Ben Carson Hasn't Toured Devastated Puerto Rico But Is 'Impressed' By Its Recovery

Source: Newsweek Magazine




BY GRACE GUARNIERI ON 12/20/17 AT 10:02 AM

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson visited Puerto Rico on Tuesday to meet with officials on a one-day trip, his first to the island since it was devastated by Hurricane Maria in September. He said he was “impressed” by the island’s recovery—however, he did not tour the island or even fly over Puerto Rico’s most devastated areas, where infrastructure was left crippled and homes were splintered by the storm.

“The team has done a marvelous job. One of the things that impressed me the most is that we’re down to like 513 or 517 people in shelters from many thousands,” Secretary Carson told reporters at a press conference in Puerto Rico, “and that shows the very hard work that’s been done.”

“We’ve seen a lot of pictures, videos, and had the opportunity to talk to people back in the United States who’ve suffered as a result of what’s going on here,” said Secretary Carson, who told congress in October that it could take a century to rebuild the storm-ravaged island.

The HUD head tweeted about his meetings with local mayors and Federal Emergency Management Administration staff working in San Juan during his visit, but did not travel to the most devastated parts of Puerto Rico outside of its capital, CNN reported.

Link to tweet