Audio By Carbonatix
The White House plans to announce an $11.6 billion aid package for Puerto Rico, focused on the territory’s energy and education systems, to help the island recover from the devastation brought by 2017’s Hurricane Maria, Fox News reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources.
Puerto Rico was already struggling financially before the deadly hurricane struck three years ago, and filed a form of municipal bankruptcy for the commonwealth in 2017 to restructure about $120 billion of debt and obligations.
Since then, the U.S. commonwealth has been hit by more hurricanes, earthquakes, the coronavirus pandemic and political upheaval, and has been the target of increased federal scrutiny into its use of U.S. aid.
A large portion of its financial distress was linked to the territory’s power utility.
Meanwhile, Republican President Donald Trump is working to woo Hispanic voters in the upcoming Nov. 3 presidential election, where he is in a tight race against Democrat Joe Biden.
Biden said Trump “has done nothing but assault the dignity of Hispanic families” in a speech on Tuesday in Kissimmee, Florida, where many people settled after fleeing Maria’s devastation.
Latest Stories
-
Five injured as armed robbers attack VIP JEOUN coaches in two highway ambushes
8 minutes -
Police arrest 52 over unlawful motorcycle racing in Accra
11 minutes -
MOMO loan defaulters can’t escape – MTN Ghana
14 minutes -
Mixed reactions in Volta Region over acquittal of ex-MASLOC boss
15 minutes -
Gabonese President departs Accra after concluding three-day state visit
19 minutes -
526 young people graduate from precision quality internship in Volta
22 minutes -
Strengthen partnerships to sustain fight against human trafficking – IJM
25 minutes -
Economic recovery should be measured by impact on citizens’ lives – Bokpin
25 minutes -
Government urged to integrate victim protection into anti-galamsey efforts
30 minutes -
Ghana’s trade surplus triples to GHS48bn in 2025
32 minutes -
Sam George distributes fertilisers to over 5,100 farmers at Ningo-Prampram
36 minutes -
297 GAF personnel receive flood relief
41 minutes -
GIPA calls for infrastructure expansion to address post-harvest losses
43 minutes -
National Biosafety submits Ghana’s fifth National Biosafety Report
1 hour -
Mahama leads nation in bidding farewell to James Victor Gbeho
2 hours