In Puerto Rico we have very “good” laws for everything. And as a colony that we are, it is the U. S. Congress that enforces or not, depending on its interests and those of its corporations at the time; no matter how appropriate our laws are for the people. That‘s why empires have colonies.
A recent example is the energy issue. As a tropical country, renewable energy sources such as sun, water and wind abound. In fact, we have a very good law on this, Law 17 of 2019, which obliges the state to have 40% renewable energy by 2025, that is, next year!, and 100% by 2050. Needless to say, with the privatization of both Transmission and Distribution by Luma Energy, and then generation by Genera PR, this goal is impossible.
Just look at the headline of a recent article in Noticel by reporter Oscar Serrano that reads: “Genera PR reveals its plan to divert renewables and sell gas to the island for years. ” And in the summary, Serrano says that “Executives assured the financial market that the island’s government is doing what they say and explaining how they have strengthened their business by taking advantage of Puerto Rico’s desperation to achieve stability in the electricity supply,” especially after Hurricane Maria.
This imperialist arrogance of Genera is backed by the achichincle government of Pedro Pierluisi, which is doing everything in its power to finish selling PR to the highest foreign bidder.
We should also point out the complicity of the US federal agencies that allowed the construction of a port in San Juan to favor New Fortress Energy, the parent company of Genera, against environmental stipulations.
But of course, everything is allowed in a colony!
From Puerto Rico, for Radio Clarín of Colombia, Berta Joubert-Ceci spoke to them.