BBC News - Puerto Rico seeks citizens' advice on economy | Rusia prueba política exterior de Obama – Metro

BBC News - Puerto Rico seeks citizens' advice on economy

Thursday March 20th, 2014 at 8:00 AM

BBC News - Latin America & Caribbean

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19 March 2014 Last updated at 20:09 ET

Puerto Rico's economy has been shrinking since 2006 and suffers from a dwindling population and high unemployment

The government of Puerto Rico has asked its citizens to send in their ideas on how to revive the economy.

The chief of staff of the Caribbean island, Ingrid Vila, said Puerto Ricans could submit "specific and viable" proposals on a government website.

Ms Vila said she welcomed ideas on how to prevent the exodus of skilled workers and how to tackle the large informal economy, among other issues.

She said more than 450,000 people had left Puerto Rico in the past decade.

The US territory has been in a recession since 2006.

Official figures put the unemployment rate at 15.2%.

Online platform

"We have agreed to open a wider process of public participation, calling on the whole country to submit ideas," Ms Vila told a news conference in the capital, San Juan.

"To achieve this, we have created an online platform that will receive a greater number of proposals," she added.

The government has set up a committee to evaluate any proposal received to "identify and recommend those that best meet the criteria, including feasibility, equality, social justice, sustainability and benefit to the greatest diversity of interests in the country".

Some ideas that were submitted shortly after the website was launched include proposals to build affordable housing and attract foreign investment.

However, there were also calls to scrap a public television channel and to legalise marijuana.

According to official figures, Puerto Rico's labour force participation rate is 41%, compared to 63% in the United States, and the informal economy contributes to about 30% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The self-governing US territory has a population of less than four million.

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Rusia prueba política exterior de Obama – Metro

Thursday March 20th, 2014 at 7:53 AM

Metro - Últimas Noticias

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Para el presidente Barack Obama, la agresiva anexión de Crimea a Rusia pone a prueba los principios de la filosofía de su política exterior: su convicción en el poder de la diplomacia directa, su preferencia por el uso de sanciones económicas como castigo y su inclinación a proceder con cautela a fin de evitar la creación de mayores problemas a largo plazo.

El asunto que enfrenta la Casa Blanca ahora es si las acciones que han hecho poco para detener a Rusia de anexarse a Crimea son lo suficientemente duras para detener una mayor intensificación por parte de Moscú. Y si continúan siendo insuficientes, ¿qué más está dispuesto Obama a hacer para modificar los cálculos de Vladimir Putin?

La gama de opciones adicionales parece ser limitada. La Casa Blanca señala que no se está sopesando una respuesta militar, y hasta el momento los funcionarios se han negado a aceptar las exhortaciones para que suministre equipo bélico al debilitado gobierno de Ucrania. En cambio, es probable que Estados Unidos se centre en brindar asistencia financiera a Ucrania e intensifique las sanciones económicas contra los funcionarios rusos a quienes la Casa Blanca considera responsables de la crisis.

El portavoz de la Casa Blanca, Jay Carney, prometió el miércoles que "se tomarán más acciones". Indicó que las sanciones financieras podrían ampliarse al sector de armas ruso, a millonarios oligarcas y a otros funcionarios del Kremlin.

Y el vicepresidente Joe Biden, mientras trata de aplacar las preocupaciones en las fronteras de Rusia, dijo en Lituania que Estados Unidos responderá ante cualquier agresión contra un aliado de la OTAN. Declaró: "estamos juntos en esto con ustedes".

Pero hasta el momento, las sanciones impuestas tanto por Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea han hecho poco para detener al presidente ruso Putin.

"Si uno presiona un resorte demasiado fuerte, en algún momento se soltará de regreso", destacó el líder ruso en un fiero discurso el martes. "Siempre tienen que recordar esto".

La crisis de Crimea se ha convertido en un punto crítico de una nueva pugna entre Oriente y Occidente. Rusia envió sus tropas a la península después que el presidente ucraniano Viktor Yanukovich, respaldado por el Kremlin, huyó de la capital Kiev en medio de protestas por su decisión de abandonar los planes para profundizar las relaciones con Europa. El domingo los votantes en Crimea apoyaron mayoritariamente la posición de unirse a Rusia. El miércoles, las fuerzas rusas tomaron las instalaciones militares en toda Crimea.

La Casa Blanca denunció que las maniobras de Moscú constituyen una violación del derecho internacional y no reconoce la anexión de Crimea a Rusia.

Las acciones de Putin han expuesto a Obama a nuevas críticas de los republicanos, que alegan que el presidente en su segundo mandato, ya de por sí debilitado políticamente en su país, ahora se ve endeble en el escenario mundial.

Los senadores republicanos John McCain de Arizona y Lindsey Graham de Carolina del Sur han instado a Obama para que brinde asistencia militar a Ucrania en forma de armas pequeñas y municiones, al igual que asistencia no letal al gobierno de Kiev.

"Occidente debe imponer costos reales a Rusia por su agresión en Ucrania. Pero al no hacerlo, sólo invitamos a una mayor agresión en otros lugares", destacaron los dos senadores en una declaración.

Las naciones europeas, entre ellas la poderosa Alemania, tienen profundos vínculos económicos con Rusia y temen que Putin pueda tomar represalias financieras si la UE intensifica las sanciones. Estados Unidos también depende de Moscú para mantener abiertas las rutas que el Pentágono usa para retirarse de Afganistán, y se apoya en la cooperación de Putin en un acuerdo para despojar a Siria de sus arsenales de armas químicas.

Y quizá aún más apremiante para Obama es el pacto con Rusia sobre las tensas negociaciones internacionales con Irán, con el objeto de poner fin al programa nuclear de la república islámica.

Un alto diplomático ruso dijo el miércoles a la agencia de noticias Interfax que Moscú modificará su posición en las conversaciones nucleares en respuesta a las acciones tomadas por Estados Unidos y Europa.

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Julie Pace está en Twitter como: <a href="http://twitter.com/jpaceDC" rel="nofollow">http://twitter.com/jpaceDC</a>

An AP News Analysis

Venezuelan Agents Arrest Mayor of Opposition Bastion Town

Venezuelan Agents Arrest Mayor of Opposition Bastion Town

Thursday March 20th, 2014 at 6:02 AM

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March 19, 2014 11:58 p.m. ET

The mayor of San Cristóbal, Venezuela, Daniel Ceballos, appeared at a rally on Tuesday. European Pressphoto Agency

CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuela's secret police arrested the mayor of an opposition bastion on Wednesday as President Nicolás Maduro's administration extended a crackdown on protests that have shaken the oil-rich country for six weeks.

Agents arrested Daniel Ceballos, the mayor of the western city of San Cristóbal, where demonstrations against the government began in early February. The city has become the site of the fiercest showdowns between street protesters and security forces, even as the size of demonstrations decline and show signs of fatigue in other places like the capital, Caracas.

"It's an act of justice against a mayor, who not only stopped complying with his obligations under the law and constitution, but facilitated and helped all the irrational violence in San Cristóbal," Interior Minister Miguel Rodríguez said on state television, announcing the arrest. He said Mr. Ceballos would be charged in court.

Mr. Ceballos "has nothing to hide," his lawyer, Ana Leonor Acosta, said in a statement put out by the mayor's political party, Popular Will. The party condemned the arrest as a "kidnapping." They said he was taken away by several armed officials with their faces covered, on unclear charges, as he was taking part in a meeting at a hotel in Caracas. The party called it an "arbitrary" action and said that it followed a series of arrest orders put out for officials of the political movement.

Analysts say the arrest could inflame the opposition and breathe new life into the protest movement, which has claimed about 30 lives. Rights groups say the majority of the victims have been demonstrators killed at the hands of police and pro-government forces.

But security forces, too, have suffered casualties. On Wednesday, the attorney general's office said it was investigating the death of a 23-year-old National Guardsman, who was shot and killed while breaking up a protest outside of a military university in San Cristóbal.

Mr. Ceballos is the second high-profile opposition politician to be jailed for allegedly inciting the civil unrest gripping the country. Last month, Leopoldo López, another top opposition official, was arrested and remains in a military prison for allegedly inciting the protests. Critics say Mr. Lopez's detention is an attempt by Mr. Maduro's regime to reverse the antigovernment movement.

"What does the government want with the fascist detention of San Cristóbal Mayor Daniel Ceballos, peace or war?" opposition leader Henrique Capriles, said in a message on Twitter. He warned that the decision would intensify the conflict and accused Mr. Maduro of wanting "more confrontation and to promote violence in the whole country."

On Tuesday the National Assembly, dominated by Mr. Maduro's Socialist Party, requested the attorney general's office strip opposition congresswoman María Corina Machado of parliamentary immunity to begin an investigation of her alleged involvement in inciting the recent violence.

Ms. Machado has been among the most vocal critics of the government, calling for Mr. Maduro's immediate exit and pushing for international condemnation of the Venezuelan government's crackdown. On Friday, Ms. Machado is scheduled to speak at the Organization of American States in Washington.

Protests began in the western state of Tachira last month as students voiced frustration with Venezuela's rampant crime problem, but the movement has since grown to address what the opposition says is the government's economic mismanagement, which has resulted in an inflation rate approaching 60% and widespread shortages of food and basic goods.

A parking attendant at the hotel said Mr. Ceballos was whisked away by four to six men in dark clothing.

In the upscale Caracas districts of Altamira and Chacao, news of Mr. Ceballos's arrest sparked an immediate reaction, with residents marching and banging on pots and pans, a comment form of protest in Latin America.

"What is he accused of? Why is he arrested? From what I can tell his only crime is thinking differently from the government," said a resident, Roger Vargas. "If the government keeps tightening the noose, there won't be peace in this country."

Mr. Rodríguez, the interior minister, said Mr. Ceballos' detention would be a step toward restoring calm and normalcy in the country.

"The path to peace is justice," he said.

Some outside observers had a different perspective...

Opinion: Smokescreen - Metro

Opinion: Smokescreen - Metro

Friday March 14th, 2014 at 9:03 AM

Metro - Últimas Noticias

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There is no better way to describe the finding of the Government of Puerto Rico after the issuance of $ 3,500 million in bonds on Tuesday That a mere smokescreen to divert attention from its Consequences and the Underlying Reasons for our economic and fiscal crisis. sense in That , the celebration is the equivalent of holding a family on the brink of bankruptcy makes party Because I was allowed to use your credit card for the last time, although Such purchases will pay a much higher interest.

Incredibly Celebrated as a great achievement That the broadcast was possible at interest rates ranging from 8% to 8.75%, ie, we take a loan to double what other jurisdictions do They are borrowing, but Celebrated. Unfortunately, the lack of capacity in the areas of finance and administration Brought us to this crossroads and the question is now what?

Given it is This Situation still devastating, That we reiterate in making the financial year, the administration in power Should follow the principles Pedro Pierluisi and PNP Outlined Legislative Conference. It has-been over a year since the leadership of the PNP made ​​its recommendations, but as the saying goes, "it's never too late if that is good." There are ten basic principles That Can be Implemented easily. Only this will require the Government to be successful.

First, the government must submit and pass a balanced budget Legislature That you reduce spending adjusting our financial reality, as had to make the vast majority of Puerto Rican families. On the other hand, vacancies May be frozen before the withdrawal of Thousands of public servants as a result of the adoption of the amendment to the Law of Civil Servants Retirement and replace only in cases where it is Those strictly Necessary.

Having Attended to Un certain way the tax case, the government of the day can not lose sight of the economic development of Puerto Rico Largely depends on the conditions exist for That small and medium businesses of our island. With this in mind, to approve a reform of our tax system to redistribute the load Between exempt and non-exempt corporations. Furthermore, It Should repeal national patent and enlarged the SUT, and Control Measures in Place by Which not only capture the SUT, but all taxes are current is Increased. Finally, beyond advertising,: such as "Star Island" should be Effectively Promoted to Puerto Rico as a destination for investment and Ensure That the Necessary conditions for the expansion of Those That Are Already Here businesses are created, thereby propelling the creating jobs.

At the end of the day, Tuesday's celebration does not change our colonial reality. There is Clearly a bad background That we need to address promptly. Beyond Addressing the tax issue and revive our economy, our duty to Achieve equality for all Puerto Ricans. The Consequences of colonial inequality are Largely the cause of the evils That today we meet. That is why we must continue to parallel the struggle for equal rights and privileges enjoyed by our fellow citizens in the states, ie, only fight for equality Brings statehood.

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Opinion: Fifteen hundred less - Metro

Friday March 14th, 2014 at 9:02 AM

Metro - Últimas Noticias

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The announcement of the García administration Padilla-targeting potential buyers of bonds, not the people of Puerto Rico, on a reduction of $ 1.500 billion in the next budget may bring solace to the vultures that feed on our debt, but predicts worst times for our country. The demagogic call for the adoption of a budget shrunk hides anticipatable result of such action: in a crisis situation like ours, with a battered private sector and, therefore, unfit to increase their input to the economy, the significant decline government investment will only exacerbate the economic slowdown. In fact, budget cuts depend, to be effective, an expansion of labor participation and revitalizing the market. Both factors are painfully absent from our reality.

The foreseeable consequences of the proposal are not encouraging: utilities already weakened by Act 7 of last term will suffer even more, and some see it as inevitable layoffs or reduced hours. If so, this new wave of unemployed can not find space in the private sector, so that they will become dependent on government assistance-also crippled by budget reductions. In fact, when talking about reducing payroll as the answer to all ills, the fact that in recent years the budget line has declined consistently ignores. In the current fiscal year payroll heading of the consolidated budget is $ 6768.3 million: a reduction of $ 1607.2 million compared to the same item in 2010. 

We are perhaps at the last expedited opportunity to give a more rational government initiatives scattered direction. The government waste has to be replaced by a "good" spending, orderly and sensible. Hiring external resources and advertising costs should be kept to a minimum. The tax base needs to be strengthened not by a new collection of patches to the Internal Revenue Code or special laws dealt festinadamente special treatment to privileged links in the economic chain, but through a comprehensive tax reform, accompanied by audit tools that tackle the scandalous tax evasion. All government-incentive tax privileges, grants, subsidies of all kinds must be subject to strict accountability process, and those who do not respond to a social purpose or not involving a fair reciprocal benefits to the treasury, must be eliminated. In the same way that the state of fiscal emergency has served to justify the dismissal of Act 7 and the dismantling of the retirement systems, should be the basis for revising the exemption decrees approved in dark rooms. Recruitment strategies by the structure of public-private partnerships need to be revised to make collaboration with private companies do not give in unequal conditions that we suffer today. The proposed long-term effect are at present under consideration (Land Use Plan, energy reform) should be based on a rational, consensual and collective interests as northern base.

Communication in the country has to flow in a frank and intelligible, leaving behind pink phrases and half-truths. And above all, determinations about the future of the country should be in the hands of capable people committed to public management. Without these changes-essential and urgent, there is no way to save what we have left, and in 1500 more or less will not make the difference that we desperately need.

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Sin complejo mesiánico García Padilla – Metro

Friday March 14th, 2014 at 8:53 AM

Metro - Últimas Noticias

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El gobernador Alejandro García Padilla aseguró hoy que él no se considera el salvador del país, sino que es el mismo pueblo puertorriqueño quien está saliendo de la crisis económica y social, confiando en sí mismo.
"Yo no tengo ningún complejo mesiánico. El país, confiando en sí mismo, está saliendo del hoyo", dijo el primer mandatario en entrevista con Las Noticias Univisión.
A preguntas sobre cómo se encuentra el país, tomando en cuenta los primeros seis meses de gestión, el gobernador afirmó que el desempleo se redujo de 15.2% a 13.4%, y que el crimen también ha bajado en todos los renglones.
"Hoy más sectores tienen derechos civiles que antes no tenían, los estudiantes no van a pagar ya más cuota, hay menos crimen, hay menos desempleo, le devolvimos la autonomía a la universidad, hemos protegido más recursos naturales que cualquier otro gobierno en la historia", desglosó el primer mandatario.

García Padilla mencionó a Las Noticias Univisión que sigue trabajando en los puntos medulares de su administración que son: la ventaja competitiva; la creación de un ecosistema más seguro; combatir el crimen; y la creación de empleos.

"Estamos echando esto para adelante. No me voy distraer con la politiquería chiquita, con los políticos que quieren ahora escalar en sus partidos. Ese tipo de cosas no me distraen. Yo estoy trabajando para la gente, y, poniendo la gente primero, se crean empleos y se combate el crimen", dijo García Padilla.

Por otro lado, se mostró satisfecho con el trabajo que está realizando tanto el superintendente de la Policía, Héctor Pesquera, como el secretario del Departamento de Asuntos al Consumidor (DACO), Lcdo. Nery Enoc Adames Soto.

Sobre el escaño vacante en la Cámara que deja el representante por acumulación Eduardo Ferrer, el primer ejecutivo dijo que la determinación de quién ocupará el cargo la tomará la Junta de Gobierno del PPD en los próximos días. Él estará haciendo sus recomendaciones de posibles candidatos. 

García Padilla travel to Spain

Friday March 14th, 2014 at 8:53 AM

Metro - Últimas Noticias

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Governor Alejandro García Padilla will travel back in early July, this time his destination is Spain. 

Metro Knew Then That runs THROUGHOUT the budget process and start the new tax year, García Padilla depart on an official trip to the motherland. ACCORDING to unofficial reports, the trip would be to the city of Madrid. The purpose of travel is unknown at the time, but it will be a delegation of government. 

The governor was recently in New York and Washington DC. In the first city I stayed in the same hotel as I did in the past Marimar Perez Riera, former president of the governing board of the Power Authority, and That cost him the job. Fortress That said did not pay the same rate as the exfuncionaria. In Addition, García Padilla Traveled to Brazil and Panama since taking office last January.

Governor Heads Uniting event binds

Friday March 14th, 2014 at 8:50 AM

Metro - Últimas Noticias

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As part of the event Uniting Cabezas , Governor Alejandro García Padilla head shaved today NotiUno programming director Alex Delgado.

The Governor was Accompanied an actor Braulio Castillo, Jr., comedian Raymond Arrieta, Alberto Lázaro, executive director of the Water and Sewer Authority (AAA) and some athletes in the Puerto Rico Olympic Committee (PROC).

This activity seeks to raise funds for the CAP Foundation.

We invite you to view the video below: