Thursday, December 26, 2013

Review: Puerto Rico, un paraíso de corrupción gubernamental | Military And Police Drones Proliferate In Latin America | The Death Knell for “Enhanced Commonwealth” | Gov’s Associates Attack U.S. Senate Leaders on Their Home Turf Over “Commonwealth” | Puerto Rico Report

PR News - December 2013 - Updated on 12.26.13

No Man’s Air: Military And Police Drones Proliferate In Latin America | StratRisks

Puerto Rico, un paraíso de corrupción gubernamental

Cases of corruption in the Puerto Rican government level have increased although the mechanisms have deepened research, he transcended today as a result of the Fourth Summit Corruption.

The president judge of the District Court of the United States in Puerto Rico, Aida Delgado acknowledged that in 2010 cases of white collar crime reached 11 percent, while in 2012 it increased to 25.5 percent.

This, despite the harsh sentences involving shame and public officials in many cases for more than 15 years of performance in government, with a supposedly exposed unblemished record.

Federal Judge Delgado explained that of the 925 thousand cases seen in the District Court of United States in San Juan, 480 were for acts of government corruption.

Some of the damned is to receive insignificant amounts of money, considering the implications, to expedite the payment of debts to contractors.

The issue, however, does not stop there, as well as extortion is common to use government funds or equipment for private gain.

Gov’s Associates Attack U.S. Senate Leaders on Their Home Turf Over “Commonwealth” | Puerto Rico Report

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Wednesday, December 25, 2013

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cat

Monday, December 23, 2013

PR News - 12.23.13

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NO TRUCE CORRUPTION - The New Day

First Anniversary of The Agreement to Reform the Puerto Rico Police Department

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, December 21, 2012

Justice Department Enters into Agreement to Reform the Puerto Rico Police Department

The Justice Department (DOJ) today entered into a sweeping agreement with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Governor Luis Fortuño to resolve its civil investigation of the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD). The complaint and the agreement were filed today in the U.S. District Court of Puerto Rico, along with a joint motion requesting a temporary stay of the proceedings until April 15, 2013 to provide the incoming administration of Governor-elect Alejandro García Padilla sufficient time to review the agreement.

The comprehensive agreement addresses wide-ranging and ongoing constitutional violations by PRPD that were documented in a lengthy DOJ report issued in September 2011. The department found reasonable cause to believe that PRPD engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, use of unreasonable force designed to suppress protected speech, and unconstitutional searches and seizures. The agreement also addresses allegations that PRPD fails to investigate sex crimes and domestic violence, and engages in discriminatory policing.

“We appreciate the hard work of Governor Fortuño, Superintendent Hector Pesquera, and their staff. Together, and with great input from the public, we have designed a comprehensive blueprint for reform that provides a solid foundation that will professionalize and support the hardworking men and women of PRPD as they protect the people of Puerto Rico,” said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “We have also met with Governor-elect Garcia-Padilla, who recognizes that constitutional policing and effective policing go hand in hand. We look forward to working with Governor-elect García Padilla and his incoming administration to finalize the agreement and begin the critical work of rebuilding PRPD. Ensuring effective, constitutional policing is not a partisan issue, and we appreciate the commitment of Governor Fortuño and Governor-elect García Padilla to the reforms embodied in the agreement. The successful implementation of the reforms contained in this agreement will help to reduce crime, ensure respect for the Constitution and restore public confidence in PRPD.”

Today’s agreement was reached after extensive negotiations with commonwealth officials and their police consultants. The agreement provides a comprehensive blueprint for meaningful, sustainable reform and reflects the input of many community stakeholders from throughout the Commonwealth, including police affinity groups, members of the Puerto Rico business community, students, representatives of the Dominican community, and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgender communities.

The agreement addresses the policies, procedures, training, internal and external oversight, disciplinary systems and information and data integrity mechanisms that caused or contributed to the pattern or practice of misconduct. It also details necessary changes intended to ensure that police services are delivered to the people of Puerto Rico in a manner that is effective, complies with the Constitution, and promotes the community’s trust in PRPD. For instance, the agreement contains provisions that are designed to increase transparency and promote PRPD’s responsiveness to the community, including measures that require regular meetings with community representatives to facilitate cooperation and communication; collection and dissemination of accurate and up-to-date crime statistics; community outreach programs in each PRPD region; and independent and periodic compliance assessments that are available to the public.

The purpose of the joint motion requesting a temporary stay of the proceedings is to provide the incoming administration with a meaningful opportunity to review the agreement. The department and representatives of Governor Fortuño have met independently with Governor-elect García Padilla and his transition team to brief them on the investigation’s findings and the agreement. The stay, requested until April 15, 2013, will provide Governor-elect García Padilla and his incoming administration with a meaningful opportunity to review the agreement, and either accept it or negotiate necessary changes, before the department and Commonwealth request approval and entry of the agreement as an order. During this period, the department will continue its ongoing outreach into communities across Puerto Rico to seek input and feedback. Once approved and entered by the district court, the agreement will resolve the department’s civil action, and the implementation phase will immediately begin.

A copy of the complaint, the agreement, the joint motion to stay the proceedings, and September 2011 letter of findings can be found at www.justice.gov/crt .

12-1542

Civil Rights Division

Spain weighs extradition of Puerto Rican Woman - Metro, SJS

Spain weighs extradition of Puerto Rican Woman - AP - Metro

POSTED: December 18

BY CIARAN GILES ASSOCIATED PRESS (AP)

MADRID (AP) - A Puerto Rican required by U.S. courts to answer the charge to hire a murderer to kill his wealthy Canadian husband said Wednesday at his extradition hearing in Spain he is innocent and the victim of subjects "corrupt and mafia" .

Visibly nervous, Aurea Vazquez Rijos, 33, said before the High Court did not want to be extradited, adding that in recent years had legally lived in Italy and was never aware that he sought justice until he reached Spain.

Vazquez was arrested in Madrid in June to arrive from Italy, where he lived since 2008. A U.S. jury instruction that made the year before by allegations that offered three million dollars to a man to kill her husband Adam Anhang, 32, who was found dead and stabbed to death in Puerto Rico in 2005 while walking with Vazquez near a bar he had acquired for her to operate.

Vazquez then refused to cooperate with the police and filed a civil suit against Anhang's family, which demanded a compensation of one million dollars in damages and millions of dollars over the goods he left. A judge in Puerto Rico rejected that demand.

Since then, authorities have charged a suspect, Alex Pabon Colon, of having committed the murder. He pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators.

Several more people, including family members Vazquez, have been arrested and charged in the case.

Anhang had developed hotels and condos by the sea in Puerto Rico and served as CEO of a software company for Internet gambling, based in Costa Rica.

The court ruling on extradition in the next three weeks is awaited.

Vazquez said she had a permit to stay in Italy, had twins with another man there, and said working as a tour guide and traveled to Europe frequently. In Italy he renewed his American passport last year, he added.

He asked the court how he could have done all that if there had been an arrest warrant against him, and said she had been tricked into thinking she was meeting with a group of tourists in Madrid when he flew to the Spanish capital in June . She was arrested off the plane.

There is an act of "mafia and corruption" behind it, he said.

The lawyer for Vazquez, Isaac Abad Gómez, presented arguments against extradition, which stated that there was no guarantee that his client will not face life in prison without bail, something U.S. officials have warned that hangs on it. He said the arrest warrant was defective.

The Spanish laws do not allow the extradition of persons who could face the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The prosecutor in the High Court said he was in favor of extradition, provided assurances that will not face any of these two punishments are provided.

The defendant sobbed a little when she was handcuffed in the back and taken out of court.

Abe Anhang, the victim's father, said he was pleased by the arrest of Vasquez.

"Our family is grateful for the efforts of the FBI, Interpol and the Spanish police apprehended it, and the courts of Spain to handle this so efficiently," said the man, who lives in Winnipeg, Canada."After eight years we hope justice is done and the case is closed."

Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory in the Caribbean whose inhabitants are U.S. citizens. Puerto Ricans can not vote for president of the country and not pay income tax, but are under the jurisdiction of federal law and may be sentenced to death. The Puerto Rican government has asked federal prosecutors to stop seeking the imposition of capital punishment on the island.

In recent history Puerto Rican juries have rejected the death penalty in six cases.

SJDS - 12.23.13

Gov. Dismisses, Mocks U.S. Senate Leaders’ Rejection of a New “Commonwealth” Status | Puerto Rico Report | Bahamas and China to Allow Reciprocal Visa Waivers December 23, 2013 | 6:00 am |

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Forest Service Bought Drones To Keep Tabs On Pot Growers, Realized It Couldn't Actually Use Them

Caribbean struggles to stem resurgent tide of drug trafficking - FT.com

December 18, 2013 2:00 pm

Caribbean struggles to stem resurgent tide of drug trafficking

By Robin Wigglesworth

©Dreamstime

St Kits and Nevis

As night descended on the Caribbean on October 17, a US Coast Guard patrol aircraft spied something suspicious in the seas south of St Croix, one of the many beautiful specks of land that make up the US Virgin Islands: a 30-foot speedboat with three people aboard, loaded with bales and slicing through the waves towards Puerto Rico.

A coast guard cutter and a specialised pursuit boat were dispatched from Puerto Rico to intercept the speedboat. Before dawn had broken, the coast guard boarded and found more than a tonne of cocaine, with a wholesale value of more than $34m.

ON THIS STORY

ON THIS TOPIC

Caribbean in crisis Chequebook diplomacy
Drug smugglers exploit Caribbean woes
China steps up Caribbean strategy
Moody’s warns of new Caribbean debt crisis

IN LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

The coast guard was thrilled at the haul, hailing the “complex and dangerous operation” undertaken in the dead of night. But it was a rare triumph. US and regional law enforcement agencies have been struggling to stem a resurgent tide of drugs flowing through the Caribbean.

After a relatively calm two decades, during which Mexico emerged as the dominant smuggling point for trafficking drugs into the US, local and international officials say the Caribbean is once again becoming an important transit route, as cartels take advantage of the region’s economic problems. Criminals are reactivating old operations in the archipelago or beefing up existing ones in places such as the Dominican Republic.

The US Drugs Enforcement Administration estimates that 14 per cent of all cocaine smuggled into the US in the first half of the year came via the Caribbean – twice the rate of 2012. “It’s acute when you consider that the overall flow [into the US] is down,” says Vito Guarino, DEA special agent in charge of Caribbean operations.

It is still a far cry from the 1980s, when up to 75 per cent of the cocaine seized between South America and the US was taken in the Caribbean, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The unremitting flow of cocaine into Florida in particular inspired cultural touchstones like the movie Scarface and Miami Vice, the US television series.

But the recent surge still worries US and Caribbean officials, who fear the region is acutely vulnerable to traffickers. Many countries are trying to cope with a protracted economic downturn and mounting debts, which are forcing governments to hack away at budgets and pushing up unemployment.

“You’re unemployed and starving, and someone offers you $1,000 to take a go-fast boat full of drugs to the US. What would we do in this situation?” Mr Guarino says.

In depth

Paradise Lost? Caribbean in Crisis

The FT examines the economic plight of the region

The region is also paying the price of successes elsewhere. Analysts say one of the big reasons why cartels are re-establishing themselves in the Caribbean is the clear security improvement in Mexico. As police “squeeze the narco balloon” there, it swells in the tropical islands to the east, according to Daniel Sachs, a Mexico-based analyst at Control Risks, a consultancy.

The impact is invidious. Cartels frequently ally themselves with local gangs on islands like Trinidad, paying for protection and smuggling services with guns and drugs. That feeds domestic drug abuse and exacerbates already high crime rates, as heavily armed local gangs fight for lucrative turf and cartel contracts. These gangs are the cause of the region’s extreme murder rates, argues Owen Ellington, head of Jamaica’s police force.

Moreover, drug money can buy many friends in a region where even an army general or senior police officer will often make only a few thousand dollars a month, and political donations and spending usually go unreported, activists and diplomats say.

You’re unemployed and starving, and someone offers you $1,000 to take a go-fast boat full of drugs to the US. What would we do in this situation?

- Vito Guarino, DEA special agent in charge of the Caribbean

Security officials say the Dominican Republic is the main transshipment point for drugs bound for the US and Europe, due to the cultural and linguistic ties with the cocaine-producing countries in South and Central America. However, smaller statelets like St Kitts and Nevis, which simply cannot afford to defend their coasts, are the ones that have arguably suffered the most from the increase in trafficking.

Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, estimates that about half his country’s murders are directly tied to the drug trade. “The bulk of the drugs is for the US and European markets, but [the traffickers] bring guns with them,” he complains.

US and international officials are keenly aware of the resurgent danger, and have launched a number of programmes in response.

The US government established a “Caribbean Basin Security Initiative” in 2009 to provide countries with technical assistance, equipment and training to combat crime and drug smuggling. This includes setting up detection dog units, improving prisons, providing cargo scanners, polygraphs and interceptor boats, and sharing more information with local security forces.

Interactive

Islands in an economic storm

This interactive guide shows the global recession has had markedly different impacts on different countries in the Caribbean

“The resources deployed under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative can be described as a drop in the bucket,” says Freundel Stuart, the prime minister of Barbados.

Optimism is in short supply. Even if the US and regional law enforcement succeed in staunching the drug flow, this could paradoxically lead to an increase in violence as local gangs and cartels fight over a smaller pie, notes Amado de Andrés, the UNODC’s regional representative. He points out that bloodshed in Jamaicaincreased dramatically even as it became a less important transit point for cocaine in the 1990s. Mexico has seen a similar trend more recently.

In many countries there appears to be resignation that drugs trafficking will always be a challenge, and concern that the problem will inevitably worsen in the coming years.

“We’re right in the middle of the world’s biggest producer and consumer of drugs,” observes Bernardo Vega, a former Dominican central bank governor and ambassador to the US. “If only they could grow cocaine in the Rocky Mountains,” he sighs.

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A NEW YORK CITY police officer stands outside Grand Central Terminal on May 2. Policing has become more disciplined, focused and data-driven over the past two decades. Getty Images

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

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