WASHINGTON – The government of President Joe Biden approved on Wednesday a temporary waiver of the Jones Act so that foreign-flagged barges coming from the United States can transport fuel to Puerto Rico.
The measure It comes in response to the ravages caused by Hurricane Fiona as it passed through the island and seeks to ensure that Puerto Ricans have “enough diesel to run the generators” that are needed to provide electricity, said the Secretary of National Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, in a statement.
Puerto Rican Governor Pedro Pierluisi had asked the federal government on Tuesday to grant an exemption to the law, arguing that fuel has become scarce on the island before after of the hurricane.
The Jones Act, known as cabotage , limits trade with the island and is frequently criticized, especially in times of crisis like the current one and when there is a ship c with diesel without being able to unload the fuel due to lack of permit.
The aforementioned ship, with 300,000 barrels of diesel, has been located off the Puerto Rican coast of Peñuelas since Sunday, awaiting federal permission to unload the fuel.
The President of the Chamber of Representatives, Rafael “Tatito” Hernández, also urged the White House on Tuesday to speed up the waiver for the ship to unload on the island.
The Jones Act stipulates that if a ship moves between two US ports, it must fly a US flag and have a US crew.
In this case, the ship comes from Texas (USA) but has a foreign flag, so the law prevents the landing of diesel without prior permission.
Due to the lack of electricity, which continued to affect until Wednesday to 30 % of subscribers on the island, many industries, businesses and individuals ares are using generators that require fuel to run.
The hurricane, which made landfall in southwestern Puerto Rico last 18 September, caused catastrophic damage on the island, prompting the federal government to declare a state of Major Disaster.
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300,000 barrels with diesel have not been able to enter Puerto Rico due to impositions of the Jones Act; continues to pressure the Biden Administration to rescind the statute