By Gloria Ruiz Kuilan
PUERTO RICO – Governor Pedro Pierluisi and Washington Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González fueled the debate on his political future and the possibility of a primary in the New Progressive Party (PNP) on Monday, when they coincided in an official act in which the president He rejected his administration pressuring public officials who do not support him in his aspirations for re-election.
Pierluisi reacted to the remarks that González made on Sunday during a political act in which he thanked the presence of municipal leaders of the PNP, despite alleged threats of dismissal in the government. At the event, the commissioner spoke more freely about the possibility of challenging the chief executive ahead of the 2024 elections.
“Since the four-year period began, I have been very clear that the works that I am committed to do transcend this four-year period, so everyone already knows, since the four-year period began, that I am going to be aspiring to re-election. As for the other candidates, candidates, pre-candidates or pre-candidates that the party I preside over has… that, during the course of this year, all of them will be making their decisions and announcing them, “said the president.
In addition, he denied the commissioner’s accusations about the threats of dismissals, and said that there is no basis to investigate them. “If they refer to public servants, vice versa. On the contrary, backwards. All they have received from me is support, financial support. Every time I have federal funds to give bonuses to public servants, I have done it, salary increases,” he said in an aside with journalists, after a press conference with officials from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). , in English) on the dredging of San Juan Bay.
“There is no need to investigate anything because there is no such instruction. On the contrary, public servants have a job to do. Obviously, during working hours it is not the time for political-partisan issues, to attend to this type of matter, but outside of working hours they have freedom of association, of expression, ”he added.
Moments before, González, who was approached by the press when she tried to leave the place before the end of the official activity, insisted on her expressions on Sunday, but avoided elaborating on the subject.
“I made the expressions that I had to do, where I had to do them. I was in an activity to thank my employees, my volunteers, which is an activity that I do every year. I know this is not new. I made some expressions that are self-explanatory,” said the resident commissioner.
In the political event on Sunday, collected in a video broadcast on networks by Jay Fonseca, González told those who have received the alleged threats of dismissal “that there is little left.” “There is no fear here. Here there is no fear. We are ready, ”he added immediately.
“Regarding the term that ‘it’s almost there’, the reality is that already this year you have to file candidacies. And I have been visiting towns, mayors, leaders and listening to the people because, many times, the personal aspirations of the candidates go above what the people want. And I’m not doing that. I am focusing on my work in Washington, but I am visiting and listening to what the people want. And I’m going to listen to that claim, and I still haven’t made a determination. I have said it publicly ”, he indicated this Monday in reference to his previous statements.
In accordance with the Electoral Code, the filing of candidacies begins on December 1 of this year, but El Nuevo Día learned that people from González’s close group already take their interest in La Fortaleza for granted. “She is going to run,” said a person close to the commissioner, alleging that the poll numbers favor her over Pierluisi. Only an unforeseen event would make him give up his plans, according to the source.
“I think it is good that people know what is happening. So far, I don’t think there is any primary. I believe that, if you ask people, I believe that people are already speaking, so I am not the one who corresponds to that identification of the people who are making the calls. But, in this sense, things are known, ”she said about the possibility of investigating the alleged pressure that he denounced in the Pierluisi administration.
During his participation in the press conference of the official event, González also did not hesitate to make references to the performance of the Pierluisi government. He mentioned that the infrastructure projects needed to be pushed, despite the fact that they have federal money allocated.
After the scourge of Hurricane María and his coming to power, in 2021, one of the criticisms of the Pierluisi government is for the delay in the use of federal funds -which were stopped by the Donald Trump administration- destined for the recovery and reconstruction of the island.
direct hints
“I have to make this delivery (recognition to a member of the Usace) because the projects, if one does not call, push, they do not happen,” said González while the governor watched in the front row. Likewise, he recognized the management of the director of the Ports Authority, Joel Pizá.
González also recognized the governor for having done “the joint work” with the Usace. “There is no point in approving funds, approving studies, amendments and laws to achieve federal financing like this and that the agencies are not ready,” he said.
The initiative announced on Monday will deepen and widen the commercial navigation channels of the Port of San Juan. The total cost of the project amounts to $58.7 million, of which $14 million comes from the Port Authority’s own funds, and the remaining $44.7 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act (BIL) enacted last year by President Joe Biden. .
It may interest you:
Governor of Puerto Rico asks the US for measures to improve the situation on the island