By The Star Staff
District 24 Rep. Ángel “Tito” Fourquet Cordero and District 25 Rep. Domingo Torres García called on Gov. Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Tuesday to include legislation related to the transfer of Mercedita International Airport to the Ponce Port Authority in his agenda for the special session that he announced he would convene after the election.
The call from the legislators comes after the governor vetoed House Bill 1617 in October and, as they agreed, responds to the airport’s importance for the economic and social development of Ponce and the southern regions through the transportation of passengers, movement of merchandise and the security of an air terminal that supports the business activities of local merchants and manufacturers.
“This transfer is decisive for the future of the city and the southern regions due to its economic effect and positive impact on social development,” Fourquet Cordero said. “Once the electoral process is over and without the pressures from partisan sectors, which were evident at the time, the governor now has the opportunity to address this issue with the objectivity and urgency it deserves. It is necessary to take this important step to ensure the sustainable growth of our communities and strengthen the transportation infrastructure in Ponce.”
After the governor vetoed the bill allowing the airport transfer, he signed an executive order to create a committee that would study the matter and submit a report in 180 days, a term exceeding the limit of his mandate.
Torres García said he sent a letter to Pierluisi requesting an extraordinary session and that the issue of the transfer of the airport to the Port Authority of Ponce be included in the agenda.
“We know that the governor vetoed the measure, but we request reconsideration of the appointment of a committee,” he said. “This action is insufficient and would delay the orderly process that we seek for the transfer. Supposing it is not included in the session, we will call on the governor-elect, Jenniffer González Colón, to include this bill as a priority. We would once again introduce the bill, and we hope to have the endorsement of the NPP [New Progressive Party] majority that begins in January 2025. The speaker-elect of the House of Representatives, Carlos Méndez Núñez, has spoken in favor of the transfer of Mercedita Airport to the Port Authority of Ponce.”
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