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WORLD NEWSMonday 9 November 2015
Puerto Rico likely to cut services or default by year’s end
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla speaks at the payments to suppliers and in November, but he ac-
(AP) — Puerto Rico’s gov- tax rebates to taxpayers knowledged that one may
ernment will likely have to Capitol building in San Juan. Puerto Rico’s government will and they are now discuss- be necessary in Decem-
cut back on public ser- ing cutting employee work ber.
vices or default on debts likely have to cut back on public services or default on debts schedules by two days a “We are aware that a
before the end of the year week. They have warned possible government shut-
because it is running out of before the end of the year, the Government Development that maintaining essen- down could affect the
cash, the Government De- tial services in the areas economy. We are doing
velopment Bank said in a Bank said this weekend. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo) of health, education and all that is possible so that in
financial filing. public safety may force December we won’t have
Putting numbers to a warn- collections. ment, may be insolvent them to institute a debt to use a measure like that,”
ing this summer from Gov. The development bank, by year’s end, the report payment moratorium. he said.
Alejandro Garcia Padilla, which has been the lender added. The island is struggling to The governor announced
the filing this weekend said of last resort for the island’s To conserve cash, officials get out of a nearly de- in June that Puerto Rico’s
the U.S. territory had a $370 cash-strapped govern- have been holding back cade-long slump that has nearly $72 billion in pub-
million overdraft as of Sept. reduced government rev- lic debt was “not pay-
30 and burned through a enues and spurred a grow- able” and said its agencies
$400 million emergency ing exodus of islanders to would seek concessions
loan from a group of pub- the U.S. mainland to look from creditors. Puerto Ri-
lic corporations to keep for work. co’s Electric Power Author-
government operating. It Public Affairs Secretary Je- ity announced this week
also cut revenue estimates sus Manuel Ortiz said at a a restructuring agreement
for the current fiscal year Friday news conference with holders of its bonds,
by $355 million because that there would not be who are owed more than
of weaker than expected any government shutdown $8 billion.q
US church says Haiti finds boy taken in missionary’s killing
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Clothes hang out to dry at the Sonlight Children’s Home in wards in a late night attack tained, but offered no oth-
— Haitian authorities found the Port-au-Prince district Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti. Haitian near the foster care home er details. Officials at the
a 4-year-old boy who was authorities found a 4-year-old boy who was kidnapped during and food-distribution site church did not respond to
kidnapped during the kill- the killing of a missionary last month and took at least two she had run on the outskirts messages left Saturday by
ing of a missionary last suspects into custody, a U.S.-based church group said. of Port-au-Prince since the Associated Press.
month and took at least 2002. Two teenage pas- Church officials have said
two suspects into custody, (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) sengers in her car escaped Edwards was aware of the
a U.S.-based church group after the 55-year-old mis- dangers of working in Haiti
said. Haiti’s national po- sionary told them to run for and had considered leav-
lice said in a statement this their lives ing recently but stayed
weekend that officials had Paul’s recovery was report- on because of her devo-
received no reports about ed late Friday on the Face- tion for the foster children
the boy being found. book page of the Tennes- at the Sonlight Children’s
Jonathan “JoJo” Paul was see-based Estes Church Home. Paul has been
snatched by gunmen last of Christ, which sponsored raised at the home since
month after they fatally Edwards’ missionary work he was brought there at 9
shot long-time Haiti-based in Haiti. It said at least two months old at the urging of
missionary Roberta Ed- people had been de- his blind grandmother.q
