The construction workforce, estimated at roughly 33,000 before Hurricane Maria, will need to double to keep up with demand to rebuild roads, houses and other infrastructure damaged in last year’s storm season, said Emilio Colon-Zavala, president of the Puerto Rico Builders Association, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Puerto Rico in Distress
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Puerto Rico’s latest fiscal plan anticipates a temporary return to economic growth and a potential $30 billion surplus over the next 15 years thanks in part to billions of expected federal disaster aid that may help lift the bankrupt island from a 12-year recession, Bloomberg reported.
Thousands of Puerto Ricans have been forced to drain their savings, close their businesses, or resign themselves to living with structural damage as they fight insurance companies over millions of dollars’ worth of claims that have gone unanswered or unpaid more than a year after Hurricane Maria, the Associated Press reported.
President Trump attacked Puerto Rico’s “inept politicians,” accusing them of trying to funnel “ridiculously high” levels of federal disaster assistance toward paying down a $73 billion debt load in his latest confrontation with the U.S. territory’s leadership, WSJ Pro Bankruptcy reported.
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The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the President of the United States and one ex officio member designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Access information on the Board, documents, videos of meetings, calendar of events and live webcasts by clicking here.