Puerto Rico Essay

In recent years, there has been a significant importance when studying the governmental life of Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean, in which there has been a growing problem when it comes to debt, government, the living cost of the communities, and impoverishment. On September 8, 2015, I attended an event hosted by Teresita Levy, whom is part of the graduate committee of CLACLS (center for Latin American, Caribbean & Latino Studies. This event, “Puerto Rico is not Greece: U.S Colonialism, Debt, And Migration”, largely addressed the debt issue in Puerto Rico, and a little of the history and myths that goes behind it. The three main scholars’ speakers were, Ismael Garcia, whom specializes in the Puerto Rican’s experience in labor in the U.S, Harry Rivera, whom is a Hunter professor and an expert in the History of PR, and Dr Cordero, has an PhD in sociology and it’s a professor. These experts spoke about how the debt in Puerto Rico is over $73 billion, affecting the workers and the poor, ‘forcing them to immigrate in mass to the U.S.’ The economy has

affected the low percentage of employment, the government saying ‘it’s an unpayable debt,’ the responses as of why PR has debt, and what can be done.
Garcia said that there is a “12-15% unemployment rate” affecting the low income families, whom are “desperate for revenue in public services”. He said that having ‘PR as a German Colony is a less of a hassle.” My reaction to this was not surprising, because the rate of unemployment in our Caribbean islands has been an increasing problem over decades. At first, I did not know who Garcia Padilla was, but he is the current governor of Puerto Rico whom cannot pay the debt, and he ‘rejected tax increases unveiling a plan of economic changes.’ This made me think about the United States, and how there’s only that 1-10% who have enough money to be taxed on; while the majority are unemployed. Of course, in Puerto Rico there are a few who have good steady jobs, while others migrate to the U.S for better living conditions. Basically, Garcia spoke about the debt problem, and how it affects employment. I witness Garcia’s familiarity of tone to such topic, due to the fact that it is something we are battling with ourselves in our communities, and perceiving it harsher on one of our territories, it’s not as surprising as it seems.
In addition, Rivera’s central concerned was how closely economy affected and did not affect individuals. According to his research, “poverty in Puerto Rico increased 45%, while Puerto Rican’s in the U.S only 15%” in 2015. This data proves Garcia’s facts, about Puerto Rican’s migrating to find jobs. As a result, the population in Puerto Rico ‘decreased about 5%’ in the last 10 years, and some are blaming the U.S. Going to a quick history of Puerto Rico, in the 1900’s the island’s economic model attracted mainland buyers and there was an 11% increase of jobs. As of now, only 1/3 of the debt can be paid, which is not even close! Rivera went to Puerto Rico, and he stopped at a local bar, Churrizo, and asked the owner “how the economy affects his bar?”, and the owner said, “He has never really paid attention to the economy; he doesn’t see how it could affect him yet.” This response made me angry, because as a business owner, who employees people, you should care about what’s affecting the community.
However, Cordero elaborated his critique in using statistics to put at rest the myths about Puerto Rico’s causes of the debt.

According to the Kruger Report, it says that the debt is increasing because “Puerto Rico is a low skilled place, welfare is too generous, minimum wage should be lowered, and there is a low level of education.” Well, I love how Cordero spoke against these myths with statistics, to PROVE that this is WRONG. First, the education level: more than 44.7% (Image 1) hold a Bachelor’s Degree. This was a shock to me, because it seems higher, than the degrees earned in the United States. The “lazy”: the high unemployment is affecting those looking for jobs.

He met this fisher man and his family that work

Over 12 hours a day trying to catch fishes to sell; they got 400 pounds of fish.

Each pound, they sold to a ‘picaderia’ for $2/pound: IF lucky.

With the $2 they try to feed their

children.
And those working, 17% were below poverty, approximately 172, 342 individuals. Also, minimum wage (image2) is already $9.42, being the lowest of the rank. I wish we all catch up to Guam & the Virgin Islands which is over $12.00/hr. To an extent, this is bizarre, because how much lower do you want to make minimum wage! Families need to make a decent living in order to support their families, and if as a country is not being provided, what else is there to do. The debt in Puerto Rico, has nothing to do with welfare either, because it has “relatively low TANF participation rates.”
Overall, the event gave an insight on the history of Puerto Rico, the myths about the causes of the debt, how it is affecting the working poor, and those who are trying to make a living for their families (fishermen). As a result, the theories that all the speakers concluded, is that Puerto Rico’s problem is the ‘lack of good jobs,’ the demands of rights and the government support. This event itself helped me gather further data about the life in Puerto Rico. Once in a while, I would glance at the others in the room, and watch their reactions; some looked surprised because they did not know much about the Puerto Rican life (just like me), while others nodded in agreement to what was being said. The world within Puerto Rico is as beautiful as it is complex. I believe the solutions to the debt are to improve the agriculture, the increase of jobs, and