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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Mon Oct 9, 2017, 08:16 AM Oct 2017

Without Power Until Next Year, Puerto Ricans Are Leaving--Maybe Forever

Vieques was the island’s tourism engine. Now it’s dead, and with it the future for untold numbers of people who say they are headed to the United States mainland.

INGRID ARNESEN
10.09.17 5:00 AM ET

VIEQUES, Puerto Rico—Joe and Maria Bernard cook in the dark over a gas stove outside their small hotel, the Tropical Guest House. “The days feel shorter,” says Maria, “we just have 12 hours of daylight to get everything done.”

When it gets dark, the entire island of Vieques is dark. This is life on the world-renowned tourist island. And it’s going to be life for at least the next six to eight months, if not longer, before electricity is restored here.

“We’re in denial,” says Maria, “we’re going to give it another two weeks maybe a month, then maybe we’ll have to go back to the States.”

In 2005, the couple traded in the bustle of New York and jobs in the television industry for a more rewarding future in Puerto Rico, which offered triple-tax exemption for resettling here. With their savings, they got a loan to buy their turnkey hotel.
“It was our baby,” says Joe.

more
https://www.thedailybeast.com/without-power-until-next-year-puerto-ricans-are-leavingmaybe-forever

6 replies

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Highlight:

Without Power Until Next Year, Puerto Ricans Are Leaving--Maybe Forever (Original Post) DonViejo Oct 2017 OP

I never even heard of Vieques before last month, if it was the island's tourism engine...... Not Ruth Oct 2017 #1

I own a home, have family and friends there. DonViejo Oct 2017 #3

I went there a decade ago. AngryAmish Oct 2017 #4

In parts, yes but, it's mostly in residential areas. And until the Fed govt decided what DonViejo Oct 2017 #5

There is lovely real estate in MI, WI, PA Takket Oct 2017 #2

If Puerto Ricans come to Florida and help us turn this state permenently Blue. Blue_true Oct 2017 #6

Not Ruth

(3,613 posts)

1. I never even heard of Vieques before last month, if it was the island's tourism engine......

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Oct 9, 2017, 08:26 AM

Oct 2017

Marketing fell down on their job

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)

3. I own a home, have family and friends there.

Reply to Not Ruth (Reply #1)

Mon Oct 9, 2017, 08:31 AM

Oct 2017

It is not a big tourist destination, per se, and a lot of that is due to the politics on the island; a huge anti-tourism faction fighting with the pro-tourist.

AngryAmish

(25,704 posts)

4. I went there a decade ago.

Reply to DonViejo (Reply #3)

Mon Oct 9, 2017, 08:52 AM

Oct 2017

I was told part of the lack of investment was lack of good land title on the island. Is that still true?

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)

5. In parts, yes but, it's mostly in residential areas. And until the Fed govt decided what

Reply to AngryAmish (Reply #4)

Mon Oct 9, 2017, 09:07 AM

Oct 2017

to do with Camp Garcia, at one end of the island (the former bombing range)...1/3 of the eastern end of the island. The western 1/3 was under the control of the U.S. Marines and was a military base for them, housing, chapel, theater, etc.

Takket

(21,625 posts)

2. There is lovely real estate in MI, WI, PA

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Mon Oct 9, 2017, 08:30 AM

Oct 2017

Blue_true

(31,261 posts)

6. If Puerto Ricans come to Florida and help us turn this state permenently Blue.