Language: Spanish, English
Currency: US dollar
Calling
Code: 1-787 and 1-939
Puerto Rico is a group of islands in the Caribbean. It is one of
the outlying territories of the United States of America. Puerto
Rico offers a rich mix of historic colonial cities, tropical
rainforests, beautiful beaches and cultural experiences, from the
vibrant capital of San Juan to quiet, natural islands such as
Vieques and Culebra.
The island of Puerto Rico is part of the
Greater Antilles, located between the island of Hispaniola and the
Virgin Islands. The state of Puerto Rico also includes the Spanish
Virgin Islands of Vieques and Culebra and the uninhabited island of
Mona to the west.
The island, along with Cuba, was one of the
last Spanish colonies in the Caribbean until the USA occupied the
island as part of the Spanish-American War in 1898. To this day,
Puerto Rico has the status of an American overseas territory, which
brings with it some drastic restrictions for its residents: although
residents must pay all federal taxes and social security
contributions, they are not entitled to vote in presidential and
congressional elections, and Puerto Rico also has no right to vote
in the House of Representatives. Most American mail order companies
(including Amazon) also categorically rule out shipping to Puerto
Rico. For years, there have therefore been efforts to either convert
Puerto Rico into a full-fledged state of the USA or to declare
independence. To this day, it is a very sensitive and controversial
issue.
1 San Juan. The capital city
of San Juan is a mix of colonial heritage and modern city life. The old
town, known as Viejo San Juan, boasts narrow streets, colorful houses,
and historic forts such as El Morro and San Cristóbal, which offer
impressive views of the sea. San Juan also has a vibrant art and
restaurant scene, as well as beaches such as Condado and Isla Verde,
which attract both locals and tourists.
2 Ponce . This city displays
a rich cultural heritage, with a strong focus on art and history. Plaza
Las Delicias and the Ponce Museum of Art are particular attractions.
Ponce is also famous for its beautiful colonial architecture, especially
the colorful firehouse, Parque de Bombas, which has become a symbol of
the city.
3 Mayagüez . It is the cultural center of the region and
home to the University of Puerto Rico, giving the city a young and
energetic atmosphere. The University Botanical Garden and the Yagüez
Theater Complex are major attractions. Mayagüez is also known for its
food production, especially the famous "Brazo Gitano" cookie and the
cultivation of mangoes.
4 Rincón . The place is a hotspot for surfers
and is known for its spectacular sunsets. The town attracts outdoor
enthusiasts for surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Rincón also has a
relaxed, alternative vibe with small artisan shops and yoga retreats.
The beaches, such as Domes Beach and Sandy Beach, are known for their
waves.
5 Caguas . The place offers a traditional, less touristy
atmosphere. The town is known for its botanical gardens and rich Taino
history. Visitors can learn about Puerto Rico's indigenous roots and
enjoy the beauty of nature at the Jardin Botánico y Cultural William
Miranda Marín municipal park.
6 Fajardo . The town is known for its
piers to small islands such as Culebra and Vieques. The town is also a
hotspot for water sports such as sailing, snorkeling and kayaking. One
of Fajardo's most fascinating attractions is the bioluminescent Laguna
Grande bay, which magically glows at night.
Rio
Camuy Cave National Park (Parque nacional de las Cavernas del Río
Camuy, Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy) . Cave system in the
northwest of the island.
Carribean
National Forest also known as El Yunque is a protected
bio reserve that surrounds an area of lush tropical rainforest.
National Historic Site of San Juan (Sitio Histórico Nacional de San
Juan). Castillo de
San Felipe del Morro or Fortaleza
San Felipe del Morro is part of the defenses of the Old San
Juan.
Vieques . is best discovered during a combined
kayak and snorkeling tour. Especially after sunset, you can experience
an unforgettable natural spectacle in a kayak in one of the rare
phosphorescent bays on Vieques.
Culebra. is ideal for diving and
kayaking. You should also visit Flamenco Beach, which is one of the most
beautiful beaches in Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is an external territory of the USA, so the same conditions
apply for arrival and entry:
Before departure, you must have an
ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) permit. The
application can be made on the official website of the Department of
Homeland Security. Citizens of countries that participate in the Visa
Waiver Program, including most European countries, are entitled to do
so. More information can be found on the USA website. Since Puerto Rico
is an island, there are only two ways to enter the country.
Airplane
International Airport (IATA: SJU), Carolina (3km from San
Juan). In 2024, there will only be direct flights from Europe with
Iberia from Madrid. Regional flights to nearby islands are provided by
Cape Air and Sunshine Airways.
There are only direct flights to
Ponce from New York and Orlando.
Ship
The port of San Juan is
the destination of numerous cruise ships on their route through the
Caribbean. There are no ferry connections to other countries or
dependent territories other than the US Virgin Islands.
From Ceiba in the east of the main island, ferries run to the offshore
islands of Culebra and Vieques. Details at puertoricoferry.com
You can fly between San Juan and Mayagüez as well as to the smaller
nearby islands.
In Puerto Rico, Spanish is spoken for the most part, but English is also spoken.
A highlight is a visit to El Yunque National Forest, the only tropical rainforest in the US national park system, with hikes to waterfalls and viewpoints. Beaches like Flamenco Beach in Culebra are ideal for snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing. In the bioluminescent bays of Vieques and Fajardo, you can go kayaking in the evening and admire the glow of the water. Surfing in Rincón, diving in the coral reefs, ziplining in the Toro Verde adventure park and visiting the historic forts of San Juan such as El Morro are also popular activities. You can also sample the local cuisine on a food tour or enjoy the vibrant art and music scene.
Bacardi was founded in Cuba in 1862. Today the distillery is based in
Cataño and offers tours, an interactive museum and tastings.
Casa
Bavaria, On Highway 22, exit number 42 towards Morovis (left at the
traffic lights). Continue on the Tony Laureano expressway (137) until
the fifth light (only one flashes), turn right. Continue on the road
(155) towards Orocovis, the restaurant is on the left at kilometer 38.3.
Open: Thu - Sun + holidays if they fall on a Monday, 12:00 -
20:00.infoeditA restaurant serving Bavarian and typical Puerto Rican
cuisine, located at 642 meters in the mountains of Morovis in central
Puerto Rico.
The nightlife is lively and varied, especially in the capital city of San Juan. There are numerous bars, clubs and restaurants in the Condado, Santurce and Old San Juan districts. Visitors can dance salsa, enjoy live music or drink cocktails in trendy rooftop bars. The scene ranges from chic lounges to lively beach bars, and many resorts also have casinos.
Christopher Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista in 1493, in honor of John the Baptist, the prophet who baptized Jesus Christ. The natives of the Taino tribe called the island Borikén or Boriquén, which means "Land of Our Most High and Brave Lord," a name that evolved into Borinquen, a name that is still frequently used in reference to Puerto Rico. From there come the gentilic terms boricua (neutral), borinqueño, -ña and borincano, -na. The name with which the Spanish called the capital was "Puerto Rico," which alluded to the riches that left the port of the city for mainland Spain. Over the years, the names were exchanged, so that the city of Puerto Rico became San Juan, and the island of San Juan Bautista became Puerto Rico. Today, the capital is San Juan. The island is popularly known as "The Island of Enchantment." In 1932, the name of Porto Rico was changed to Puerto Rico.
The history of Puerto Rico began with the settlement of the indigenous Ortoiroid people in the Puerto Rican archipelago between 3000 and 2000 BC. Other tribes, such as the Arawak and Saladoid Indians, populated the island between 430 BC and 1000 AD. Probably, the first important settlers in Puerto Rico were the Ciguayos. In the centuries before the arrival of the Europeans, the Tainos, around the 10th-11th centuries AD, displaced or exterminated the Ciguayos from their places of origin, including Puerto Rico, leaving only a remnant in the north of the current Dominican Republic. At the time of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in 1492, the only indigenous culture present on the island was the Taino.
Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of Puerto Rico on November
19, 1493, on his second voyage of exploration. Some historians believe
that Martín Alonso Pinzón had already arrived on the island in 1492
during the time he was separated from Columbus. The Taínos, native
inhabitants of the island, called it "Borikén", origin of the name
"Borinquen", a term that bears a certain acoustic similarity to the
original name and which has provided the still existing "boricua".
According to some historians, the name "Borikén" derives from the word
"buruquena", the name of a small crustacean endemic to the Puerto Rican
Caribbean.
According to some historians, the Tainos were a
peaceful and hospitable culture, which contrasts with historical data by
Scarrano, Waguenheim and other historians who describe a hospitable but
cautious culture.[citation needed] They gave the Spanish gifts of gold,
a metal that for them had a purely decorative value, such as a necklace
of shells, while for the inhabitants of Europe, Asia and Africa it was
and still is very precious.
There is a theory that this behavior
was due to the belief that the Spanish were gods because of the color of
their skin; but modern opinion dismisses this as a myth. In reality,
what emerges from the writings of explorers is the reference to them
being treated as gods by the Tainos, which is an approach typical of the
conquistadors, but not an objective indicator of what the Tainos really
thought of them. It must be remembered that at that time there were no
good Spanish translators capable of deepening a conversation with the
Tainos and that those that existed were carried away by their
impressions.
Another incident worth examining is the death of
Diego Salcedo, a Spaniard who held a group of Taino people in slavery.
The Taino rebelled against him for his cruel treatment and drowned him
in a river. Many people believe that the act was carried out to verify
his status as a god, but scholars differ. One fact used to refute this
presumption is that in 1492 the Fort de Navidad was built on the island
of Hispaniola from the remains of the ship Santa Maria. When the Spanish
returned in 1493 they found that the fort had been destroyed by fire and
that the Taino had killed all the Spanish residents. Experts on the
subject are of the opinion that Salcedo's death was a premeditated act
by the chief Agüeybaná that represented the beginning of the indigenous
rebellion against the Spanish in the Antilles.
In 1508, Juan
Ponce de León conquered the island and founded the town of Cáparra.
Ponce de León was welcomed by the chief Agüeybaná and quickly took
control of the island, in contrast to the failed attempt by Vicente
Yáñez Pinzón, who was declared captain general and corregidor and
limited himself to landing domestic animals in the west of the island.
After the death of Christopher Columbus, who had been named "Governor of
the Indies" by the Spanish Crown, this title was denied to his son Diego
Colón and he named Juan Ponce de León as the first official governor of
the Island of San Juan (Puerto Rico), and the Captaincy General of
Puerto Rico was established in 1582.
Under the encomienda system,
equivalent to the European feudal system, many Taínos were forced to
leave their villages to live on haciendas. Many Taínos died because they
lacked immunity against diseases brought by the Europeans, such as
measles or smallpox. The few who survived were freed when Fray Bartolomé
de las Casas, a Spanish priest, convinced the Catholic Monarchs to
eliminate the encomienda. To fill the void left by the freed vassals,
traders began bringing black African slaves to Puerto Rico. The
Africans, for the most part, were settled in the eastern part of the
island, in towns such as Vieques, Loíza and Ponce. Because of this
mixture of races, which also occurred in Santo Domingo and Cuba, modern
Puerto Ricans describe Puerto Rico as a country with citizens with a
mixture of three races (Spanish, African and Taíno), even though the
Spanish was the predominant one.
For centuries, the British
Empire disputed the Spanish dominion of the island. Puerto Rico was a
viceregal possession of Spain for more than four centuries. On April 17,
1797, Ralph Abercromby's fleet invaded the island with an estimated
force of between 6,000 and 13,000 men, including German soldiers, with a
fleet of 60 to 64 ships. Fierce fighting continued for days with the
Spanish troops. Both sides suffered heavy losses. On Sunday, April 30,
the British ceased the attack and began to withdraw from San Juan.
Governor General Ramón de Castro, with 3,000 men, resisted the attacks
for the two weeks that the siege lasted, after which the invaders were
forced to re-embark. The Spanish forces took all their artillery and
equipment. In the battle, the captain of engineers Ignacio Mascaró y
Homar stood out, defending the fort of San Antonio, key to the defense
of the island.
The movement known as Grito de Lares was an armed
insurrection led by Manuel Rojas that took place on September 23, 1868,
coinciding with the events of the Gloriosa on the peninsula. The
uprising was controlled fairly quickly, and the island underwent several
political reforms until the end of the 19th century.40
Puerto
Rico was considered one of the fully-fledged federated states in the
Draft Federal Constitution of 1873 of the First Spanish Republic, whose
first article states:
The Spanish Nation is made up of the States of
Upper Andalusia, Lower Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic
Islands, the Canary Islands, New Castile, Old Castile, Catalonia, Cuba,
Extremadura, Galicia, Murcia, Navarre, Puerto Rico, Valencia, and the
Basque Regions. The States could keep the current provinces or modify
them, according to their territorial needs.
However, this project
did not materialize during that brief republican period in Spain.
Finally, the fight for autonomy almost achieved its goal on November 25,
1897, when the Autonomous Charter was approved, which granted broad
self-government to the island.
The colonizers of the United States entered Puerto Rican history by
going to war with Spain and invading and conquering the Island on July
25, 1898 during the Spanish-American War. On December 10, 1898, the
Treaty of Paris was signed, by which Spain was forced to cede Puerto
Rico, Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam to the United States on April 11,
1899.
In 1900, the Foraker Act created a civil government that
replaced the military occupation government. Puerto Rico was
administered by the United States Department of the Interior, and the
governor was appointed by the President of the United States. This type
of government was based on a republican model, with three branches: the
Executive Branch (Governor), the Legislative Branch (Legislative
Assembly), and the Judicial Branch (General Court of Justice). It is
worth mentioning that the Legislative Assembly consisted of two
Chambers: on the one hand, the Executive Council made up of the
Secretaries of the Governor; and, on the other, a Chamber of Delegates
composed of thirty-five members elected every two years by qualified
voters. An important fact is the creation of the position of Resident
Commissioner, representing the Island in the United States Congress, but
without the right to vote on any decision of said body.
In 1917,
with the Jones Act, Puerto Ricans were granted American citizenship, the
Executive Council was eliminated as a Legislative Chamber and its
officials were divided to form different Independent Departments under
the executive branch. These were: the Department of Justice, led by the
Attorney General; the Department of the Treasury, led by the Treasurer;
the Department of the Interior, led by the Commissioner of the Interior;
the Department of Education, led by the Commissioner of Education; the
Department of Agriculture and Commerce, led by the Commissioner of
Agriculture and Commerce; the Department of Labor, headed by the
Commissioner of Labor; and the Department of Health, headed by the
Commissioner of Health.
The Senate of Puerto Rico was created in
place of the Executive Council, which would be composed of nineteen
members elected by eligible voters to serve four-year terms. In
addition, seven senatorial districts were added to these, represented by
two senators, plus five senators elected at-large. This Senate would
exercise all the purely legislative powers and functions that the
Executive Council had exercised until then, including the confirmation
of the appointment of Governor.
In 1922, the Supreme Court of the
United States, in the case of Balzac v. Porto Rico, 258 U.S. 298 (U.S.
1922), interpreted that the Jones Act did not express that Puerto Rico
was an incorporated territory, a phrase that describes those territories
in the process of incorporation and integration into the United States
as an additional state of that country. However, in Council of Health v.
Rullan, 586 F.Supp. 2d 22 (D.P.R. 2008), the federal judge of the
district of Puerto Rico Gustavo Gelpi said Let it be clear. The court
today is in no way attempting to override the 'Insular Cases' as applied
to the U.S. territories – only the Supreme Court can. The court, rather,
today holds that in the particular case of Puerto Rico, a monumental
constitutional evolution based on continued and repeated congressional
annexation has taken place. Given the same, the territory has evolved
from an unincorporated to an incorporated one. (“Let it be clear. The
court today is in no way attempting to overturn the “Insular Cases” as
applied to U.S. territories. Only the Supreme Court of the United States
can do so. Rather, this court today holds that, in the particular case
of Puerto Rico, a major constitutional evolution has taken place based
on continuous and repeated annexation by Congress. Because of this, the
territory has evolved from unincorporated to incorporated.”)
In
1946, the pressure to grant powers previously denied to Puerto Ricans
for nearly half a century began to bear fruit with President Truman’s
appointment of Resident Commissioner Jesús T. Piñero Jiménez to the post
of Governor of Puerto Rico. Jesús T. Piñero thus became the first Puerto
Rican to hold the highest political office in the entire history of the
Island. In 1947, Congress approved the law that allows Puerto Ricans to
elect their ruler by electoral vote for a four-year term.
the Gag
Law of 1948, which made it illegal to speak in favor of Puerto Rican
independence or even to display the Puerto Rican flag. This law,
implemented by the American colonial government, was used to persecute
and imprison Puerto Rican independence leaders, instilling fear in the
population and discouraging any form of nationalist and patriotic
expression.
In 1948, Luis Muñoz Marín, founder of the Popular
Democratic Party and son of Luis Muñoz Rivera, won the first
gubernatorial election in Puerto Rico's history. On July 3, 1950, the
United States Congress approved Public Law 600, which allowed the
Legislative Assembly to form a Constituent Assembly for the creation of
the Constitution of Puerto Rico, subject to subsequent approval by the
President of the United States and Congress. This law left the Jones Act
intact and renamed it the Federal Relations Act, eliminating only the
provisions that would be included when the Constitution of Puerto Rico
came into effect. On October 30, 1950, the Nationalist Insurrection took
place in response to the project of the free associated state. Blanca
Canales proclaimed the Republic of Puerto Rico in the Grito de Jayuya
and battles took place in different parts of the country. The town of
Jayuya was bombed from the air, there were massacres in Utuado, and La
Fortaleza, the Governor's residence, was attacked with gunfire. In 1954,
to make it clear that the independence insurrection was not an internal
problem of Puerto Ricans, as the U.S. colonial government claimed, the
nationalists Lolita Lebrón, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Irving Flores, and
Andrés Figueroa Cordero protested in the U.S. Congress, with Lolita
firing into the air at the Blair House. All the attackers were arrested,
including Pedro Albizu Campos, and served long sentences in federal
prisons for failing to apologize for having committed such an act.
Opponents of the Commonwealth and many academics claim that the
greatest effect of this law was to change the name of the law that
governed Puerto Rico and to perpetuate the alleged subordinate
relationship, since it is mistakenly thought that in 1952 the election
of the governor by popular vote and the republican system of government
were obtained, things granted by the laws previously mentioned.
Defenders of the Free Associated State claim that it ceased to be a
Spanish province through a "bilateral pact" because the relationship
between the United States and Puerto Rico was defined as an association
in the nature of a compact, a term not defined under International Law.
In 1952, Muñoz Marín induced Puerto Rico to obtain the status of
Free Associated State, under its own Constitution, which is the current
political situation on the Island. However, this change in territorial
status does not mean that the territorial clause of the U.S.
Constitution no longer applies to Puerto Rico.
Spanish and
English have been the official languages of Puerto Rico, a fact that
was extended after the signing of the Law of January 5, 1993. By the end
of September 2017, Puerto Rico was impacted by Hurricane Maria.
Puerto Rico is an archipelago located between the North Atlantic
Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, east of Hispaniola, west of the Virgin
Islands, north of Venezuela and south of the Puerto Rico Trench, the
deepest point in the entire Atlantic. The archipelago consists of the
main island of the same name of Puerto Rico and 142 other islands,
islets and cays, among which are the islands of Vieques, Culebra, Mona,
Desecheo, Caja de Muertos and Palomino. As the smallest and easternmost
of the Greater Antilles, the main island of Puerto Rico measures about
178 kilometres (110 statute miles; 96 nmi) long and about 65 kilometres
(40 statute miles; 35 nmi) wide. With a land area and internal coastal
waters of 9,100 square kilometres (3,513 sq mi), it is the 4th largest
island in the Caribbean, the 81st largest island in the world, and the
175th largest country or territory in the world.
Separated
geologically from the Greater Antilles of Hispaniola by the Mona
Passage, and from the Lesser Antilles island arc by the Anegada Passage,
the main island of Puerto Rico, the Spanish Virgin Islands of Vieques
and Culebra, the British Virgin Islands, and the United States Virgin
Islands, except for the southernmost island of Saint Croix, lie on the
same continental shelf, the Puerto Rico Bank, between the Puerto Rico
Trench in the North Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Caribbean Sea.
Approximately 60% mountainous, the island has three mountain ranges:
the Sierra de Cayey in the southeast, the Sierra de Luquillo in the
northeast, and the Cordillera Central in the central and western region.
The highest point of elevation in Puerto Rico, Cerro de Punta 4,389 feet
(1,338 m), is located in the Cordillera Central while Pico El Yunque,
one of the most popular peaks in Puerto Rico, located in the Sierra de
Luquillo in the El Yunque National Forest, has a maximum elevation of
3,540 feet (1,080 m).
The island has seven valleys: Caguas
Valley, Yabucoa Valley, Lajas Valley, Añasco Valley, Coloso and
Culebrinas Valley, Cibuco River Valley, and Guanajibo River Valley, and
two coastal plains: one extending along the north coast and the other
along the south coast. The capital San Juan and main metropolitan area
are located on the northern coastal plain in the northeast. It also has
an extensive karst formation in its central northwest region called the
Northern Karst Belt and two prominent batholiths, one in the southeast
at San Lorenzo and the other in the central west at Utuado. The island
has 47 major rivers and 26 reservoirs, lagoons or lakes, including
Laguna Grande de Fajardo, one of three bioluminescent bays in the Puerto
Rico archipelago located in the northeast corner.
Puerto Rico is composed of volcanic (review) and plutonic rocks from
the Cretaceous and Eocene periods covered by Oligocene and recent
sedimentary rocks. Most caves appear in the northern karst area in
Oligocene and recent rocks. The oldest rocks on the island are about 190
million years old and are located in Sierra Bermeja, in the southwest.
These rocks represent part of the oceanic crust and could have moved
from the Pacific Ocean to their current location in the Caribbean.
Puerto Rico is located in the contact zone between the Caribbean and
North American tectonic plates. This means that the island is currently
being deformed by the stresses created in this zone. These stresses can
cause earthquakes and tsunamis. These seismic events, accompanied by
landslides, represent some of the most dangerous geological disasters on
the island and in the northeastern Caribbean. One of the most serious
was the San Fermin earthquake of 1918, named for occurring on the
birthday of the Catholic saint Fermin de Uzès.
Puerto Rico has a tropical climate with an average minimum
temperature of 19.4 degrees Celsius (66.9 °F) and a maximum of 29.7
degrees Celsius (85.5 °F). The average rainfall is 1,686.6 mm (66.4 in)
per year. Puerto Rico's climate in the Köppen climate classification is
tropical rainforest. Temperatures are warm to hot throughout the year,
averaging about 29 °C (or 85 °F). The temperature at the lowest
elevations is 21 °C (70 °F). In the mountains the temperature is lower.
Between the dry and wet seasons, there is a temperature change of
about 6 degrees Celsius. There is a rainy season that runs from April to
November. The mountains of the Cordillera Central are the main cause of
temperature variations and precipitation that occur over very short
distances. Mountains can also cause a wide variation in local wind speed
and direction due to their sheltering and channeling effects which add
to climate change. The island is especially susceptible to hurricanes
and cyclones.
The island has an average temperature of 28 °C
(82.4 °F) year-round, with an average minimum temperature of 19 °C (66.9
°F) and maximum of 30 °C (85.4 °F). Seasonal daily temperature changes
are quite small in the lowlands and coastal areas. Temperatures in the
south are usually a few degrees higher than in the north and
temperatures in the central mountains of the interior are always cooler
than those in the rest of the island.
Between the dry and wet
seasons, there is a temperature change of about 3.3 °C (or 6 °F). This
change is mainly due to the warm waters of the tropical Atlantic Ocean,
which significantly modify the colder air entering from the north and
northwest. Coastal water temperatures around the year range from about
24 °C (75 °F) in February to 29 °C (85 °F) in August. The highest
temperature ever recorded was 37 °C (99 °F) at Arecibo, while the lowest
temperature ever recorded was 40 °F (4 °C) in the mountains of Adjuntas,
Aibonito, and Corozal. Average annual rainfall is 66 inches (1,676 mm).
Climate change in Puerto Rico encompasses the effects of climate
change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide,
on the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
The United States
Environmental Protection Agency reports: "Puerto Rico's climate is
changing. The Commonwealth has warmed by more than one degree (F) since
the mid-20th century, and surrounding waters have warmed by nearly two
degrees since 1901. The sea is rising about an inch every 15 years, and
strong storms are becoming more severe. In the coming decades, rising
temperatures are likely to increase storm damage, significantly damage
coral reefs, and increase the frequency of unpleasantly hot days. A 2019
report stated that Puerto Rico "is affected by climate change more than
any other place in the world."
Puerto Rico uses Atlantic Standard Time year-round; that is, UTC-04:00. Daylight saving time is not used in the archipelago because there is not much difference between sunsets and sunrises throughout the year. Sunset varies between 5:40 p.m. on winter and 19:10 in summer, while sunrise varies between 07:00 in winter and 05:30 in summer.
The music of Puerto Rico represents the convergence of different
cultural currents, such as Taino, Spanish, Canarian, Corsican and
African. This mixture of rhythms, instruments and melodies developed
what represents the Puerto Rican musical identity. The characteristic
instruments of this music are the güiro, maracas, the cuatro, the guitar
and African drums. Among the first professional musicians, black people
and mulatto Creoles stood out.
A large part of the folk music
comes from the jíbaro, originating in the Canary Islands. This was mixed
with other music, imported or native, from the Latin part of the New
World.
Today, the island has different cultural folk rhythms,
such as the bomba and the plena. In the jíbaro or trova music, the
different seises and aguinaldos stand out; and in classical music,
Puerto Rican dance. Currently, the rhythms that are popular
internationally are salsa and reggaeton, which have foreign roots. Salsa
evolved from rhythms that are mostly recognized in Cuba; and reggaeton,
for its part, is a fusion with Jamaican hip-hop and dance hall and has
now been fused with all kinds of rhythms.
The most outstanding writers of contemporary Puerto Rican literature
include Luis Rafael Sánchez (La Pasión según Antigona Pérez), Rosario
Ferré (Maldito Amor), Giannina Braschi (Yo-Yo Boing! and Estados Unidos
de Banana), Esmeralda Santiago (Cuando yo era puertorriqueña), and Mayra
Santos-Febres (Sirena Selena viste de pena). This group is
characterized by the number of books published, national and
international awards, and the translations of their books into other
languages.
The country, as a whole, was awarded the Prince of
Asturias Award for Literature in 1991 for declaring Spanish as the only
official language of the country.
Art reflects influences from their ethnic background. A form of
craftwork called carving of saints is the result of a long Catholic
evolution of depicting saints through sculpture for the purpose of
converting Indians to Christianity. The saints are made of native woods,
clay and stone. After the effigies are sculpted, some simple, others
with greater detail, they are painted in bright colors. The saints vary
in size, the smallest being about eight inches tall and the largest up
to twenty inches. Traditionally, saints are seen as messengers between
heaven and earth and so they occupy spaces called altars in homes. At
these altars people ask them for help, special favors or protection.
Also very popular are the vejante masks that are worn at carnivals.
Similar masks representing evil spirits are also used in Spain and
Africa. The Spanish used these masks to scare Christians who had left
the church into returning. In African tribes, masks were used as
protection from the evil spirits they represent. Based on historical
origins, Puerto Rican masks always have horns and fangs. They are
generally created with papier-mâché, coconut shells and wire. Red and
white are the typical colors of masks, but the color palette has
expanded to include a wide variety of shapes and patterns.
An
expression of Puerto Rican craftsmanship is the mundillo, which comes
from European and Catholic tradition and influence. The mundillo is a
handmade lace used to adorn shirt collars, wedding and baptismal
clothes. It is well known in the towns of the northwest of the island,
especially Moca, known as the Capital of Mundillo. The work Mundillo
Nuestro by Maestro Antonio Martorell, one of the most recognized Puerto
Rican artists worldwide, is exhibited at the Museum of Art of Puerto
Rico and represents the coordinated effort of the artist and several
mundillistas from Moca and other towns. It is a huge artistic
representation of a world map made of thread using traditional thread
techniques. This work is part of the worldwide collective art exhibition
project called Google Art Project.
Although some decorations can be found from early November, in Puerto
Rico, due to American influence, Christmas begins at the end of
November, incorporating the celebration of Thanksgiving. From that date
on, most municipalities and shopping centers carry out official
activities to begin the celebrations. Most Christian denominations also
begin the Advent season on this date, with a series of liturgies that
seek to prepare parishioners to celebrate the birth of Jesus of
Nazareth. Throughout December, it is customary to organize charitable
activities and exchange Christmas cards.
In the Catholic
tradition, religious celebrations intensify on December 15, when
churches are decorated and Christmas Masses are celebrated. These
celebrations are usually early in the morning and are traditionally sung
Masses. As in other countries, it is customary to exchange gifts on
December 25 for Christmas; Additionally, as part of the Hispanic
heritage, gifts are also given in celebration of Epiphany, popularly
called Three Kings' Day (January 6).
According to the island
folklore tradition, Christmas gifts are handed out by one of several
figures: Santa Claus, Father Christmas or Baby Jesus. Beginning on
December 24, there is a break from school and it is customary to take
vacations during some or all of the 12 days of Christmas, which
traditionally run from December 25 to January 5, inclusive. Gifts on
January 6 are handed out, according to folklore, by the Three Wise Men,
thus beginning a period of devotion to the Kings and celebrations in
their honor.
In the old Catholic liturgy this celebration lasted
eight consecutive days, so it officially ended on January 13. However,
popular festivals continued for several days. These festivals are called
octavitas, and end on different dates in different parts of the Island,
reflecting local traditions. In some places, including temples and
churches, decorations are taken down and festivities cease by
mid-January. Educational institutions resume classes toward the end of
the Octave of Kings. In municipalities and areas that celebrate patron
saint festivities in January, these festivities are incorporated into
the octavitas. This occurs, for example, in the municipality of San
Sebastián or in Old San Juan where the patron saint, San Sebastián, is
celebrated on January 20—in these places the Christmas season ends on
that date. In Mayagüez, on the other hand, the festivities extend until
the celebration of Candelaria on February 2.
There are several
solemn Christmas festivities in Puerto Rico during this season,
including: the Misas de Aguinaldos, Nochebuena, the Misa de Gallo, Día
de Pascuas (Christmas Day), Despedida de Año, Año Nuevo, Día de Reyes,
the Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastián, the octavas and octavitas, and
the aguinaldos (parrandas, trullas or assaults).
January 1 New Year
January 6 Three Kings' Day (Puerto Rico)
January 11 Eugenio María de Hostos' birthday (Puerto Rico)
Third
Monday in January Martin Luther King's birthday (USA)
Third Monday in
February Day of the Presidents of the United States and of the Puerto
Rican Governors
March 22 Day of the abolition of slavery.
April 16
José de Diego's birthday (Puerto Rico)
According to the lunar
calendar Good Friday
Last Monday in May Memorial Day (United States)
Second Sunday in May Mother's Day (United States)
Third Sunday in
June Father's Day (United States)
July 4 Independence Day of the
United States (United States)
July 17 Luis Muñoz Rivera's birthday
(Puerto Rico)
July 25 Constitution Day of the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico
July 27 José Celso Barbosa's birthday (Puerto Rico)
First
Monday in September Labor Day (United States)
October 12 (Officially)
Discovery of America (also known as Columbus Day or Columbus Day) or Day
of Cultural Diversity
November 11 Veterans Day (United States)
November 19 Puerto Rico Discovery Day
Fourth Thursday in November
Independence Day Thanksgiving (United States)
December 25 Christmas
In Puerto Rico, the most popular sports are baseball, basketball, and
boxing. It also had representatives who have stood out worldwide in
other sports such as: athletics, volleyball, tennis, golf, softball,
judo, Olympic wrestling, among others.
Some of the most
outstanding athletes that the Island has and has had are:
Basketball: José Juan Barea, Carlos Arroyo, José Ortiz, Raymond Dalmau,
Elías Ayuso, Eddie Casiano, among many others.
Baseball: Roberto
Clemente, Roberto Alomar, Orlando Cepeda, Iván Rodríguez, Yadier Molina,
Carlos Beltrán, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Javier Báez, Carlos
Delgado, Edgar Martínez, Juan González, Bernie Williams, among many
others.
Boxing: Miguel Cotto, Wilfredo Gomez, Wilfred Benitez,
Hector Camacho, Felix Trinidad, Wilfredo Vazquez, Edwin Rosario, Ivan
Calderon, Carlos Ortiz, among many others.
Volleyball (men):
Hector Soto, Luis Rodriguez, Ozzie Antonetti, Gregory Berrios, Papolito
Lopez, among others.
Volleyball (women): Aurea Cruz, Karina
Ocasio, Sheila Ocasio, Jetzabel Del Valle, Eva Cruz, Daly Santana,
Deborah Sheilhamer, Natalia Valentin among others.
Tennis: Monica
Puig (Olympic gold in singles at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
2016, the first in the history of Puerto Rico), Marimer Olazagasti,
Charlie Pasarell, and Gigy Fernandez, all 3 are in the International
Tennis Hall of Fame.
Table Tennis: Adriana Díaz, Melanie Díaz,
Fabiola Díaz, Gabriela Díaz, Daniely Ríos, Brian Afanador.
Golf:
Chi-Chi Rodríguez
Olympic Wrestling: Jaime Espinal
Athletics: Javier Culson (bronze medal, London 2012), Wesley Vásquez and
Jasmine Camacho (gold medal, Tokyo 2020).
Puerto Rico is administratively divided into seventy-eight
municipalities; each municipality elects a mayor and a municipal
legislature for a four-year term. The main cities are San Juan
(capital), Bayamón, Carolina, Ponce, Caguas, Guaynabo, Arecibo, Toa
Baja, Mayagüez and Trujillo Alto, all of them with more than 75,000
inhabitants. Puerto Rico has two island municipalities, Vieques and
Culebra, which are located east of the main island. The municipalities
are grouped into eight senatorial districts and 40 representative
districts, which have no administrative functions, and serve as
geographic demarcations of representation of the population residing in
each district, before the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico.
Each senatorial district is represented before the Legislature of the
country by two senators and each representative district by one
representative. The size of these is altered based on population changes
recorded in the decennial censuses. Some government agencies also divide
the country into regions or zones, and the number of municipalities and
area covered varies depending on the agency and the functions they
perform. For example, an educational region does not cover the
geographic area or necessarily contain the municipalities that a Health
region or a Department of Transportation and Public Works region does.
Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States: it
belongs to the United States, according to the Insular Cases resolved by
the Supreme Court of Justice of the United States, constitutional rights
are not automatically extended to all territories under US control.
Puerto Rico and its citizens are entitled to the protection of the
United States Constitution.
The relationship of the government of
Puerto Rico with the federal government of the United States is for many
comparable to that of the US federal government with its states.
Everything related to currency, defense, foreign relations and most
trade between states falls under the jurisdiction of the federal
government. The government of Puerto Rico has fiscal autonomy and the
right to collect local taxes. Puerto Ricans are citizens of the United
States with all the rights and duties that such citizenship confers,
they contribute to the US social security, but since presidential
elections are only held in incorporated states and territories,
residents of Puerto Rico do not participate in them, unless they have
legal residence in an incorporated state or territory.
The
Resident Commissioner is the sole representative of the local government
in the United States Congress. The Resident Commissioner has the right
to speak but not to vote in the United States Congress, except when the
same Congress grants him a vote in the "joint committee." When this
occurs, the Resident Commissioner may vote, but only when his vote is
not decisive on the issue.
The Government of the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico is divided into three branches: the Executive Branch, the
Legislative Branch (divided into the House of Representatives and the
Senate) and the Judicial Branch.
The Executive Branch is
represented and directed by the governor. The governor is elected by
direct vote in a general election every four years and appoints, with
the advice and consent of the Senate, the members of his cabinet, which
is made up of the secretaries of the fifteen departments.
The
legislative power of the Island rests with the Legislative Assembly, a
bicameral legislature composed of the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The Senate has twenty-seven (27) members in total, two
(2) for each electoral district and eleven (11) by accumulation based on
the proportion of the population. The House of Representatives has 51
members in total, one (1) for each electoral district and eleven (11) by
accumulation. In the event that the governor and the Legislative
Assembly are from the same party and two thirds or more of the
legislators are in it, up to a constitutional maximum of nine (9) seats
in the Senate and seventeen (17) in the House of Representatives are
granted additional to the minority parties.
In 2005, there was a
referendum in which only 22.6% (553,955) of the voters registered to
vote (2,453,292) participated, and of these, 83% (464,010) of the voters
voted to convert this Assembly into a unicameral Assembly, and in
January 2007, the Senate approved a bill to begin this process.
The Judicial Branch is the branch of Government responsible for
compliance with the Constitution and the administration of Justice. Led
by the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico, the judicial system is composed of
three instances. The Court of First Instance (TPI) is divided into the
Superior Court and the Municipal Court (with different areas of
jurisdiction). The TPI has thirteen judicial districts (San Juan,
Bayamón, Carolina, Caguas, Arecibo, Utuado, Aguadilla, Mayagüez, Ponce,
Aibonito, Guayama, Humacao and Fajardo). The party dissatisfied with the
decisions of the ICC may request an appeal to the second instance, known
as the Court of Appeals, which is made up of panels. The last instance
is the Supreme Court, which is the only constitutional court. The
Supreme Court is composed of the chief justice and six associate
justices. These are appointed by the governor with the advice and
consent of the Senate. These appointments are for life, until the
mandatory retirement age of seventy (70) years. The number of judges may
only be varied by law, at the request of the Supreme Court itself.
There are five main political parties in Puerto Rico: the Popular
Democratic Party (PPD), the New Progressive Party (PNP), the Puerto
Rican Independence Party (PIP), the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC), and
the Dignity Project (PD). All elected officials in Puerto Rico serve a
four-year term. There are also several political groups dedicated to the
struggle for independence, including the Socialist Workers Movement of
Puerto Rico, founded in 1982 through the merger of the Popular Socialist
Movement and the Revolutionary Socialist Party, later the
Internationalist Workers League; the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party,
which does not believe in participation in elections while Puerto Rico
is a colony; and the Hostosiano National Independence Movement, a
movement that resulted from the merger of the Hostosiano National
Congress and the New Puerto Rican Independence Movement. Likewise, the
Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) was founded in 2008 as a result of the
merger of the Revolutionary Workers Party (PRT-Macheteros), the
Revolutionary Left Youth (JIR), the Political Training Workshop (TFP)
and the Political Work Project (PTP). Likewise, the new and growing
Movement for the Reunification of Puerto Rico with Spain (MRE), critical
of the current status quo of the island and the distortion of the war of
1898, is based on historical, cultural and linguistic ties to demand the
integration of the island with Spain, as the eighteenth autonomous
community.
The debate over Puerto Rico's political status has been ongoing in
many local, federal (United States) and international (United Nations)
spheres. In 2007, a White House working committee concluded that Puerto
Rico remains fully subject to the authority of the U.S. Congress under
the territorial clauses. The Popular Democratic Party, founder of the
Commonwealth, protests this White House opinion.
However, the
legal restrictions related to Puerto Rico's political status are not
transferred to the citizen, since they are limited only to the
territory. Thus, any citizen of the United States, even those born in
Puerto Rico, can vote for the president and congress if they do not
reside in Puerto Rico; no citizen can vote for federal elective offices
from the territory comprised by this island. For this reason, several
people defend the argument that the United States continues to treat
Puerto Rico as a colony.
In October 2011, Governor Luis Fortuño
set August 12, 2012 to hold the first part of a two-step status
plebiscite. If a second vote is necessary, it will be held on the same
day as the general election on November 6, 2012, he added.
The
first referendum will ask voters whether they want to maintain the
current Commonwealth status under the territorial clause of the U.S.
Constitution or whether they prefer a non-colonial, non-territorial
option. If more voters favor the non-territorial option, a second vote
will be held between the three non-colonial, non-territorial status
options: Statehood, independence, or free association.
The bill
was considered by the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, where it was
amended to ask both questions on the same ballot on November 6, 2012. No
to the current territorial (colonial) status won the referendum while
the second question, statehood, received the majority. The option of No
to the status quo, a colonial free associated state, would obtain about
54% of the people's support. Statehood won with more than 61% of the
votes counted, which has caused controversy due to the presence of a
large number of blank and invalid ballots. However, these are discarded
to calculate which alternative won, since they are not considered valid
votes under the current Puerto Rican Electoral Code.
On June 11, 2017, a new non-binding plebiscite was held, with statehood for Puerto Rico winning with 97% of the votes. The option that proposed total independence from the United States only achieved 1.5% support and the result for those who proposed maintaining the current status was 1.32%. Only 22% of the 2,260,804 registered voters participated in the consultation; Considering that the lists are altered by the federal decision on the issue of keeping the voters active even though they have not participated in the previous elections, keeping voters who voted in the last 2 general elections.
Act 600 (P.L. 81-600), which was passed by the United States
Congress, authorized the people of Puerto Rico to develop their own
Constitution. This act gave the people control of internal government
activities. However, this act left intact all articles under the Jones
Act and the Foraker Act, as well as the Treaty of Paris.
After
the Constitutional Assembly drafted the Constitution, the people
ratified it through a referendum. The United States Congress, following
the procedure required by the Federal Relations Act, approved the
Constitution, which went into effect on July 28, 1952.
The
Constitution includes a modern Bill of Rights that follows the tradition
of the United Nations Bill of Human Rights. Of the original twenty
articles, however, one was amended in accordance with Congress's order
to limit free secondary education, and another article was eliminated by
Congress without the approval of Puerto Ricans. The republican form of
government mimics the United States Constitution. A governor heads the
executive branch while two legislative chambers, the Senate and the
House of Representatives, make up the legislative branch. The Supreme
Court of Puerto Rico is the final court of appeals in most court cases,
but its decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court of the United
States.
As recently as 1993, the Eleventh Circuit of the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals determined that Congress' decision to
allow internal government in Puerto Rico did not invalidate the
jurisdiction of the Territorial Clause of the United States
Constitution. The court concluded that there has been no fundamental
alteration in Puerto Rico's relations with the United States; Puerto
Rico remains constitutionally an unincorporated territory, without
separate sovereignty. The court established that "Congress may
unilaterally eliminate the Constitution of Puerto Rico or the Federal
Relations Act and replace them with any law or regulation it deems
appropriate. Despite the approval of the Federal Relations Act and the
Constitution of Puerto Rico, the courts of Puerto Rico continue to
obtain all their authority from the United States Congress."
However, most local and international political observers agree that
Puerto Rico's political condition is extremely stable, and that no
member of the U.S. Congress has the slightest intention of trying to
unilaterally modify the Magna Carta that governs the lives of more than
four million citizens and residents of the Island.
The government
is composed of the executive, judicial and legislative branches. The
latter consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of
Representatives. The legislative branch, being composed of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, is a bicameral system (two chambers).
Bicameralism originated in England in the 13th century. It was
established because it was essential to recognize the division of
socioeconomic classes. There was one chamber representing the nobility
and clergy and another chamber representing the bourgeoisie and knights.
Since there were two chambers that met the needs of the different social
classes of the country, there was a social balance, which was very
convenient for the British kingdom.
Bicameralism was adopted by
the United States of America in the 18th century, although with some
changes. The chambers would not represent social levels, but rather one
chamber (Senate) would represent the states and another
(Representatives) would represent the representatives of similar numbers
of population. Before the United States adopted bicameralism, it was
adopted by Puerto Rico at the end of Spanish rule under the Autonomous
Charter. According to the Jones Act and later the Constitution of Puerto
Rico, bicameralism was established to have the benefit of a double
examination of the measures taken by the legislative branch, to avoid
disputes and under the idea that double work sharpens the best
legislative criteria (Report of the Commission of the Legislative
Branch, 4th Minutes of the Constitutional Convention 2579 (1961)).
Another reason is that this bicameral system would avoid political
setbacks. Finally, and most importantly, there was a desire to avoid
conflict when the Constitution of Puerto Rico was drafted and sent to
the United States Congress (Luis Pérez Bonilla, Conveniencia de una
asamblea legislativa unicameral para Puerto Rico, LIV Rev. Jur. U.P.R.
711, 723 (1985)).
Currently, the government of Puerto Rico has
the Senate and the House of Representatives in its legislative power.
Since the bicameral system was implemented, it has been studied in
depth. The advantages presented by the Puerto Rican government are the
following: the chamber equalizes the control of the other two government
bodies (Judicial Branch and Executive Branch) and thus excesses are
avoided. By having two chambers, it is possible to establish diverse
representative schemes and by having so many people, systematic error is
"reduced." For some time now, officials of the Puerto Rican government
have presented the unicameral system to the citizenry.
The
advantages, after much consideration, have been argued and they have
given rise to the possibility of change. The advantages of unicameralism
are: a single legislative body makes it easier to reach a general
consensus, it saves time and economic resources since the reality of the
government of Puerto Rico is that the legislative branch is extremely
numerous, which equates to many expenses. Continuing, the concentration
of a single legislative body allows for the localization and
maximization of economic resources for research, a sense of
responsibility is generated since there is only one legislative body and
finally the analysis of other constitutions in the world leads to the
conclusion that this chamber system has actually been successful.
The unicameral system has been rejected because it has been
attempted to imitate the United States system and because it is not
really convenient for the members of the legislative branch to reduce
the size of the same because it would result in a reduction of seats. On
March 17, 2003, Luis Raúl Torres Cruz expressed that "unicameralism
meets some of the objectives that the legislature has: reduce expenses,
improve the quality of legislative work and improve the balance between
the powers of the State, in particular by strengthening a unicameral
legislature against the executive branch." A proposal has been presented
to amend the Constitution of Puerto Rico to change its legislative power
to a single chamber since the bicameral system has been seen to be
defective.
In Puerto Rico, in recent decades, a major deficiency
has been revealed, since the people have elected the government with
much wider gaps (a lot of difference) and this has resulted in an
overwhelming majority occupying the legislative power. With these
deficiencies, the Puerto Rican Independence Party (more than any other)
has asked for a referendum to be held so that the people can decide
whether they want to continue with the bicameral system, which for many
has presented crass defects.
Referendums have been held on the
following dates to determine the people's feelings regarding
bicameralism or unicameralism: September 23, 2004, August 25, 2005, and
July 10, 2007. The referendum under Law No. 477, better known as the Law
of the Referendum on the Chamber System of the Legislative Assembly,
establishes that if the people of Puerto Rico express their will in
favor of a proposal by more than 50%, the vote must be validated.
In the referendum of August 25, 2005, Dr. Luis Roberto Piñero
González II, president of the Independentistas Pro Unicameralidad,
appeared before the Puerto Rican people, giving a written message which
established his position on unicameralism as the best option for the
legislative power: «On July 10, 2005, the Puerto Rican electorate
expressed itself in the referendum, strongly in favor of replacing the
current bicameral legislative system with a unicameral one. According to
the results of the referendum on the 2005 Chamber System, option one (1)
which represents the votes in favor of changing the Legislative Assembly
to a single chamber (unicameralism) received 83.8% of the votes cast».
The State Election Commission certified that after the referendum of
July 10, 2005, the Unicameral System was favored. The decision of the
electorate is still under analysis and debate, as it means that a vote
must be prepared so that the people can choose whether they want to
amend the Constitution and establish unicameralism or not.
Currently, the island has five political parties recognized for
elections: the Popular Democratic Party (PPD), which defends the free
associated state and free association as a political option; the New
Progressive Party (PNP), which promotes full integration as the 51st
state of the American Union; the Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP),
which promotes independence, the Citizen Victory Movement (MVC) and
Project Dignity, which do not have particular proposals regarding the
political status of the Island. In Puerto Rico, the two national parties
of the United States also have a presence: the Republican Party of the
United States and the Democratic Party of the United States, which
promote the primaries of these parties in Puerto Rico and collaborate in
fundraising.
On the other hand, the New Progressive Party emerged
as a breakaway within the local Republican Party. Its ideology is to
achieve statehood for Puerto Rico. Currently, it has the support of
around 32% of the popular vote. The Popular Democratic Party has been
known for its major reforms in the public transportation and health
system, which are still controversial due to the high cost and the lack
of health services.
The Popular Democratic Party stands out for
being the oldest and strongest active party in Puerto Rico. It was
founded by dissidents of the Liberal Party. Although its political
philosophy initially defended independence, it later changed to
autonomism when it understood that this option gave greater benefits to
the population of the Island without the need to integrate as a State in
the United States. Today it represents around 31% of the population of
the Island.
The Puerto Rican Independence Party is also one of
the oldest. It emerged when the Popular Party began to defend
autonomism, then part of its members founded the Independence Party,
which, as its name indicates, promotes independence for Puerto Rico.
Although in the 1950s they achieved 20% of the people's support, their
support has declined to the point that they lost their franchise in
recent elections including the elections of 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016.
In the 2020 elections they obtained 14% of popular support, but in the
2024 elections they experienced a notable rise and became the second
most voted political force, surpassing the Popular Democratic Party.
Puerto Rico's economy is the most competitive and, in nominal terms, the largest in the Central American and Caribbean region and one of the largest in Latin America despite its population size. According to the World Bank, it is a very high-income economy not belonging to the OECD, which makes it the only nation in Latin America to achieve a high level of industrialization and economic well-being, having the highest per capita income in the region and the highest minimum wage ($9.50 per hour) which will soon rise to $10.75 per hour in 2024. When compared to the states of the United States, the average income per family in Puerto Rico amounted to $30,450 annually while in the state of Mississippi it exceeded $45,000. Puerto Rico had a public debt of $72,204,000,000 (equivalent to 70% of GDP), with a government deficit of $2,500,000,000. But with the austerity measures that have been taken and the restructuring of the debt, they managed to reduce it by half. The fiscal oversight board has said that a surplus of $13 billion is expected for 2023 and a return to the capital markets.
In the mid-twentieth century, the Puerto Rican economy was oriented
toward agricultural production, especially the cultivation of sugar
cane, coffee, and tobacco. However, there was a large investment in
public infrastructure. Federal incentive programs have managed to
transform economic activity in the last two quarters of a century. Since
the 1960s, numerous multinational companies from different industries
such as pharmaceuticals, electronics, textiles, petrochemicals, and more
recently biotechnology, aerospace, medical devices, etc. have been
established in the archipelago. Today, manufacturing and the service
sector (including tourism) have replaced agriculture as the main
producer of income, whose share in the economy is less than 2%.
Likewise, livestock and dairy production replaced the sugar industry as
the main sector of agriculture. The economy slowed down between 2001 and
2003 due to the recession experienced by the US economy after the
bursting of the technology bubble in 2000. In 2004, there was a
short-lived recovery, as Puerto Rico again entered a period of recession
in 2006, which has continued until 2012, the year in which the economic
depression is projected.
Economic forecasts point to a slight
improvement in the performance of the Puerto Rican economy in fiscal
year 2012, mainly due to a better performance of the global economy and
a rescue plan approved by President Obama. This plan included an
economic injection of more than five billion dollars for Puerto Rico.
Likewise, for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023 there has been economic
growth thanks to the reconstruction funds after hurricanes Irma and
Maria, which are estimated at more than 50,000,000,000 (fifty billion)
and President Biden's rescue plan to move the US economy after the
pandemic (Puerto Rico has also benefited from these funds).
The
island's leaders tried to develop Puerto Rico through light industry,
high in labor but low in capital. This attempt failed with the recovery
of European markets after World War II. The government of the 1950s
tried to rescue the economy by investing in the petrochemical industry.
With the rise in oil prices by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries in the 1970s, the country's petrochemical industry was plunged
into a second crisis after two decades of economic prosperity, which
caused the economic model developed until then to be revised. The rulers
launched a third alternative, which was the exemption of contributions
by private corporations through section 936 of the Internal Revenue
Code, which attracted many manufacturing companies such as the
Pharmaceutical, Electronics, Medical Devices, among others. In 2005, the
deadline given to companies that had applied to the Internal Revenue
Code of the United States, section 936, expired. To date, there is no
coherent economic development program to fill the gap left by the
closure of 936. However, some political groups have argued that the
current crisis in Puerto Rico can only be resolved through comprehensive
economic development that involves agricultural self-sufficiency along
with the development of high-tech industries, but that contribute to the
country's economy through contributions.
The government of Aníbal
Acevedo Vilá introduced changes in the tax system to standardize the
burden and distribute it more equitably to all sectors of the country's
economy. An example of this is the recent creation of a Sales and Use
Tax (IVU) or "sales tax" that fluctuated during the first months after
being established between 5.5% and 7% (5.5% state and up to 1.5%
municipal) on purchases and services, but that finally in 2007 was
unified to 7% throughout the territory. The IVU was established in order
to try to alleviate the serious fiscal problems affecting the Island and
thus avoid a degradation in the scale of devaluation of Puerto Rico's
bonds, which if it had occurred would have made the financing of public
projects more expensive. This tax was balanced by the elimination of the
6.6% excise tax that was charged at the point of import. This was
because the tax system was not entirely reliable and it was public
knowledge that it did not collect the amounts that should have entered
the treasury, mostly due to a lack of personnel to carry out cargo
inspections and the time required for these inspections.
Another
reason why the new sales tax was established is to drastically reduce
the much-mentioned "underground economy", whose amount was estimated by
the Government Development Bank to be equal to that of the legal
economy. By requiring the registration of all merchants to legalize the
collection of the IVU, the attempt is to reduce tax evasion. Other
changes have also been instituted, such as the increase in electricity
and water services in order to reduce the subsidies given to the
quasi-governmental agencies that manage them under a legal monopoly.
Again, the logic is that these services should be financed by
consumption rather than subsidizing them with public funds, which would
further affect the imbalance of the tax burden on the salaried class.
According to the 2020 United States Census, the total population of
Puerto Rico was 3,285,374 inhabitants. In turn, the population of Puerto
Rican origin in the fifty states and the District of Columbia of the
United States was 4,623,716 people. 93.8% of the population of Puerto
Rico is urban and only 6.2% is rural. The population density exceeds
407.15 inhabitants/km2, making the island the most densely populated in
the Greater Antilles; likewise, it has one of the largest human
agglomerations in the world. The most densely populated areas are the
coasts and the metropolitan area of San Juan, where the density
reaches 1983.45 inhabitants/km2.
Life expectancy is 82.67 years
for women and 74.6 for men, with an average of 80.00 years. 27% of the
population in Puerto Rico is foreign; the most abundant is the Dominican
with hundreds of thousands of Dominican immigrants who have arrived in
Puerto Rico illegally and legally, there are also many Americans,
followed by Haitians, Cubans, Venezuelans, Colombians, Mexicans,
Panamanians, Hondurans, Spaniards, Italians and Chinese.
Ethnic
origins
Figures according to the 2020 census:
The population that
identifies as only white amounts to 17.1% of the total.
The
population that identifies only as black or African American amounts to
7.0% of the total.
The population that identifies with two or more
races of those included in the census amounts to 49.8% of the total.
The population that identifies itself as another category not included
in the census together with another constitutes the majority of the
population, 74.0% of the total.
The population of other groups
accounts for 0.6% of the total.
It should be noted that the
results of the censuses carried out in Puerto Rico have varied widely
over time and continue to be the subject of ongoing academic debate. The
prevailing consensus is that such inconsistency is due to the prevalence
of folkloric racial categories that frequently contradict those proposed
by the Spanish and American state apparatuses.
Puerto Ricans
have, for the most part, mixed DNA with three origins: European, African
and Taíno. A study with mitochondrial DNA determined that the population
of Puerto Rico has a high genetic component of Taíno (Puerto Rican
aborigine) and Guanche (Canarian aborigine, especially of the Guanches
of the island of Tenerife).
While all racial groups are evenly
distributed across Puerto Rico, the municipality of Loíza is known for
its particularly high African heritage, as well as having the largest
number of black residents. Outside of the eastern area, there are also
historically significant black communities in the municipalities of
Ponce, Mayagüez, and Vieques. The low number of people who identify as
black in the census should not be interpreted to mean that there are few
Afro-Puerto Ricans. Puerto Rico's black population also includes those
with roots in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Virgin Islands,
and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Of these, Dominicans have historically
formed the largest communities. However, recent trends point to Haitians
overtaking Dominicans as the most common national group among those
migrating to Puerto Rico.
As for indigenous heritage, it is most
frequently recognized and claimed in central and western Puerto Rico. It
has been scientifically proven that residents of the municipality of
Maricao, particularly those of the Indieras neighborhood, have the
highest amounts of Taino genetic heritage.
Another community with
considerable history in Puerto Rico is the Chinese. This community has
barely been investigated until recently, but has had a presence and
influence in the country since at least the 19th century.
Brought over by Spanish settlers, the Catholic Church gradually
became the dominant religion in Puerto Rico. The first dioceses in the
Americas, including that of Puerto Rico, were authorized by Pope Julius
II in 1511. In 1512, priests were established for parish churches. By
1759, there was one priest for each church. Pope John Paul II visited
Puerto Rico in October 1984. Every municipality in Puerto Rico has at
least one Catholic church, most of which are located in the town center
or plaza.
Protestant groups, banned during most of the period of
Spanish rule, appeared in greater force under U.S. rule, making
contemporary Puerto Rico more interdenominational than in previous
centuries, although Catholicism remains the dominant Christian
denomination. The first Protestant church, the Church of the Holy
Trinity, was established in Ponce by the Anglican Diocese of Antigua in
1872. It was the first non-Catholic church in the entire Spanish Empire
in the Americas.
An Associated Press article in March 2014 stated
that "more than 70% of Puerto Ricans identify as Catholic." The CIA
World Factbook reports that 85% of Puerto Ricans identify as Catholic,
while 15% identify as Protestant and other. A 2013 Pew Research survey
found that about 45% of Puerto Rican adults identify as Catholic, 29% as
belonging to some Protestant church, and 20% as unaffiliated with any
religion. The people surveyed by Pew consisted of Puerto Ricans living
in all 50 states and DC and may not be indicative of those living in the
Commonwealth.
Some proponents have rediscovered/reinvented Taino
religious practices to some extent. Similarly, some adherents have
maintained some aspects of African religious traditions (traditional
African religions).
African slaves brought and maintained several
ethnic African religious practices associated with different peoples; in
particular, the Yoruba beliefs of Santería or Ifá and Palo Mayombe, of
Kongo origin. Some aspects were absorbed into syncretic Christianity,
but the Catholic Church does not allow such practices.
In September 2015, the Senate approved Senate Bill 1177, which sought to declare Spanish as the first official language and English as the second official language of the Government, continue the use of both in the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and repeal Law 1-1993, which currently establishes the official status of both languages at the same level and their current use. However, Senate Bill 1177 was not approved by the House of Representatives of Puerto Rico nor signed by the Governor of Puerto Rico, which are constitutional requirements still in force in Puerto Rico to approve any law of local or state origin for the territory. Therefore, Law 1-1993 of the languages remained in force. Finally, in 2020, the law declaring Spanish as the first language was approved in the Senate.
The peculiarities of the Spanish language of Puerto Rico are due to strong influences from other languages: the possible influence of the native language of the Taino was later joined by the influence of strong currents of Canary and Corsican immigration, and the contribution of African languages. Later, the English language has made its strong influence felt since the American occupation from the beginning of the 20th century, caused by the influence of the administration, the almost exclusive trade with the United States, United States laws, American commercial chains and the presence of American military forces on the island and the large number of Puerto Ricans residing on American soil.
It has been estimated that only between 10 and 20% of the island's
residents master English "very well":
the 2000 census recorded that
19.1% of residents spoke English "very well" and 71.9% less than "very
well."
A 2009 University of Puerto Rico study found that 5 out of 10
residents do not speak English “at an advanced level.”86
The Puerto
Rico Narrative Profile of Population and Housing, 2005-2009 census found
that 80% of residents speak Spanish at home, and 65% do not speak
English “very well.”
Puerto Rico has one of the most modern infrastructures in the
Caribbean and Latin America. Its main cities, San Juan, Bayamón, Caguas,
Guaynabo, Carolina, Ponce, Cayey, Arecibo and Mayagüez, have modern
buildings and large factories of different companies. San Juan is the
metropolis of the Caribbean, with large and modern buildings. San Juan
is ranked 71st as the city with the highest quality of life in the world
and the best quality of life in Latin America according to the Mercer
evaluation agency. It is also one of the most modern cities in Latin
America. However, despite having a modern infrastructure, the
development pattern suffers from a lack of planning, which affects the
environment, due to the failure to provide protection for the island's
natural resources. Some studies show that if the development pattern
continues, in less than 70 years the island will be an island-city.
The island also has a very modern metropolitan railway system called
Tren Urbano, which is concentrated in the metropolitan area of San
Juan, runs from San Juan to the municipality of Bayamón and is in the
process of expansion in the coming years, with three additional lines,
one of which will reach the International Airport. The urban train
system has modern facilities. Its stations are equipped with the most
modern electronic systems.
Mayagüez City has the most modern and
technological baseball stadium in the Caribbean, with a capacity of
13,000 spectators. In the Municipality of Rincón there is the only
nuclear power plant in the entire Caribbean. In the city of Río Grande
there is the El Yunque Caribbean forest. Also in the Municipality of San
Juan there is the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, which is the most modern,
technological, advanced and largest in the entire Caribbean with a
capacity of 20,000 spectators and similar in appearance to the American
Airlines Arena in Miami.
There are twenty-one airports, three with international flights: San
Juan, Ponce and Aguadilla. The Roosevelt Roads Naval Base airport in
Ceiba was closed when the Navy abandoned operations there, but the
property reopened offering its services as the largest air cargo
transshipment point in the Caribbean. This also gives the Luis Muñoz
Marín International Airport an indefinite lifespan, as its cargo
operations are expected to be moved to Ceiba and it has another
international airport in the city of Mayagüez called the Eugenio María
de Hostos Airport.
San Juan's metro, Tren Urbano, runs through
some of the main points of the capital's metropolitan area. The
Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA) operates buses throughout the
metropolitan area that includes San Juan, Carolina, Trujillo Alto,
Guaynabo and Bayamón. Public transport operators of various types and
sizes cover the entire island on routes regulated by the Public Service
Commission. The Commission also regulates the large number of taxis that
operate throughout the island. However, all of these public transport
systems are not very well integrated, resulting in a great loss of time
in getting around by means of them. As a result, most citizens are
forced to use their own cars to get around.
The island also has a
network of ports that can be used by all types of private and commercial
vessels, including the largest passenger cruise ships in the world. A
new port is currently being built in the south of the island named after
Rafael Santiago (former mayor of the city of Ponce). This port is
expected to serve as a spearhead for advancing the economic development
of the island.
In 2017, the Comprehensive Cancer Center opened with an investment of
174 million dollars next to the Oncology Hospital and the Medical
Center. The University Hospital is the supratertiary level hospital in
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. In addition to many private hospitals,
the Dorado Beach Health is being built in the municipality of Dorado
with an investment of 107 million dollars, which will have the
collaboration of the Johns Hopkins Medicine hospital. The privatization
of health has reduced the guarantee and quality of services due to the
high costs of medical and pharmacy services. Despite the large magnitude
of American pharmaceutical industries established in Puerto Rico,
medicines are sold at extremely expensive costs that force citizens to
pay private policies, which are also expensive. Although there is a
public medical plan, called "La Reforma", it is limited to low-income
people.
"Gentlemen, the rates for all services and procedures of
private medical plans must be equal to the rate of Medicaid" -
Expressions of Dr. Carlos Díaz, President of the College of Physicians
of Puerto Rico through an interview in the newspaper El Vocero.
The high costs of medicines are due to the application of the Cabotage
Law, which establishes that the costs of importation must be added to
products made in the country.
Education up to the secondary level is free and constitutionally
guaranteed. There are about 1,523 public schools and the Puerto Rico
Department of Education employs about 42,000 teachers, which controls
the bulk of the country's public schools. The department is divided into
educational regions, which are in turn divided into school districts.
These provide services to hundreds of thousands of students and are the
main educational institution in the country. The language of instruction
is Spanish, but English is a mandatory subject in all grades.
Within the Department of Education there is the Specialized Schools
Unit, among them:
Mayagüez Residential Center for Educational
Opportunities (CROEM)
Specialized Community School in Science and
Mathematics
Sergio Ramírez de Arellano Hostos Bilingual Regional
Secondary School
Father Rufo Bilingual School
Antonio González
Suárez Bilingual Regional Elementary School
Ernesto Ramos Antonini
Free Music School
Central Higher School of Visual Arts
Julián
Blanco Specialized Ballet School
José Julián Acosta y Calbo
Specialized Community School in Theater (E.C.E.T.)
Dr. Juan José
Osuna Specialized School in Radio and Television Production
Specialized Sports School at the Olympic Hostel of Puerto Rico
Rafael
Cordero Molina Specialized School in Commercial Education
Specialized
School in Fine Arts in Humacao
Ernesto Ramos Antonini Specialized
School in Fine Arts Ramos Antonini de Yauco
Pablo Casals Specialized
School of Fine Arts in Bayamón
Thomas Armstrong Toro Specialized
School of Science and Mathematics in Ponce
Genaro Cautiño Vázquez
Specialized School of Science and Mathematics in Guayama
Specialized
School of Fine Arts in Ponce
Free School of Music in Ponce
There are 47 universities: 39 private —13 of them for-profit— and eight
public, which represent 117 academic units throughout the Island. The
University of Puerto Rico is the largest in the country and its eleven
units make up the public system. It includes the Medical Sciences
Campus, from which a significant percentage of doctors have graduated.
9.6% of state revenues are used to pay for public universities.
Among the private universities are:
the Polytechnic University of
Puerto Rico,
the University of Phoenix, Puerto Rico Campus,
the
University of the Sacred Heart,
the Atlantic College,
the
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico,
the Interamerican
University of Puerto Rico,
the Adventist University of the Antilles,
the Columbia University Center in Caguas,
the Ana G. Méndez
University System composed of the Metropolitan University, in San Juan
(Puerto Rico), the University of Turabo, in Gurabo (Puerto Rico) and
Barceloneta (Puerto Rico), and the University of the East, in Carolina
(Puerto Rico) and Cabo Rojo.
The educational system of Puerto
Rico is integrated into the American system. The first four or five
years of university studies are called bachelor's degree, instead of
bachelor's degree, as it is known in Latin America and Spain. They are
followed by master's and doctoral degrees.
The Council on Higher
Education is the body that licenses all public and private university
institutions interested in operating on the Island. In terms of
accreditation, as it is known in the United States, more than half of
the higher education institutions in Puerto Rico are accredited by the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education. There are also several
academic programs accredited by specialized entities recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education as professional accreditors. Some of these
are the American Board of Engineering and Technology ABET and the
American Psychological Association.