Wednesday, May 18-24, 2022 - // no. 160
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
www.theweeklyjournal.com
PR’s data stalked by hackers P6 Protection needed for banking Transactions P7 JetBlue goes hostile on Spirit P9
The Internet:
what do we want and where to get it Baby boomers responsible for its recent growth
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Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal
No triple winner this year either P15
he growth in the use of the internet since the year before the Covid-19 pandemic can be attributed almost exclusively to the baby boomers, who in the last three years account for about 10% of such growth, as reported in the 2022 Puerto Rico Digital Trends Study published by the consulting firm Estudios Técnicos Inc. and the Puerto Rico Sales and Marketing Executives Association (SME). “The growth experienced between 2021 and 2022
can be attributed specifically to the growth in the 65 years and older segment, which could very well be due to the effects of the pandemic, when several services started to be offered remotely,” said Anitza Cox, director of the Social Policy and Analysis division of Estudios Técnicos. Cox particularly referred to how 65 year-olds and older, had to “adapt to the changes taking place at the height of the pandemic,” which included telemedicine after the government ordered a general shutdown of all commercial operations. Nevertheless, Cox pointed out there is GO TO PAGE 4
The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, May 18, 2022 >
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Auspiciador Flamboyán
La Junta de Síndicos y el Comité Organizador tienen el honor de invitarles a celebrar la
Auspiciador Heliconia
GRAN GALA MUSEO DE ARTE DE PUERTO RICO sábado, 18 de junio de 2022 8:00 p.m. Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino
Auspiciador Amapola
Información de auspicios y boletos 787. 977.4449 / 787.376.4317
mperez@mapr.org
Auspiciador Helecho
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a week in review Microsoft Drives Environmental Innovation With Hackathon As part of its commitment to the socioeconomic development of Puerto Rico, Microsoft will collaborate with Reimagine Education to organize the ECO HACK PR: a cycle of “hackathons” of sustainability. This is a series of innovative events that will run from June 3 to June 24, where participants will develop technological solutions and business models focused on addressing important issues for the island’s environment, including smart farming/agriculture, water conservation, solid waste management, and coral/ buoy protection. This first edition of the ECO HACK PR is part of Transformemos Puerto Rico, a Microsoft project that aims to accelerate the digitization of the island through initiatives focused on education and training in digital skills, access to connectivity, and sustainability. To reach as many participants as possible, the four events will be held in strategic locations across the island, with the support of Microsoft and Reimagine Education partners.
BurgerFi Opens in Gallery Plaza BurgerFi, one of the fastest-growing gourmet burger chains in the United States, opens its third restaurant at Gallery Plaza on Calle Loíza in Santurce. The concept of fast-casual came from the hands of Phillip Faigenblat. Faigenblat, a fast-casual pioneer on the island, is CEO of Beyond Burger and acquired the award-winning franchise BurgerFi in 2020. The chain’s first restaurant opened in Guaynabo that year. BurgerFi is the only fast-casual restaurant to offer burgers made with certified Angus beef and Wagyu - both without hormones or antibiotics. Their menu also includes vegetarian and hormone and preservative-free chicken options. For the second year in a row, BurgerFi was rated “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers Choice Award.
Powered BY El Vocero de Puerto Rico, 1064 Ave Ponce de León 2nd floor San Juan, PR Postal Address: PO Box 15074, San Juan, PR 00902
First blood moon of the year A total lunar eclipse provided a spectacular celestial show as it unfolded Sunday night into early Monday in Puerto Rico and the Americas. The eastern half of North America and all Central and South America were prime locations to see the eclipse, while partial stages were visible across Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The moon was bathed in the reflected red and orange hues of Earth’s sunsets and sunrises for about 1 1/2 hours, one of the longest totalities of the decade. It was the first so-called “blood moon” in a year. A total eclipse occurs when Earth passes directly between the moon and the sun, and casts a shadow on the lunar surface.
President Salvador Hasbún shasbun@elvocero.com
VP of Accounting Félix A. Rosa frosa@elvocero.com
Human Resources Director Arlene Rolón, PHR arolon@elvocero.com
Vp of Marketing and Business Operations Michelle Pérez Miperez@elvocero.com
VP of Production Eligio Dekony edekony@elvocero.com
VP of Editorial Content Juan Miguel Muñiz Guzmán jmuniz@elvocero.com
Multi-Platform Graphic and Technology Director Héctor L. Vázquez hvazquez@elvocero.com
Phone: 787-622-2300, 787-721-2300
Multi-Plataform Digital Director María Arce marce@elvocero.com
Customer Service: 787-622-7480
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difference between them and the top four is greater than 20%. According to the study, 95% of the island’s population has a cell phone, and 98% of internet users have one. Even though the study does not mention reasons for such a preference, Cox admitted the ubiquitous character of the cellphone and the fact that “it allows the user to be connected always” could be considered among the possible reasons.
a divide within the age group. “There is a [digital] divide... women 65 and older, from the lower socio-economic echelons (less than $10,000 yearly income) that are not connected,” she said. “Clearly, there is still a lot of ground that needs to be covered in terms of access and use of the medium.” Regarding internet access and use among other age 98% of those polled groups, Cox argued that What They Look said they access the “practically all groups from 12 internet through to 39 years-old have reached For And How their cellphones a 100% access and use”. She While the study states that (98%), followed by pointed out, though, that this access and use of the internet those who say they data should be considered dominates most of the weekly get online through a in the context of the study’s activities of Puerto Ricans, there computer (60%). margin of error (+ 4.3%). is an activity they prefer over Source: The study also reveals that: regular broadcast TV. Estudios Técnicos Inc the preferred means used According to the study, 76.2% of by users to connect to the Puerto Ricans prefer to watch internet, with cellphones traditional television over the (98%) as the preferred device, next activity, social networking followed by computers (60%), and tablets (52%) (75.2%). And only 45.4% of users watch online TV/ and smart TVs (51%) virtually tied. Even though streaming. 57.8% of those polled say they listen to other devises are mentioned in the study, the broadcast radio and 28.0% to online radio.
In fact,
The growth experienced between 2021 and 2022 can be attributed specifically to the growth in the 65 years and older segment, which could very well be due to the effects of the pandemic. Anitza Cox Director of Social Policy and Analysis, Estudios Técnicos
The study didn’t probe into the reasons for those offline preferences, even though Cox attributed them to the pandemic. Social networks applications are the most frequently used apps by most internet users, with Facebook being ahead of the pack with a 65.3% preference. Behind Facebook are: WhatsApp (47.6%), YouTube (37.2%) and Instagram (36.2%).
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Preferred Activities
Of the top six activities people do on the internet, five are specifically considered to be entertainment: watch videos, listen to music, accessing social networks, accessing messaging services and watching or listening media online. The sixth activity, searching for information, cannot necessarily be considered entertainment but, given the nature of the other five, it is plausible that the information searched for is entertainment related.
E-commerce platforms have become important sources of information, including for offline purchases. Anitza Cox Director of Social Policy and Analysis, Estudios Técnicos
Cox said that in this part of the study, users were asked “what does the internet and the digital media mean to you?” 42.3% of those interviewed said, “the internet helps keeping me informed and learning new things.” But such answer contrasts with the expressed preferred online activities. Unfortunately, the study does not include content as one of the areas being analyzed.
E-commerce virtually, in every cellphone, These options were mentioned or that the survey didn’t by those surveyed without differentiate access (whether having to choose from a list by cellphone or computer) to provided by the surveyor the internet. (unaided). Of the top six The difference is important Regarding webpages, the activities people because user experience study confirms the findings do on the internet, is significantly different on the apps segment, with five are specifically depending on whether he/ Facebook (19.8%), YouTube considered to be she access the internet via a (18.0%), WhatsApp (7.7%) and entertainment: cellphone or a computer. Instagram (6.8%) being the most watch videos, listen When a user needs to google visited pages, except for one: to music, accessing something, if doing it from a Google. social networks, cellphone, he/she types the The study states that the accessing messaging term directly into the Google Google webpage is the most services and box on the homepage of his frequently visited webpage. watching or listening But when compared with the phone. By doing that, he/she is media online. frequency of the use of the using the Google app. Source: Google app, which scored 12.4% On the other hand, if Estudios Técnicos Inc for a seventh place among the the user googles from his most frequently used apps, it computer, he usually goes to begs the question: why visit the the Google website to get the webpage without using the app? information he/she needs. Cox could not expand on whether participants Cox recognized the difference, and said, “the in the study used an app or webpage, depending survey tries to reflect the users’ perception.” It on how they accessed the internet (cellphone or could then be inferred that users don’t perceive computer). Google as an app, which nowadays is preloaded,
In fact,
Local businesses are lagging in the online commercial ecosystem. Of the 54.3% of internet users making online commercial transactions, 50.5% do so with businesses located abroad, while 42.8% do business with both local and offshore shops. Only 6.7% of users do business exclusively with local entrepreneurs. Again, Cox argued the increment in the number of online commercial transactions was a direct consequence of the pandemic, with many businesses having to scramble to develop e-commerce platforms to stay in business. Restaurants, supermarkets, drugstores and professional services (doctors, lawyers, etc.), among others started offering online purchases and delivery, and other services remotely. “E-commerce platforms have become important sources of information, including for offline purchases. Four of every ten users go to websites or apps to get product information,” said Cox. The websites more frequently used for this purpose are the Facebook Marketplace (41.6%), Clasificados Online (45.7%), Clasificadospr (23.8%), Amazon (12.5%) and e-bay (9.0%). “Despite a decrease in the online sales median, the purchasing of merchandise and services have diversified,” Cox said.
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Puerto Rico in dire need of a cybersecurity protocol
The island’s current situation is “disorganized” and “critical”
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Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal
month after hackers seized the AutoExpreso toll system, the only thing clear about the whole affair is Puerto Rico’s need for a cybersecurity protocol that would prevent this kind of crime from happening again, or at least significantly minimize its consequences. In the second public hearing of the House Committee on Government about the design and implementation of cybersecurity protocols by government agencies, both witnesses providing testimony coincided that the current situation is “disorganized” and “critical.” “The fact that the two witnesses today have characterized the current state of the island’s cybersecurity critical and disorganized demonstrates the need to develop a National Cybersecurity Act with concerted support of the Executive and Legislative [branches] and the business sector,” said committee chair Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz. According to NYC Cyber Law Group (NYCCLG), “cybersecurity infrastructure in Puerto Rico is underdeveloped at almost all levels” primarily because of the “lack of capacity from some organizations to understand and deploy
cybersecurity frameworks and communications mechanisms,” On its part, Bartizan Security stated that almost a year and half after the Puerto Rico Innovation and Technology Services agency was created, its actions are still to be felt. According to Bartizan, every government agency does “the best they can” regarding cybersecurity, there are no controls, there is no active monitoring or contingency plans, and there is no back up, among a long list of deficiencies plaguing the sector. The situation seems to get compounded even further when there is no information available about how many cybercrimes have been identified or solved, or what happens when confidential information from citizens is compromised. More specifically, there is no information publicly available about the cyberattack to the Treasury Department in 2016. Other questions posed by Bartizan were: how quickly does a service recovers after a cyberattack?, who oversees technological implementation?, what penalties are imposed to companies with poor cybersecurity? NYC-CLG pointed to the benefits of developing a clear cybersecurity posture and communications protocol. “Insurance agencies in Puerto Rico can start offering clearer cyber insurance packages to businesses… and audit firms would be able to ensure that all entities are operating at a minimum level of security that could help inspire confidence in the technical infrastructure of the island.” As an additional consideration, the New York based advisory firm, emphasized that a
All citizens have a digital life to protect, and government must be the shield to protect its citizens’ information. Jesús Manuel Ortiz Representative
clear cybersecurity framework would help the government to “effectively engage the private sector to promote business development on the island.” According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), said framework should follow specific strategies to: identify, protect, detect, respond and recover from cyber threats. The NYC-CLG concluded that the government should support establishing “an internal compliance and governance protocol modeled after the NIST framework” and simultaneously deploy “effective information sharing tools among government agencies.” For Rep. Ortiz, Puerto Rico could improve its technological competitiveness by developing and implementing cybersecurity controls. “We need to be proactive, but more accurate, in developing and implementing laws that would help to mitigate cybersecurity problems in Puerto Rico. All citizens have a digital life to protect and government must be the shield to protect its citizens’ information,” Ortiz said.
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More extensive monitoring of banking transactions needed
As a strategy to reduce the impact of cyberattacks
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Brenda A. Vázquez Colón, The Weekly Journal
he seizure of data from the “AutoExpreso” (tolls) system by computer hackers brought to light the technological vulnerability of both the government and the private sector in Puerto Rico. A month later, it is still unclear whether the hackers obtained confidential information from the clients of the privately operated platform. Zoimé Álvarez, executive vice president of the Puerto Rico Bankers Association (PRBA), explained that whether cyber piracy situations happen – where there may be some risk that a person’s confidential information may fall into the hands of criminals – it is the responsibility of each consumer to constantly monitor his/her banking transactions to identify unauthorized ones. “You have to evaluate your accounts’ statements regularly because so many payments are now being made electronically, it is not enough to look at them once a month. Commercial banks and some credit cards notify customers with alert calls about [suspicious] use. There are others that report all transactions,” Álvarez said. There are credit card companies that notify customers of each transaction for a low cost. Avoiding fraud is also convenient for banking institutions, as they can alert costumers about the possible inappropriate use of their information and prevent them from losing money. “The bank does not skimp on security platforms because the consumer has to trust their service, and responding to fraud costs the banks money, so we are active in carrying an educational message about the different fraud schemes,” said Álvarez.
How To React To Information Theft?
If a consumer has been notified that his/her data could have been stolen through a cyberattack on an institution that holds sensitive information such as social security number, bank account and credit card numbers, it is recommended that the person immediately act and contact the bank and ask how they can help. “If the company discloses that customer information is compromised, a remedy should be required to mitigate data theft. Generally, what they would do is pay clients the cost of a credit monitoring service for one or two years, so they can
You have to evaluate your accounts’ statements regularly because so many payments are now being made electronically, it is not enough to look at them once a month. Zoimé Álvarez, Executive Vice President, PRBA
be aware of transactions and avoid identity theft”, explained Wilton Vargas, a specialist on technology issues and founder of the “Tecnético” website. Consumers could also take other measures, such as being vigilant about their banking activities and requesting a report on their credit history to check that the information is correct. “By law, everyone has the right to an annual credit report. You also have to ask the bank and the credit card holding institutions what security mechanisms they can provide to secure your transactions,” Vargas explained. Álvarez recommended that if a consumer
is certain that his/her information has been compromised by fraudsters, he/she should immediately inform the banking institutions so that the fraudulent actions can be immediately stopped. “If you are a victim of a fraud scheme, you have to put the bank on alert to raise a red flag on transactions. Another option is to cancel your credit cards. “, Álvarez explained. She added that “it’s not only about not giving away your secret number, personal information or not opening unsolicited links… it is monitoring and corroborating to stop anything that does not add up.”
Legislative Action
The House of Representatives Committee on Government, chaired by Rep. Jesús Manuel Ortiz, recently held the second public hearing to investigate the operation of agencies involved in the development and implementation of cybersecurity plans in the public sector. “I am very concerned about the visibility of the information systems of private companies that manage government data, and about the citizens’ knowledge about the risks of cyberattacks. Experts expressing that the current state of cybersecurity on the island is critical and disorganized, demonstrates the urgency for developing a National Cybersecurity Law with Legislative, Executive and business support,” Ortiz said.
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Wall Street as an alternative for financial empowerment
Investing does not necessarily require a lot of money
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Juan A. Hernández, The Weekly Journal
ontrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have lots of money to invest in Wall Street, and you don’t need a broker either. “What people don’t know is that you can invest in Wall Street through investing platforms currently available to anyone. You can do it remotely… you don’t even need to be in Manhattan. And you don’t need enormous amounts of money to invest. You can literally buy just one share of any given company,” explained Gabriela Berrospi, an investment advisor and founder of Latino Wall Street (LWS). According to Berrospi, people need to realize that investing in the stock exchange provides the possibility of achieving financial independence and the stability necessary to reach our goals. “I started out investing while I was still a student to a bank account, but the risks, then you would be able in college and, it goes without saying, everybody difference is that, instead of to position yourself so that you knows students don’t have money to spare,” having your money inactive in a have a financially secure future.” recalled Berrospi. bank account, you are actually Berrospi specializes in “The stock exchange is like a supermarket: there managing it by investing in the providing people the necessary There are many are different prices for different things. From things you consider tools to be able to work their companies at penny stocks to Amazon shares that will provide a way through Wall Street and the same level as cost upwards to $2,000. So, there good return of have the possibility of achieving Amazon whose is a price range from where you investment.” their financial goals. stocks trade at more could choose, depending on your While “Latino Wall Street strives affordable prices. possibilities,” she added. Berrospi to educate its audience, so it Berrospi mentioned admitted can generate passive income that there are many other there are through financial investments companies at the same level some following professional as Amazon whose stocks trade inherent strategies,” she said. “It’s all at more affordable prices. risks to investing, she about financial empowerment.” The advisor mentioned tech assured markets have a Originally, Berrospi’s audiences were Latino giants Apple and historical uptrend, women looking to achieve financial independence AT&T, whose shares despite their sometimes from their parents or spouses. But these women sell for $140 and $19, extreme fluctuations. brought along their sisters, brothers and friends, respectively, at the “We have been and “Gaby Wall Street” eventually turned into Latino time of this interview. through everything: Wall Street. The investment the Great Depression, Berrospi recalled that, since she got interested advisor said the world wars, terrorist in investing in Wall Street, and even today, people only thing needed attacks, natural operating in the stock exchange are almost to start investing in disasters, pandemics… exclusively white middle-high class males. “So, I’m the stock market is and the market always trying to provide access to Latinos for them to have a trading account recovered,” she said. “If a chance at financial stability.” Gabriela Berrospi in one of the online you follow statistics and Latino Wall Street will be hosting its annual investing platforms invest conservatively, conference next May 27th at the Puerto Rico Founder, Latino Wall Street available. “It is similar you don’t run too many convention Center.
In fact,
The stock exchange is like a supermarket: there are different prices for different things. From penny stocks to Amazon shares.
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Rebuffed by Spirit, JetBlue goes hostile in takeover bid
Carrier now asking Spirit shareholders to reject Frontier Airlines proposal
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Michelle Chapman David Koenig, The Associated Press
etBlue is going hostile in its bid for Spirit Airlines and asking shareholders of the low-cost carrier to reject a proposed acquisition by Frontier Airlines. JetBlue, in going straight to shareholders with its offer, wants to push Spirit’s board to the negotiating table. On Monday, shares of Spirit, based in Miramar, Florida, jumped 12% in midday trading. JetBlue pitched a new offer of $30 per share in cash, or more than $3.2 billion, to Spirit stockholders but said its April 5 offer of $33 per share is still available if Spirit enters negotiations. Spirit’s board rejected JetBlue’s original $3.6 billion bid on May 2, saying antitrust regulators are unlikely to approve an offer from the New York City airline largely because of its alliance with American Airlines in the Northeast. The Justice Department is suing to block that deal. Shareholders of Spirit Airlines Inc. are scheduled to vote June 10 on the Frontier bid, which is favored unanimously by the Spirit board. The cash-and-stock offer was valued at $2.9 billion
when announced in February, but Frontier’s question about it,” JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes wrote shares have dropped 30% since, reducing the in a letter. “The Spirit Board based its rejection value of the deal. on unsupportable claims that are JetBlue said its new offer easily refuted.” is lower because of Spirit’s Hayes said JetBlue is offering a unwillingness to share financial significant premium in cash, more information that JetBlue certainty, and more benefits for The bid from Frontier requested. all Spirit investors. He said JetBlue Group Holdings “The Spirit Board failed is confident of winning regulatory Inc. provides less to provide us the necessary approval, and called the Frontier cash but would let diligence information it had bid high risk and low value. Spirit shareholders provided Frontier and then Neither Spirit nor Frontier keep 48.5% of the summarily rejected our responded immediately to requests combined airline. proposal, which addressed its for comment. regulatory concerns, without The bid from Frontier Group asking us even a single Holdings Inc. provides less cash but would let Spirit shareholders keep 48.5% of the combined airline. It would give Spirit shareholders 1.9126 shares of Frontier plus $2.13 in cash for each Spirit share. Either combination involving Spirit would create the nation’s fifth-biggest airline behind American, Delta, United and Southwest. Frontier and Spirit are similar airlines that offer low fares and get more revenue from tacking on fees for many things. JetBlue is more like the big airlines it hopes to catch. It generally charges higher fares than the discount airlines, but it provides more space between rows and adds amenities, including free TV. Shares of JetBlue Airways Corp. fell 4% while Robin Hayes CEO, JetBlue shares of Frontier, based in Denver, climbed more than 6% in midday trading Monday.
In fact,
The Spirit Board failed to provide us the necessary diligence information it had provided Frontier and then summarily rejected our proposal.
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opinion Gustavo Vélez Economist
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A new era of economic development for Puerto Rico
iven the intense public debate surrounding tax incentives as a desirable mechanism to advance the economic development of Puerto Rico, it is worth reviewing the economic history of the island to put in a fair perspective not only the role they have played in the past but the economic future to which we can aspire. By the 1940s, Puerto Rico was going through difficult economic times. The devastating impact of hurricanes and the effects of the Great Depression were just some of the economic challenges facing the island. In response, the local leadership formulated Operation Bootstrap (“Manos a la Obra”), which was conceptualized as a project aimed at economic transformation through industrialization and external investment, promoting the export of locally finished products. As part of that project, the Government of Puerto Rico approved for the first time an industrial incentives’ law that allowed for a ten-year exemption from income and property taxes applicable to the establishment of new industries, the expansion of existing production operations and the construction of hotel facilities. This exemption also included taxes on the acquisition of machinery and raw materials, and went hand in hand with a federal tax exemption for corporations that invested on the island. “Manos a la Obra” caused accelerated economic growth that led to the creation of thousands of jobs and the establishment of hundreds of factories from all kinds of industrial sectors. Although looking back, the decision to not include agriculture as part of the economic push may now seem questionable, it is undeniable that “Manos a la Obra” achieved an economic transformation with dramatic results that quickly caught the attention of the rest of the world. To illustrate, by 1949, the U.S. Department of Commerce estimated that nearly 2,000 manufacturing establishments on the island employed some 55,000 Puerto Ricans. By 1967, that number rose to more than 120,000. In the mid-70s, a review of the tax system in the United States included the creation of Section 936 of the federal internal revenue code, which granted companies established on the Island a tax credit against their federal tax obligation equivalent to the income generated by commercial activities or businesses carried out on or from the island. As a tool to advance economic growth, Section 936 yielded benefits for the Island and that gave continuity to the industrialization project of Puerto
Rico, promoted the local injection of capital, the transfer of technology and knowledge, as well as the creation of increasingly better paid jobs in the industrial and professional services sectors. We now face a new set of economic challenges, including maintaining economic growth after the debt restructuring process. Puerto Rico has a new tool that can open the door to a new economic transformation that leads to growth and stability, this time in a diversified and balanced way, incorporating sectors such as technology, services, finance, tourism, real estate, and agriculture itself. Act 60 of 2019, which was approved by the local government in 2019, goes beyond previous local legislation in the area of incentives. Its purpose is to consolidate all existing tax benefits into a single code, eliminating all incentives deemed obsolete or that had little or no real and effective contribution to Puerto Rico’s economy. Before Law 60, there were approximately 76 different laws and programs, created between 1945 and 2019, that comprised the legal framework of Puerto Rico’s economic incentives. Investments by individuals designated as resident investors under Act 60 (previously Act 22) in real estate and businesses on the island are presently estimated at over $4 billion and growing, according to the Performance of Incentive Programs report prepared by economic research firm Estudios Técnicos and commissioned by the DEDC in 2019. Planned capital investments were estimated at $678 million and the number of direct jobs created at over 4,400.
The incentives in the new code, available to local entrepreneurs, Puerto Rican professionals and investors, open the door to the return of professional and business talent to our island to create new startups or join existing companies. That process is already underway. We have the opportunity to correct past mistakes and catapult our island into a new era of economic growth, building on our capabilities, knowledge, human resources, our culture, relationship with the United States and a privileged geographical location that unites the hemisphere.
We have the opportunity to correct past mistakes and catapult our island into a new era of economic growth, building on our capabilities, knowledge, human resources, our culture, relationship with the United States and a privileged geographical location that unites the hemisphere.
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< The Weekly Journal > Wednesday, May 18, 2022
La verdad
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Pope Francis arrives in a wheelchair in the Paul VI hall to attend an audience with pilgrims from central Italy at the Vatican. >AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia
Pope’s recipe to heal his painful knee? A shot of tequila Seminarians promised to deliver a bottle to the Santa Marta hotel
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Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press
OME (AP) — Doctors have prescribed a wheelchair, cane and physical therapy to help heal Pope Francis’ bad knee. He has other ideas. According to a viral video of the pope at the end of a recent audience, Francis quipped that what he really needs for the pain is a shot of tequila. Francis was riding in the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square when he stopped near a group of Mexican seminarians from the Legion of Christ, who asked him in his native Spanish how his knee was doing. After he replied that it was “capricious,” they told Francis that they admired his ability to smile despite the pain, and that he was an example for future priests like themselves. “Do you know what I need for my knee?” Francis asked them from the popemobile. “Some tequila.” The seminarians laughed and promised to deliver a bottle to the Santa Marta hotel where
Francis lives. the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul The 85-year-old Argentine pope has been Gallagher, visit to Kyiv this week as the Holy See suffering from strained ligaments in his right knee seeks to balance its concern for Ukrainians amid for months, and on doctors’ orders, recently has Russia’s war with its efforts to keep open a channel been using a wheelchair and a cane to get around, of dialogue with Moscow. so he can let it heal. The Vatican said Gallagher would stop first in The limits on his mobility have spurred a Lviv to meet with refugees and regional officials, predictable round of media speculation about his and then move onto Kyiv for the meeting health and a future conclave, but with Kuleba and to tour the a close collaborator recently said destruction nearby. the pope is “better than ever” The secretariat of state tweeted and is undergoing two hours of Tuesday that the visit would physiotherapy a day. mark the 30th anniversary of “He’s in very good health diplomatic relations with Ukraine and the same lucid reflection and show the closeness of the The 85-year-old as always,” La Plata, Argentina pope and Holy See to Ukraine, Argentine pope has Bishop Víctor Manuel Fernández “reaffirming the importance of been suffering from tweeted May 14 after seeing the dialogue to reestablish peace.” strained ligaments pope. “(There’s) a problem in The trip comes as the Holy in his right knee See toes a delicate line in trying one of his knees, but every day for months, and to keep alive newly improved he has more than two hours of on doctors’ orders, ties with the Russian Orthodox rehabilitation, which is producing recently has been Church while offering support to results. For everything else, he’s using a wheelchair the “martyred” Ukrainian faithful. better than ever.” and a cane. At the same time, the Holy See is Francis recently pulled out reconciling Pope Francis’ frequent of a planned two-day trip to denunciation of the weapons Lebanon next month, citing the industry and “crazy” recourse to knee problem, but the Vatican rearming Ukraine with Catholic teaching that says has confirmed he will travel to Congo and South states have a right and duty to repel an “unjust Sudan, as well as Canada, in July. aggressor.” The Pope’s convalescence coincides with
In fact,
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Renovated NYC museum hall showcases Indigenous perspectives The collection is infused with 21st century sensibilities
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Deepti Hajela, The Associated Press
EW YORK — In his first visit to the American Museum of Natural History, Morgan Guerin had a list. Not of things he wanted to check out, though — a list of things that he hated. It started with seeing certain regalia from his Musqueam Indian Band — sacred objects not intended for public display — in the museum’s Northwest Coast Hall. This wasn’t just any visit. Guerin was there at the museum’s invitation in 2017 for the start of a project to renovate the hall, incorporating what it should look like for the showcase of 10 Indigenous perspectives. For him and Pacific Northwest tribal nations. representatives of other Indigenous communities The hall includes some iconic pieces that in the Pacific Northwest and western Canada, the anyone who has been to the museum will 5-year, $19-million renovation of the Northwest remember - including a massive 63-foot-long Coast Hall, which reopened to the public Friday, was an opportunity to tell their stories themselves. canoe that for decades was placed outside the hall but has now been brought in and suspended from “Our people are very, very tired of being the ceiling, as well as several ‘studied,’ because the giant carvings. But its new misconception of who we are exhibit, items are accompanied has always been the outside by text in both English and community’s downfall,” he said. Indigenous languages and “We have always been here, includes a gallery section ready to tell people who we showing how younger are.” The hall was the Indigenous artists are using The hall was the museum’s museum’s first motifs and designs from prior first gallery, opened in 1899 gallery, opened generations. under the auspices of Franz in 1899 under There was also, and Boas, an anthropologist who the auspices of continues to be, the was deeply interested in the Franz Boas, an fundamental question of Indigenous cultures of the anthropologist. whether museums should be Northwest and western coastal holding these collections and Canada. Boas was also a trying to tell these stories in the proponent of what was then a first place, given the role that revolutionary idea that different cultures should be looked at in their own right and theft and colonization has played in building them, and the way Indigenous communities have been not on some kind of comparative scale. treated. It had largely remained unchanged, though, Museums “seem to function as very expensive, since the early 1900s. When museum officials and in the case of the American Museum of decided it was time to renovate, they knew they couldn’t do it without input from the people whose Natural History, maybe the most expensive, trophy cases in the world,” said Haa’yuups, cocultures are on display. curator of the hall, who is Head of the House of “A lot of what we did was trying to bring this historic collection to the 21st century, and that’s by Takiishtakamlthat-ḥ, of the Huupa‘chesat-ḥ First Nation. telling new stories with active voices in all of these He saw his involvement as a way to help spur a communities and nations,” said Lauri Halderman, difference, to get people thinking about whether vice president for the exhibition. the items on display would be better served by The museum brought together the being with the people they came from. representatives of the Indigenous communities “Does it make sense to have a bunch of people to talk about what the gallery should contain and
In fact,
Artifacts, dioramas, and representations of Native American culture from the northwest coast of North America are displayed, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. >AP Photo/John Minchillo
A lot of what we did was trying to bring this historic collection to the 21st century, and that’s by telling new stories with active voices in all of these communities and nations. Lauri Halderman VP for the exhibition
who have nothing to do with objects, to have them spend their lives managing them?” he said. “Or does it make sense to send those treasures back to the communities where they come from?” It’s an issue the museum has and is continuing to grapple with, said Peter Whiteley, curator of North American ethnology. He said the institution, which has repatriated items over the years, had decided through the renovation process that it was willing to do some additional limited repatriation and develop greater collaboration between the museum and the native tribes. Deeper questions notwithstanding, those who took part in the process, both from the Indigenous nations and the museum staff, said it was a valuable one in terms of showing what is possible regarding collaboration and listening to Indigenous voices. “The best thing about this, the result of these consultants from the different native tribes,” said David Boxley, representing the Tsimshian tribe, “is that it’s our voice speaking.”
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/ Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Zelenskyy opens Cannes Film Festival Links war and cinema
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Jake Coyle, The Associated Press
ANNES, France — The 75th Cannes Film Festival kicked off Tuesday with an eye turned to Russia’s war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on a new generation of filmmakers to confront dictators as Charlie Chaplin satirized Adolf Hitler. After tributes and musical numbers, Zelenskyy was streamed live for the formally attired audience who had gathered for the premiere of Michel Hazanavicius’ zombie comedy “Final Cut.” Zelenskyy, dressed in his signature olive green shirt, drew a thunderous standing ovation and spoke at length about the connection between cinema and reality. He referenced films like Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and Charlie Chaplin’s “The Great Dictator” as not unlike Ukraine’s present circumstances. Zelenskyy quoted Chaplin’s final speech in “The Great Dictator,” which was released in 1940, in the early days of World War II: “The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people.” “We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent,” implored Zelenskyy. The Ukrainian president pushed filmmakers not to “stay silent” while hundreds continue to die in Ukraine, the largest war in Europe since WWII, and show that cinema “is always on the side of freedom.”
We need a new Chaplin who will demonstrate that the cinema of our time is not silent. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The war is to be a regular presence in Cannes, where the festival has barred Russians with ties to the government from attending this year. Set to screen are several films from prominent Ukrainian filmmakers, including Sergei Loznitsa’s documentary “The Natural History of Destruction.” Footage shot by Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravičius before he was killed in Mariupol in April will also be shown by his fiancée, Hanna Bilobrova. Even “Final Cut,” the latest film from “The Artist” filmmaker Hazanavicius, was renamed from its
French model and actress Frederique Bel poses for photographers upon arrival at the opening ceremony and the premiere of the film ‘Final Cut’ at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. >AP Photo/Dionisia Vasilopoulou
original title, “Z,” after Ukrainian protesters noted ago for his performance as Charlie Parker in Clint that the letter Z to some symbolizes support for Eastwood’s “Bird,” said that while ascending the Russia’s war in Ukraine. steps to the Palais des Festivals on Tuesday, he Formally attired stars including Eva Longoria, could still hear chants of “Clint! Clint!” ringing in his Julianne Moore, Bérénice Bejo and “No Time to ears. Eastwood is one of few others who have been Die” star Lashana Lynch were awarded an honorary Palme. among those who streamed On Tuesday, Cannes also down Cannes’ famous red unveiled the jury that will carpet Tuesday. More staraward the Palme d’Or. French studded premieres — “Top Gun: actor Vincent Lindon is leading Maverick!” “Elvis!” — await over a jury that includes Deepika the next 12 days, during which Padukone, Rebecca Hall, The festival is 21 films will vie for the festival’s Asghar Farhadi, Trinca, Ladj Ly, hosting TikTok prestigious top award, the Noomi Rapace, Jeff Nichols and creators from Palme d’Or. Joachim Trier. around the world But Tuesday’s opening and At the tradition-upholding and holding a the carefully choreographed Cannes, the world’s largest separate contest red-carpet parade leading and most glitzy temple to for best (very short) up the steps to the Grand film, cinema, controversy and videos created Théâtre Lumiére again restored glamour swirl together in a during the festival. one of the movies’ grandest 12-day spectacle of red carpet pageants after two years of premieres and rampant movie pandemic that have challenged deal-making up and down the the exalted stature Cannes Croisette. Theatrical release is a annually showers on cinema. requirement of any film vying for the Palme, which “Dear friends, let’s come out of this dark has prevented streaming services from playing a together,” said opening ceremony host Virginie big role at Cannes. Efira. But this year, one new festival partner — TikTok After last year requiring regular COVID-19 — has raised some eyebrows. The festival is testing and masks in theaters — and no kisses on hosting TikTok creators from around the world and the red carpet — Cannes has largely done away holding a separate contest for best (very short) with pandemic protocols. Masks are recommended videos created during the festival. Thierry Fremaux, inside, but are rarely worn. artistic director of Cannes, granted TikTok wasn’t Cannes presented an honorary Palme d’Or to the future of cinema. Forest Whitaker, who received a standing ovation. “The cinema remains the final art,” said Whitaker, who won best actor at Cannes 34 years Fremaux.
In fact,
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/ Wednesday, May 18, 2022
In fact, Over the past 10 years, only 14 horses have run all three legs of the Triple Crown, and that includes three who won the first two.
Sonny Leon celebrates after riding Rich Strike to victory in the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs on May 7, in Louisville, Ky. > AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Rich Strike skipping Preakness reignites Triple Crown debate This will be the 42nd time in the past 44 years without a triple winner
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Stephen Whyno, The Associated Press
ALTIMORE — Graham Motion always wondered what it would be like to show up at the Preakness with the Kentucky Derby winner, and when that happened in 2011 with Animal Kingdom, it was all he was hoping for and then some. “Nobody else can win the Triple Crown,” Motion said. “Everybody wants to see you win the Preakness, except for the nine other horses’ trainers and connections. Everybody wants to see a Triple Crown winner.” There won’t be a Triple Crown winner for the 42nd time in the past 44 years after owner Rick Dawson changed direction and opted not to enter Rich Strike in the Preakness off an 80-1 upset victory in the Derby. That decision coming on the heels of several strange years without a Derby champion going for the second jewel in the Preakness has reignited the old debate that the three Triple Crown races should be spaced out further. Dawson cited extra rest as the reason Rich Strike was not running in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness this Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, a race now
worth $1.65 million. Proponents of pushing back the Preakness — and, by extension, the Belmont Stakes that follows three weeks later — argue it’s better for modern thoroughbreds who aren’t used to racing on those short turnarounds and would produce stronger fields in Baltimore and New York. Those in favor of the status quo point to the sport’s tradition and say it should be difficult to win the Triple Crown. They also are quick to say it was done twice recently with American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018. “That’s what makes the Triple Crown interesting and makes it hard to do,” said trainer Saffie Joseph, who is saddling Skippylongstocking in the Preakness. “You want to make it easier just for a good horse to do it? You need a great horse to win the Triple Crown. I think it means a lot to have it the same way as it’s been.” Down the shed row in the corner of the stakes barn at Pimlico, 86-year-old Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas doesn’t expect the current spacing of the races to change. They’ve followed the same schedule since 1969, except in 2020 when the pandemic disrupted the order of the Triple Crown. But he isn’t totally against adding some extra time between such important races. “(The Preakness) would probably fit Memorial Day or something like that, and then go Fourth of July for the Belmont,” said Lukas, who is aiming for a record-tying seventh Preakness victory with Kentucky Oaks-winning filly Secret Oath. “That makes all the sense in the world from a horse trainer’s standpoint.” Four weeks each between the Derby, Preakness and Belmont is the proposal made by NBC Sports
analyst Randy Moss, who believes the current rotation isn’t fulfilling its intended purpose of bringing the best 3-year-olds together on the track three times in the spring. “The point was to beat the best of your generation in three consecutive races,” Moss said. “That’s the whole point, and it’s not happening. Many times, it’s not happening.”
That’s what makes the Triple Crown interesting and makes it hard to do. You need a great horse to win the Triple Crown. Saffie Joseph Trainer of Skippylongstocking in the Preakness
Over the past 10 years, only 14 horses have run all three legs of the Triple Crown, and that includes three who won the first two. Now with Rich Strike’s absence, the virtual guarantee of the Preakness being run with a Triple Crown chance truly on the line has not happened since 2018: Medina Spirit ran last year after testing positive at the Derby for a substance not allowed on race day and was eventually disqualified; the races in 2020 happened out of order, with the Preakness last; and in 2018 neither DQ’ed winner Maximum Security nor elevated Country House went to Pimlico.
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