PDP: Governor’s refusal to work jointly is hurting the people

“The governor has demonstrated that she is not prepared to tackle the challenges facing Puerto Rico,” said Popular Democratic Party Secretary General Manuel Calderón Cerame, at lectern.

By The Star Staff

Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Secretary General Manuel Calderón Cerame, along with PDP Vice President Migdalia González Arroyo and Reps. Gretchen Hau Irizarry and Ángel “Tito” Fourquet Cordero, criticized Gov. Jenniffer González Colón on Sunday for what they said was her failure to collaborate on important problems facing Puerto Rico.

The remarks were made at a press conference at PDP headquarters.

“The governor has demonstrated that she is not prepared to tackle the challenges facing Puerto Rico,” Calderón Cerame said. “Last Thursday, Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández sent her a letter requesting joint efforts on three significant issues; however, the governor has yet to respond. One of the topics included in the letter is a new manufacturing incentive through H.R. [U.S. House Resolution] 1328, authored by Congresswoman [Nicole] Malliotakis and Hernández. This is the most important manufacturing incentive measure from Washington in the past 16 years.”

Additionally, González Arroyo noted that “the resident commissioner filed H.R. 1697 to extend the Child Tax Credit to Puerto Ricans. This is a crucial measure for social justice and particularly for supporting the Puerto Rican middle class, yet the governor has not commented on it.”

“My appeal to the governor is to join this effort with our [resident] commissioner,” the former senator said. “The Child Tax Credit is an essential tool for providing relief to working households. The governor’s failure to respond to the resident commissioner’s letter highlights her lack of commitment to the most vulnerable sectors of society.”

“It is unacceptable that, due to partisan differences, the door is closed to a measure that would benefit thousands of families,” González Arroyo said. “This is not leadership; it is negligence. It is increasingly clear that the priority is not the people, but political interests.”

Hau Irizarry, who represents the 29th District (Cayey and Cidra), addressed the closure of the LUMA Energy customer service office in Cayey, indicating that the La Fortaleza chief of staff claimed to have intervened to prevent its closure.

“The central government’s lack of willingness and teamwork was evident in LUMA’s final decision to close the customer service office in Cayey,” the legislator said. “If they had consulted the mayor of Cayey or me, I am convinced the outcome would have been different.”

On March 13, La Fortaleza Chief of Staff Francisco Domenech announced in the press that following a meeting with LUMA officials, it was decided to postpone the closure of seven commercial offices.

“It will be postponed until further notice,” he stated.

However, during a public hearing on Wednesday, LUMA’s vice president of customer experience, Noriette Figueroa Meléndez, stated that “the closure of the offices is final and firm,” although she did not provide specific dates.

Fourquet Cordero, meanwhile, noted that the island House of Representatives has filed important measures and is willing to meet with the governor to negotiate reasonable amendments. “Our delegation has proposed measures to cancel the LUMA contract in Concurrent Resolution 13 and to repeal the DSP [Public Safety Department by its initials in Spanish] umbrella in House Bill 261. Both measures are vital -- one aims to terminate a company that has not served our people well, and the other seeks to maximize resources and enhance effectiveness in the fight against crime,” the District 24 (Ponce) lawmaker said.

The PDP leaders urged the governor to prioritize the interests of the people of Puerto Rico above all else.

“There will be time to campaign in 2028,” Calderón Cerame said. “Right now, it’s our responsibility to work for the general public, and the resident commissioner and the Popular Democratic Party are ready to support that agenda.”