate penalties for poor service, further deepening the distrust among Puerto Ricans.
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A Personal Story: Edgardo’s Health Crisis
Against the backdrop of these societal challenges, personal stories of resilience emerged, depicting the struggles faced by many individuals. Take the case of Suárez Vázquez, a mother whose life seemed to stabilize after the chaos of Hurricane Maria. Her youngest son, Edgardo, showed promise as he studied aviation in Ceiba, where he excelled academically and garnered attention from major airlines like American Airlines and JetBlue.
However, the summer of 2019 took a daunting turn when Edgardo began experiencing abdominal pain. Initially dismissing it, he eventually promised his mother he would seek medical help. Tragically, a call from his godson, a radiologist, delivered heartbreaking news—Edgardo had three tumors entwined in his intestines, a shocking diagnosis that none saw coming.
Conclusion
The intertwined narratives of economic distress caused by PROMESA, the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria, and personal health crises paint a vivid picture of Puerto Rico’s struggles. The urgent need for structural change and the fight for civil rights remain at the forefront as Puerto Ricans navigate through these turbulent times. Each story, like Edgardo’s, highlights both the resilience and the challenges faced by a community rich in culture and spirit, yet burdened by its political and economic realities.
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