Seeking Solutions – VIEQUES-LIBRE CORP

UNITED WE WIN, DIVIDED WE FAIL

During and after the crisis caused by Maria, we saw community leaders and volunteers emerge and come forward in response to the needs of our fellow neighbors. We discovered strength, talent, inventiveness, and a desire to fix what was broken and make things better for all of us in Vieques. We united in a mission to save the island. Most residents pulled together as a team regardless of their allegiances to any political party. Through these efforts we did more than survive: we discovered what could be done through our collective, focused action. We saw the huge inadequacies in our pre-Maria government services. We were knocked over by the revelations of Rickyleaks and realized beyond any doubt that our emperors had no clothes.

The usual practices of the Blue and Red have been responsible for much of the retardation of our island’s growth and opportunities for success. The constant flip-flop of power between the parties was an endless recycling of the gravy train for high level political elites, but it was an absolute disaster for the people of Puerto Rico. Traditionally, the self-serving patronage practices in Vieques have caused destructive partisan hiring practices and shifted the focus from “What’s good for Vieques?” to “What’s good for my party and my reelection?” Any long-term solution to the many problems of our island requires a unified renovation of our existing formal political structure in Vieques.

We have all become quite cynical when viewing local politics, so it is hard to have a significant discussion on how to change our system to cater to the needs of the island. We know we are the tail of the dog and that we will not be able to change the party or voting process. On the other hand, we might be able to change the outcomes while utilizing the existing legal procedures. What if we shifted the orientation of our own electorate and created support for candidates from any party who have platforms that address the critical needs of our island.

We should form a “sub-party”, call it the Sato Group (or something clever), whose role it is to establish a platform that anyone can endorse and pledge to honor. The Satos will then aid and assist the most credible candidate(s) in their efforts to get elected regardless of party affiliations.

The Sato Platform

The platform should be based strictly upon elements that are important to the growth, health, well-being, and future of Vieques. Not everyone will have the same vision, nor will all agree on the specifics of issues, but we must, as a group, reach consensus on the basics. Have the Blue and the Red ever really stood for the improvement of Vieques? Components of the platform might include:

Communications and information distribution from the municipio should become a daily routine and receive a very high priority to keep citizens aware of opportunities and all government activities
Transparency in all government activities spending money, awarding contracts, planning, etc. – everything but real time personnel and legal procedures/negotiations.
Hiring should be based upon integrity, education, experience, skills, performance, and appropriateness of the job fit – not on personal or political affiliations. Our government team is only half as strong as it could and should be when we don’t make use of the good people of both parties: the best people we have available!
Municipal positions should be created and maintained only for the most necessary and critical functions – not as welfare or patronage
Land titles to all municipal lands should be solidified through proper surveys and legal procedures to encourage the sale of applicable properties: those justly in the possession of the inhabitants or vacant/derelict/abandoned properties for community development
Random Central Government real estate parcels and buildings not being used for PR purposes should be deeded to Vieques
Through increased autonomy, the municipality should take over all property tax functions – from record keeping, to appraisal, to tax collection – CRIM in Vieques should be totally eliminated
Grant writing should become a very high priority to secure funding for the many needs of the island – consultants should be contracted if necessary
The ferry service to and from Ceiba should be owned by the municipality as a government entity or a cooperative, and the operation should be contracted out BUT controlled locally – subsidies would be negotiated with PR and the Federal Transportation Administration
Electrical power generation through mostly solar and distribution through micro-grids should be owned by the municipality as a government entity or a cooperative, BUT the operation should be contracted out and controlled locally
For all but extreme cases, criminal and civil violations or complaints should be arraigned and tried in Vieques – even if it must be accomplished by video conferencing – and a short-term jail should be provided and equipped to obviate the need for transport
Our local government should become involved in liaison and lobbying for any and all-important Central Government and institutions providing services to Vieques citizens (such as healthcare, education, social services, and economic development)
Replacement of the inventory tax for Vieques businesses
Work with PR economic development offices to utilize Promise Zone, Free Economic Zone, and Opportunity Zone programs to our advantage
Given the ever-declining likelihood of obtaining direct government funding for the repairs, rebuilding, and new development of necessary programs and infrastructure, the municipality will need to aggressively foster strong relationships with local nonprofits and national grant sources to fund essential projects and economic development.

So much for my thoughts. Now:

Would you support an effort to encourage our local candidates to pledge to honor this type of commitment?
What would you add to the list?
What would you take off?
What do you think?

Others are working on change: https://portside.org/2019-08-24/puerto-rico-shift-mass-protests-peoples-assemblies

SELLING OR SELLING OUT

BACKGROUND

Certain words like lawyer, tax, developer, privatization, gentrification, and a host of others, often elicit negative responses in people. Many have experienced or witnessed undesirable outcomes at the hands of, or results from, some of these nouns. This generalization provides a huge disservice to any and all rational discourse. The noun is not the determinant of good or evil, it’s the adjectives (excellent, horrible, just, unfair, etc.) that make all of the difference.

Privatization is an ambiguous commonly used word that can mean:

Government transfer of a business or service to private sector ownership and/or control;
Government contracting of a business or service with the private sector; or
Government “partnering” with the private sector to operate government owned assets.

The primary legal and justifiable reasons for government to involve the private sector are:

Raising money through selling assets and/or securing additional investment funds;
Extracting the government from an uneconomical or losing political venture; and
A government lack of technical expertise to effectively run the operation.

Privatization of the ATM is being attempted for all of the above reasons.

Granting of favors to “rent seekers”, cronies, and political donors are common illegal purposes.

PRIVATIZATION UNDER P3

Privatization of a government service is neither good nor bad on its face. To be good, it is important that the process is structured to effectively achieve the community’s goals. Properly designed, a contract can facilitate the enforcement of strict compliance with the needs of the customers, including everything from operational performance to fees for services. Bad is illustrated by two of the projects currently in the bidding phase under the P3 program: the ATM (ferry services) and the San Juan Pier operation. This privatization process, as specifically established by the enabling law, is deeply flawed and horrible for Puerto Rico.

The devil is always in the details, and the ultimate determinant of success is the outcome for the stakeholders. But how can any community satisfaction result from P3 legislation that allows the process of defining the bidding and performance specifications to be created and approved without the knowledge of, and input from, the users, customers, and existing service providers? IT CAN’T! It’s selling out our people; it’s flimflam!

The law presumes that the “superior” insight of the backroom P3 architects trumps the actual experiences, opinions, and needs of everyone else. No mechanism is provided or offered to educate, discuss, collect meaningful data, or exchange ideas with the community. Officials’ ignorance of the issues, susceptibility to influence peddling, and lack of best-practice expertise in the industry are hidden from public view due to a total lack of transparency and a wall of legal protections designed for that purpose. That arrogance of the elite ruling class that was protested-out-of-office still permeates the mentality of many who remain.

The losing battle that is being waged by Viequenses to improve the ATM is not primarily a war for or against privatization, but rather a plea to our government to listen to us and fix the deplorable, dysfunctional system – or to SUPPORT US IN DOING SO OURSELVES. The problem is that the people in charge of creating the solution are not qualified and have not included the stakeholders in specifying the needs of the communities of Vieques and Culebra.

As reported in the Caribbean Business September 1^st edition: “San Juan Pier Privatization Sails Under Radar”, we see the same modus operandi from the P3 organization to ignore the stakeholders, many of whom know far better what is needed than the financial wizards who put such deals together. This law makes selling out easier than selling. This is how dictatorial regimes, monarchies, and corrupt democracies operate. We deserve better, but it will not be “given” to us, we must work to earn it, and that means attacking the legality of the law and the integrity of the lawmakers. Our past efforts at cleansing the government were inadequate: We didn’t get all of the rot!

PDF Version

THE ATM FERRY SYSTEM AS OF SEPTEMBER 30TH

My opinions and criticisms of the cargo system are not aimed at the impossible situation faced with just Isleno running, but rather the larger picture we’ve encountered even before we lost the other boats. The current situation – with the limited availability of the cargo ferries – became inevitable a couple of months ago, and unless someone can pull a qualifying cargo boat out of a hat, we’re screwed for a while.

I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of government officials in the last few months, and the lack of understanding is ubiquitous and palpable:

Juan Maldonado, Director ATM

- - Well educated attorney with two other simultaneous government positions;
  - Pleasant personality, political appointee, and friend of the Governor;
  - Had what he thought was qualifying experience because he worked with union contracts via the Urban Train;
  - He didn’t know anything about running a ferry system but felt his experience was sufficient, so that when combined with operational help from ATM staff, it would work;
  - He listened to comments and suggestions from many sources, but drank the Cool-Aid and believed his staff; and
  - He was forced by the Governor to open the short route almost immediately at all costs with no excuses.

Omar Marrero, Director PPP

- - Super smart and powerful finance guy;
  - Been working on privatizing ATM at all costs for a couple of years, but he shows little knowledge of a proper ferry operation;
  - His desire to include stakeholders in the process in any way is next to zero;
  - If he understands the needs of the communities, he hides it well;
  - At a small meeting for dialogue, it was pretty much one sided: this is the way it is, and we really don’t need to listen to you because you have no standing;
  - He is urgently focused on ridding the government of the ferry problem and dumping it onto a private contractor; and
  - His lack of accurate data analysis will cause the problem to resurface shortly after a contract is signed – if that ever actually happens.

Mara Perez Torres, Director, ATM

- - Well enough educated financial type charged with privatizing the ATM under Marrero’s direction;
  - She has no operational experience but seems to be a good person and genuinely trying to do a credible job for Vieques and Culebra;
  - She brought in José Vásquez Colon to provide the maritime experience;
  - Numerous public statements have reflected great naiveté – in departure from reality;
  - When I asked why the boat was spending the nights in Ceiba instead of Vieques (when the schedules grossly favor the opposite) she said because the crews were residing on the main island;
  - When asked why not make the crews, some of which are Viequense, stage out of Vieques, she had no answer;
  - When I asked what the schedule for cargo was to be after privatization, she said that it would be reduced; it was pointed out that the same crews using the same fuel as is currently burned could almost double the number of trips using Mosquito Pier, and she responded that they hadn’t thought of that;
  - When asked why they don’t put a finger pier (perpendicular to the ramp) in for side loading passengers at the cargo area, she said that it is not a consideration because it would take ten years to get it approved, reflecting a cynical view probably from one of her underlings; and
  - Her claim that the rocks someone dumped at the PRFF section of the pier required a USCG evaluation before they could be removed (and the dock re-inspected) appears not to be the problem at all since it has been four months, and nothing official has been done.

José Vásquez Colon, ATM

- - Nice guy with years of experience in maritime activities, although none in ferry type operations;
  - In mid-June, he told me that the cargo operations were going to be moved to Mosquito by July, just several weeks later;
  - When asked why maintenance was not being done on the boats at night, he stated that the union contract requires overtime pay for night, and they couldn’t afford it;
  - I asked why they don’t just hire shift workers for swing and graveyard shifts, and he said that it hadn’t been considered;
  - When I suggested that maintenance shift work be in the contract for privatization, he allowed that it would be a good idea;
  - For several weeks they were running two scheduled boats around 10:00PM from VQS to Ceiba – one ran light, and the other ran empty – what were they thinking? And
  - Let’s hope he can quit drinking the Cool-Aid and use his own brain.

PorFerry.com is an excellent idea, but if they can’t keep up with the scheduling, the wrong information is worse than none. They had posted a 9:00PM return to VQS for a long time, but it was actually departing at 8:00 or 8:15, and that stranded many. That’s operational management and doesn’t require an additional budget expenditure.

The government is being squeezed by the FOMB, and the ATM is feeling the result from all directions. Roselló just wanted to get rid of the ATM before it exploded. Unfortunately, in their haste to move everything along ASAP, they screwed it up beyond belief. Now, the new Governor has it sitting in her lap, and I’m certain she has no idea what to do with it and doesn’t have funds to apply to it easily. I look at the short term – next several months – as being beyond repair. Anything we do short of negotiating our own deal is a waste of time. It’s too early to make order out of this level of chaos.

IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

One could ask the question: Which of the three crises to hit Puerto Rico in the last several years was the most devastating? But why bother?

The fiscal collapse from the intentional self-destructing accumulation of debt; the failure to maintain the critical infrastructure of the island and prepare for the inevitable natural disasters; and the exposed depravity of the governing elite in pillaging the Commonwealth, all combined to cause our situation to devolve into the insurmountable catastrophe we face today. Corruption, greed, incompetence, and lack of love and concern for our islands, have worked in concert to destroy our hopes for any relief in the near term and rendered our expectations for our children’s futures bleak.

The situation is horrible. We could focus on hand wringing, revenge, and blame tossing, but that’s not going to solve the problems, and it’s not going to restore us to glory. We must instead encourage the courts to investigate and prosecute the bad actors, vote (or protest) out the politicians who are responsible for the mess, but most importantly, find or create solutions.

For decades, business owners and knowledgeable outside contractors have not trusted the government. Efforts to revive our economy have failed time after time due to the lack of certainty the various administrations have fostered. Internally generated initiatives simultaneously have lacked vision, competency, and integrity, which has led to one failure to launch after another. The same-old unimaginative tactics of tax giveaways are temporary and ubiquitous in the global market, and the results are both ineffective and unsustainable in the medium to long term.

Given the abject failure of every recent initiative for economic development attempting to utilize the obsolete methods of a discredited past, it’s time to try something truly innovating. Attempting the same solutions over and over without ever achieving a difference is considered insane, so why not try something radically different – it might turn out to be rational. That’s where innovation actually occurs. How about if we create a couple of small laboratories of economic and political experimentation? Do we really have anything to lose at this point? While there is no silver bullet that will solve all the problems at once, multiple smaller initiatives may add up and can provide synergy for significant growth.

Initiative 1: The Decolonization of Vieques, Roosevelt Roads (RR), & Possibly Culebra

Economic development is currently stillborn in PR for several reasons:

Demonstrated PR Government instability, incompetency, corruption, and lack of vision;
Commonwealth bankruptcy and the FOMB, or oversight board, have almost totally eliminated promised reconstruction funding, significant investment options in infrastructure, and government & NGO sponsored initiatives;
US colonial policies and laws, for which we have NO voting rights, from the Jones Act to the orders issued by every one of the myriad federal agencies constituting hundreds of thousands of pages;
Shrinking local markets due to lower birth rates and emigration;
Poor existing infrastructure for both living and working – schools, healthcare, security, utilities, transportation, etc.; and
Fear and reluctance of quality investors and developers to enter the perceived swamp.

How can any nation or state overcome this order of magnitude of degeneration in a period of 1, 5, or even 10 years? IT CAN’T and IT WON’T! So, what is something that we CAN do to change the game?

We can eject an escape pod, launch a lifeboat, sever the umbilical cord, and set free a small area to decolonize and form an independent country.

Whoa! Before naysaying and closing our minds, remember, we are brainstorming and trying to think “out of the box”, as they tritely say. So, let’s not kill the idea until we investigate it more fully and determine its worthiness.

Rather than discuss the process, procedures, and politics that will be required, let’s postpone these salient issues to first determine whether or not this concept is something that could make the positive difference we seek. Just what exactly are we talking about?

Through the decolonization of Vieques (and possibly Culebra, if so desired) combined with the entire former Navy base at Roosevelt Roads, a new country can be created that shares limited borders, culture, language, history, and mutual economic dependence with Puerto Rico. As such, decolonization of Vieques can serve as a lifeline and a catalyst to the entire economically depressed eastern region of PR.

As a sovereign nation that includes the annexation of the former base, Vieques can effectively develop Roosevelt Roads in ways impossible for Puerto Rico. There are many reasons why this would be beneficial for PR:

Under the control of any Puerto Rican entity, savvy and ethical developers are NOT soon going to entrust their fortunes to the chaotic Commonwealth. Likewise, municipalities are frozen out of the mix because they are subordinate to the Central Government.
The recent news about environmental issues at RR is physically and politically toxic.
PR has no money of its own, no way to acquire more, and no rational plan for the former base or the rest of the island, but Vieques is “connected”.
Without the many unneeded controls and constraints of the EPA, OSHA, IRS, DEA, TSA, HSA, FDA, FAA, FCC, FBI, CIA, HUD, ADA, SEC, DOT, and the hundreds of other regulating bureaucratic organizations, Vieques would have an enormous competitive advantage. While these agencies offer many excellent rules, regulations, and guidelines, very few are appropriate or necessary for a small country. It is the intent to make a new government function as a partner with quality businesses, as opposed to as an adversary.
In addition to the benefits for residents of an independent Vieques, there would be many jobs and opportunities for the residents of the Ceiba, Naguabo, and Fajardo areas. Furthermore, existing US businesses planning to leave PR could relocate to the Port of Vieques (RR) and retain their workers and gain tax advantages. Most of the business development activities envisioned for Vieques would take place on the former base. The majority of the employees would necessarily live in the surrounding municipalities – shopping and paying taxes in PR. Additional industry, commerce, and population growth would return to Ceiba, a close and valued business partner on the PR side of the border.
PR would receive the added windfall of indirect access to the small, but significant, Port of Vieques allowing export/import via international shippers, thus obviating the restrictions of the Jones Act. PR savings from by-passing the existing oppressive colonial arrangement could amount to anywhere from $100,000,000 to $1,000,000,000 per year. [Note: The politics of eliminating the Jones Act limitations for Puerto Rico are a bit like the third rail – untouchable. However, through decolonization, the issue can be avoided. The much larger Port of San Juan would remain the primary port on the island.]
The airport could also focus on international air cargo that SJU cannot.
Vieques would become a contemporary demonstration project, utilizing the successful process of decolonization established in the 1980’s with the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia, through a Compact of Free Association that other US territories (or portions thereof) could ultimately follow and improve upon.
As an independent country, Vieques (with the annexation of Roosevelt Roads) can bring a fresh approach, a clean balance sheet, and an opportunity to build a small-scale economic engine geographically attached to Puerto Rico.

New development often faces a chicken-and-egg dilemma: no credibility yields no investment, while no investment results in no credibility. So how does Vieques solve the financing issue without new funding from the US?

The answer is “10:50:350”: similar to those arrangements agreed to in the previous “Compacts”.

10: A ten to fifteen-year US supported transition into an independent, decolonized nation.

50: An annual $50,000,000 transfer payment to Vieques for 10 years; The US historically funds a net of $20 billion to Puerto Rico every year, which averages out to about $5,700 per person. With 9,200 Vieques residents, that’s the equivalent of $50M. The payment would go directly to Vieques, not San Juan.

350: The cleanup of the east end bombing range is slated to require at least 10 more years, cost more than another $350M, and leave 15% of the island uninhabitable. The US Navy has approved $250M funding already for Vieques.

$50M per year would allow Vieques sufficient funds to operate the island while improving education, utilities, social services, and other infrastructure. Redirecting the $350M would give independence credibility (to grantors and investors) and the necessary kick start for economic development at Roosevelt Roads and in Vieques.

What benefits would the US receive?

Credibility – The US would reaffirm its claimed position that PR is truly not an oppressed colony by allowing a part of the “empire” that requests its sovereignty to negotiate independence. Puerto Rico is NOT currently in a viable position to function independently even if its citizens wanted it, which they don’t at this point. To reduce the international criticism while addressing the very long-term problems of the Commonwealth, the US should assist Vieques in becoming an independent nation – a demonstration project – and diffuse the criticism. On the other hand, obstructing or denying such a request by Vieques – no matter what the excuses – could dramatically compound the public relations disaster.
Reduction of an annoyance – Vieques has been a very vocal critic of past local US military activities and the current related cleanup. The antagonism, emotional conflict, and distraction for all could be eliminated with a cash settlement for Vieques and a release from future liability for the US – Vieques would choose to become responsible for the cleanup. The 2% or so of the island directly affected by the possibilities of unexploded ordinance has been off-limits for decades and can continue to be until Vieques matures financially and can afford to perform incremental cleanup.
Cost – As it becomes more obvious that the US is going to be required to financially assist PR for some time, economic development (and only economic development) reduces the magnitude of the problem. Don’t give a bailout – provide the opportunity to earn it! The FOMB should see a huge benefit from the optics of letting the secession deal ride without demanding much – after all, it’s their lifeboat, too.
An ally – politically and economically.

While we may not have the in-house experience of governing a nation of 10,000 or so citizens at this point, we know to hire private consultants and contractors to help and guide us. We have developed sufficient understanding to begin the process, hire consultants to train our people, and up to ten years to refine it.

This is a classic win, win, win scenario. True, it is certainly complex. Once a provisional decision has been made by Congress, a transition would be implemented that could last a decade or more. During this phase, temporary rules would be enacted that would allow Vieques to enter into the required agreements with commercial entities and begin the economic development. Working together synergistically with PR to attract various businesses to this unique arrangement, Vieques could help further the goals and growth of our neighbors of eastern Puerto Rico.

Financially, this can bring long term gain to PR, and it can definitely be a source of excitement leading to new regional investment. Decolonization of Vieques is a huge step that doesn’t solve all of the problems faced by the US, PR, or Vieques, but it introduces a paradigm shift in the economic activity of the region that can generate growth.

While the “loss” of Vieques and Roosevelt Roads might seem unthinkable and offend the egos of some, it can better be thought of as a clever tactical sacrifice to improve the economy (and the economic future) of Puerto Rico in a manner impossible without the decolonization of Vieques. In order to be possible, Viequenses, Culebrenses (if desired), and the governments of Puerto Rico and the US must agree, and that is no small task. Who knows? If all goes well, maybe through incremental annexation, much or all of Puerto Rico may decide to join the new country. If it should fail, hey, it’s just us crazies in Vieques, no loss to the main island!

Initiative 2: What Do You Have In Mind?

Please send your ideas, comments, and questions to: discussion@vieques-libre.com

PUERTO RICO’S CHOKE-HOLD ON VIEQUES COMMERCE

Under the long-term, government enforced embargo, the shipment of goods and vehicles between Vieques and Isla Grande has been so constrained that our community is not economically viable. The extreme restriction of cargo services denies us the ability to live normal lives, start and run businesses, and grow the community as we see fit.

What we know:

1. The former Governor decided to create a public-private partnership to operate the ferry systems for Puerto Rico.
2. An RFP was issued about 8 months ago to 5 prequalified bidders, but not shared with the stakeholders. The winning bidder is currently negotiating with the Maritime Authority (ATM).
3. The RFP is SECRET, but we know it is designed to relieve the PR Government of day-to-day issues, reduce subsidies, and eliminate long and short-term expenditures from dwindling budgets.
4. Due to recent permitting and EPA violations in the construction of new, yet instantly obsolete, facilities, the $30M funding for capital improvements promised by the FTA (Federal Transportation Administration) have been placed on hold.
5. The ATM is in crisis mode and overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the problems within the organization. They are just trying to hold things together long enough to dump it onto a private operator. Their desperation will most probably cause them to make a very bad deal.
6. The accumulated deterioration of the improperly maintained boats has created a situation that is too difficult for them to solve. Director Mara Perez Torres has no real experience in the industry or best practices, and she relies upon personnel with years of misinformed operational and maintenance management experience: people who have learned the ATM way. Corruption at multiple levels has been documented. The solutions these incompetents try to implement are horrific and laughable to real professionals.
7. While some managers may be trying to do a good job for the communities they serve, they are often ill-prepared, over their heads, and don’t realize how much they don’t know.
8. Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced, as each new administration claims to be, is appalled by the disservice to the island communities. Each typically appoints a new director (or multiple directors) as the situation reoccurs ad nauseum. Each time, we start over with promises. Without exception, the directors are over confident, ignore the pleas of the stakeholders to be involved, and drink the Cool-aid fed to them by the ATM organization. Without exception, there is no long-term improvement, and the cycle repeats.
9. ATM management has been so politically corrupted, incompetent, and/or delusional for decades that they use the same old arguments to justify holding back Vieques services. In April of 2018 the ATM published a criminally fallacious D&C study as a draconian preliminary to the RFQ process for ferry privatization. My personal response addressed the fraud they were attempting to wage. The actual official RFQ was improved still lacking. Nonetheless, the lies and misconceptions remain today at every level of the ATM.
10. Many are in survival mode and still don’t care at all about their customers.

Requests by residents, as the primary stakeholders, to have a seat at the planning and oversight table have been denied. Local attempts to establish a cooperative to create, own, and oversee the operation of a ferry service have been rebuffed by Omar Marrero, who claims that the plea is too late and that proposals cannot be accepted during the period an existing RFP is pending. Since the term of the contract he has crafted is 23 years, an entire generation of islanders is going to be sentenced to:

• failed economic development,
• inaccessible medical services,
• severely constrained education,
• limited commerce, and
• denial of the pursuit of happiness.

The ferry system required to sustain our island is key. If government can’t do the job, stop blocking us: quit! Give us time and support to set up a cooperative instead of denying us participation and preventing us from increasing our capacity. Or, if you prefer, consider some innovative solutions that reach well beyond the ferry and provide economic development for Puerto Rico otherwise unachievable.

INITIATING CHANGE IN VIEQUES

Major philosophical chasms occur in societies during periods of significant transition. Modernization of unsophisticated regions brings forth resistance from those who feel their way of life is under siege. Fear of losing normalcy, the familiarity with the everyday and with every person, brings people into a defensive mode to fight the forces that would alter the status quo. This creates a conundrum: everyone wants improvement, but few want change.

Making things better is relative: that which elevates one may actually lower another. A faster tool may make one person twice as productive but render the second person unemployed. A better education may lead to young people leaving home to seek their fortunes in larger markets resulting in parents missing their children. The defenders of anti-change movements will eventually erect a shield to protect the destruction of their “culture”.

As most agree, many aspects of culture are worthy of esteem and should be preserved. On the other hand, just because a trait is historical and common does make it a good thing. Culture is not in and of itself good or bad; it is a noun that can accept adjectives like wonderful and horrible. When we first think of culture, we include charming customs, art, music, dance, shared history and beliefs, social norms, etc. But, look more closely at what some “cultures” actually have practiced throughout history:

Cannibalism
Piracy
Genital mutilation
Slavery
Foot binding
And other terrible things

Less extreme, but very detrimental to the progress and prosperity of any society:

Criminal and antisocial behavior
Corruption and dishonesty
Thievery
Distrust of everyone
Vigilante justice

Some favorable traits have flip sides with overwhelming negatives, such as:

Kind and gentle societies are often passive, which can lead to outside and internal control and abuse
Societies that are tolerant of people’s differences and lifestyles might also be tolerant of criminal and antisocial behavior

So, if one wishes to improve the quality of life within the community, such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, transportation, communications, governance, etc., how does one gain local support? Many would say they want the improvement but don’t change anything – clearly an impossible contradiction. Perhaps a good beginning would be to identify the elements of the culture that are really important to the population. In this way, one would have finite lists that can be called positive and negative culture. General terms like “culture” could be set aside in favor of working with the specifics (maximizing the positive and minimizing the negative) to shape proposed changes.

Once the community is generally united in their recognition of the real situation, an overall vision of the desired results needs to be formulated, and the specific goals must be established. These goals must then inform an executable improvement plan. Because there are so many areas being addressed, the whole endeavor may seem overwhelming.

“How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”

Any acceptable plan will include multiple and separate components and/or phases.

The situation in Vieques is somewhere in between the modern and sophisticated worlds of the West and the third world. Many do not have a global view, or at least not accurate ones. Most are not experienced in contemporary business practices or technology. A sizable number do not work and are dependent on government subsistence. The average educational level is very low. The question, therefore, is: “How does a population design their future while few in the community even know or understand what the present state of the art is in the real world?” Or to put it in other terms: “How do I write an app for Twitter when I have neither an account nor a clue what Twitter does?” The answer is: “With a lot of help from our friends and trusted consultants.”

UNITED WE WIN, DIVIDED WE FAIL

The Sato Platform

Communications and information distribution from the municipio should become a daily routine and receive a very high priority to keep citizens aware of opportunities and all government activities
Transparency in all government activities spending money, awarding contracts, planning, etc. – everything but real time personnel and legal procedures/negotiations.
Hiring should be based upon integrity, education, experience, skills, performance, and appropriateness of the job fit – not on personal or political affiliations. Our government team is only half as strong as it could and should be when we don’t make use of the good people of both parties: the best people we have available!
Municipal positions should be created and maintained only for the most necessary and critical functions – not as welfare or patronage
Land titles to all municipal lands should be solidified through proper surveys and legal procedures to encourage the sale of applicable properties: those justly in the possession of the inhabitants or vacant/derelict/abandoned properties for community development
Random Central Government real estate parcels and buildings not being used for PR purposes should be deeded to Vieques
Through increased autonomy, the municipality should take over all property tax functions – from record keeping, to appraisal, to tax collection – CRIM in Vieques should be totally eliminated
Grant writing should become a very high priority to secure funding for the many needs of the island – consultants should be contracted if necessary
The ferry service to and from Ceiba should be owned by the municipality as a government entity or a cooperative, and the operation should be contracted out BUT controlled locally – subsidies would be negotiated with PR and the Federal Transportation Administration
Electrical power generation through mostly solar and distribution through micro-grids should be owned by the municipality as a government entity or a cooperative, BUT the operation should be contracted out and controlled locally
For all but extreme cases, criminal and civil violations or complaints should be arraigned and tried in Vieques – even if it must be accomplished by video conferencing – and a short-term jail should be provided and equipped to obviate the need for transport
Our local government should become involved in liaison and lobbying for any and all-important Central Government and institutions providing services to Vieques citizens (such as healthcare, education, social services, and economic development)
Replacement of the inventory tax for Vieques businesses
Work with PR economic development offices to utilize Promise Zone, Free Economic Zone, and Opportunity Zone programs to our advantage
Given the ever-declining likelihood of obtaining direct government funding for the repairs, rebuilding, and new development of necessary programs and infrastructure, the municipality will need to aggressively foster strong relationships with local nonprofits and national grant sources to fund essential projects and economic development.

So much for my thoughts. Now:

Would you support an effort to encourage our local candidates to pledge to honor this type of commitment?
What would you add to the list?
What would you take off?
What do you think?

OPEN UP OUR ACCESS OR FREE US TO DO IT OURSELVES

I have been visiting Vieques since 1973. I love this island and love living in Puerto Rico. However, something is terribly wrong with the relationship between Vieques and the Commonwealth.

As a full-time resident of almost fifteen years, I joined the community in the realization that Vieques is treated like the bastard stepchild, or as my friends and neighbors say: “the tail of the dog”. It truly hurts to see our citizens discriminated against and abused by those who think us unsophisticated or jíbaros, and I’m outraged that we are constantly treated that way by our own government.

Naturally, life on a small island comes with limitations and inconveniences associated with the difficult logistics of transporting people and cargo back and forth. While the isolation can be a hassle, it also contributes to the quality of life one enjoys away from the hustle and bustle of more mainstream communities. As our Commonwealth has become more socialistic and our citizens more dependent on government to provide services and opportunities, the progress made to offer some of these services in Vieques has been reversed. Under the current economic situation, cutbacks have caused the reduction in municipality funding & services, closing of local offices, and increased demands requiring us to visit offices located throughout Isla Grande. With the destruction of our hospital (CDT), we are even more dependent upon main-island medical services.

Our road to government, medical, and commercial offices passes through 9 miles of ocean. This road is controlled by Ports Authority and barely accessible, therefore, we are fully dependent on the Autoridad de Transporte Maritimo. The entire ferry system (ATM) is now, and has been, so totally mismanaged and dysfunctional that it has almost single-handedly crushed the economy of Vieques, and its stated plans for reduced services are further dashing the hopes for our future. This has the opposite result of the implied intent of the many programs that La Fortaleza has claimed will turn around the economy.

The economy of Vieques is fundamentally rooted in tourism (we have absolutely nothing else at this time), and to that end, we need to develop our island’s infrastructure and amenities in a sustainable manner. We want to improve our quality of life without losing our way of life or damaging our natural resources. Unfortunately, the current cargo ferry system makes this utterly impossible. Under the long-term, government enforced embargo, the shipment of goods and vehicles between Vieques and Isla Grande has been so constrained that our community is not economically viable. The extreme restriction of cargo services denies us the ability to live normal lives, start and run businesses, and grow the community as we see fit.

Until 2010 or so, Vieques had 15 ATM cargo ferries allocated to service the island per week, which equated to about 320 vehicles. During the ferry maintenance crisis at that time period resulting in the loss of several boats, the PR Fast Ferry was hired by Gov Fortuño to augment the service with their own boats and crews. Because the passenger ferries were out of service, the ATM substituted cargo ferries (with limited passenger space) for all Vieques runs. Although meeting schedules was still most often impossible, the seven ATM round trips a day (4 each on weekends) were all cargo vessels and brought the intended total ATM cargo trips per week to a total of 43 – almost three times the normal allotment – and with a far more useful range of departure times. The 15 supplemental trips by PRFF resulted in just under 60 round trips per week – almost four times the vehicle capacity of previous years and over twice as many as currently scheduled. Assuming that the boats all ran, we had the capacity to move 1200 vehicles. Some ATM personnel resented (and still do perform “sabotage” on customer service) the PRFF and often would not allow reservations, forcing many to waste time going standby. On other occasions, agents refused to sell tickets while the boats had space available. Despite this subversion, the boats tripled the cargo volume to an estimated 800 vehicles. The point here being that there is significantly more demand than the current horrible level of service can meet. With a more reliable, better scheduled service, the pent-up demand could fund a significant increase in service.

While not caused by the current Director, Mara Perez Torres, ATM management has been so politically corrupted, incompetent, and/or delusional for decades that they use the same old arguments to justify holding back Vieques services. In April of 2018 the ATM published a criminally fallacious D&C study as a preliminary to the RFQ process for ferry privatization. My personal response addressed the fraud they were attempting to wage. When the actual RFQ was released, some of the issues were corrected, but the lies and misconceptions remain today at every level of the ATM. The final issued RFP remains secret.

Each new gubernatorial administration claims to be appalled by the disservice to the island communities, and each appoints a new director (or multiple directors as the situation reoccurs ad nauseum). With each new director, we start over with promises. Without exception, the directors have no meaningful operational experience and drink the Cool-aid fed to them by the ATM organization. Without exception, there is no long-term improvement.

Vieques has one of the highest unemployment levels in Puerto Rico, with a very high rate of population decline. We cannot create jobs for our residents or start and run businesses without adequate cargo service. We have lost existing jobs because the ferry system did not offer the capacity to export containers of materials under federal contract. Growth of existing businesses is constrained and starting new businesses, that require the regular delivery of products and/or materials, is generally impossible under our allocation of ferries.

As our government and medical services are cut back on Vieques and moved to big island locations, we cannot afford to rent cars every week to make repeated visits to offices and clinics. We have some of the worst health statistics in Puerto Rico. Many locals without credit cards and students currently cope with very lengthy and circuitous routes of public transportation. A simple visit to a doctor or government office burns a day of work.

Household goods, food, fuel, building materials, services, etc. are only available here in limited quantities and with limited selection. Monopolies are the rule. Monopolies form for one of two reasons: either there is inadequate market support for multiple competitors, or the existing merchant works to prevent competition from gaining access to the market. In either case, Vieques suffers from higher prices, reduced customer service, and inadequate product availability. Without competition there is no advertising. Without advertising, there is no newspaper. Without a local newspaper, we are kept in the dark: divided and conquered.

The core cause of the issues outlined above is INADEQUATE CARGO FERRY SERVICE! Demands for a bridge by some residents reflected the recognized needs for reasonable access to and from the island. An improved ferry system is one answer at a fraction of the cost.

Just a cursory review of the existing ferry system shows inadequate and inappropriate locations, facilities, equipment, and operations. As a person who spent a few years in aviation operations and maintenance, I can cite many, many details of failure here. Keeping this discussion as a “top down”, overall perspective, political management of this technical operation has been a disaster. The ATM demonstrates an appalling lack of competence, as well as a lack of sensitivity and concern for the wellbeing of thousands of Puerto Ricans. It is hard to believe that the past operation of the system was anything less than an attempt to punish Vieques for something, or an indication of some criminal scheme by ATM officials.

Government’s role is to provide adequate transportation infrastructure to foster commerce and public access to services. The entire road and highway system of Puerto Rico is provided for these same purposes. The road is not a profit center; it is not a business; and it does not make money. We know that the Central Government is broke. We know that the myriad of problems of the ATM are not caused by the new Governor, Wanda Vazquez Garced. We believe that she must want to rid her administration of the constant recurring failed ATM. But the solution offered by the Roselló administration is horrific and unsatisfactory as efforts are being made to opaquely implement it.

Requests by local residents, as the primary stakeholders, to have a seat at the planning and oversight table have been denied. Local attempts to establish a cooperative to create, own, and oversee the operation of a ferry service have been rebuffed by Omar Marrero, who claims that the plea is too late and that proposals cannot be accepted during the period an existing RFP is pending. Since the term of the contract he is letting is 23 years, the islands are going to be sentenced for more than an entire generation to:

failed economic development,
inaccessible medical services,
severely constrained education, and
deprivation of the pursuit of happiness.

The ferry service required to sustain our island is key. If government can’t do the job, it should quit! Give us time and support to set up a cooperative. Or, if preferred, consider some innovative solutions that reach well beyond the ferry and provide economic development for Puerto Rico otherwise unachievable.

FAQ 2 of 4: PROTECT VIEQUES & THE FUTURE OF OUR RESIDENTS

Question 21: What has been done to force our governments to solve the many issues we have?

Short Answer: Protests, demands, requests, meetings, etc. have been orchestrated, but the results have been the same:

“We hear you, and we promise to fix it.” Blah, blah, blah!

“Be patient, it takes time, but we promise to fix it.” Blah, blah, blah!

“We know there is a problem, but we promise to fix it.” Blah, blah, blah!

This has been going on this way for decades.

Question 22: Residents organized and were successful at causing the Navy to leave. Why can’t this be done to achieve the improvements we need so much?

Short Answer: It is much easier to perform a negative than a positive. Stopping the bombing in the then current political environment with the aid of powerful people required that the Navy merely stop and pack up, which was not difficult. Starting programs or improving conditions for Vieques requires sponsorship, creativity, funding, and initiative – not things government is particularly good at.

Expanded Answer: Power brokering, special interests, and politics rule.

Question 23: How can Vieques force the San Juan government to treat us with respect, give us more autonomy, and fix the many broken services which we are forced to rely on?

Short Answer: Vieques is poor and politically weak. PR is in deep trouble with a dysfunctional, corrupt, incompetent political class that is up to its eyeballs in fear, debt, and horse manure of its own making. Even if it wanted to, the government is not going to be able to help us in the next ten years. And, after that, it is unlikely that we will have priority of any sort anyway. If we don’t figure out what to do on our own, we will continue our economic slide, and young people will continue leaving the island.

Question 24: Can Vieques force a change in the relationship we have with San Juan?

Short Answer: Yes, but only with the consent of the US Congress. With their approval Vieques could be: a separate territory (colony), annexed to one of the 50 States, annexed by a foreign country, or a new independent country.

Expanded Answer: Under the “Territorial Clause” Congress is in complete control.

Question 25: Why would Congress be willing to create another separate colony?

Short Answer: They probably wouldn’t because there is no foreseeable benefit to them or the US. They may recognize it could make some improvements possible for our island, but they would be very hesitant to act because we are not a priority for them – just a pain in the neck.

Question 26: Would Congress ever consider allowing us to be annexed to one of the upper 50?

Short Answer: Maybe, but only if it was clear that we had a majority that really wanted it and the State that sponsored us was politically powerful enough to close the deal. The problem for us is that our status as a remote island from the seats of power would still make us the tail of the dog.

Question 27: Would Congress ever consider allowing us to be annexed to another country?

Short Answer: No! Not Cuba, but not Canada, either. Just plain no! Now, they might trade us to Greece for one of their islands.

Question 28: Would Congress ever consider decolonizing Vieques and letting us become an independent country?

Short Answer: It’s not in their playbook at the moment, and their initial response would certainly be disbelief, but a strong case can be made for not just allowing it but for providing full assistance with the process.

Expanded Answer: If Vieques mustered the clear support for independence, there are very compelling reasons why this would become quite acceptable to both PR and the US Congress.

Question 29: Would PR ever consider allowing Vieques to secede?

Short Answer: It’s not their decision – even without the Fiscal Control Board. Congress wouldn’t typically make such a decision without studying the whole situation and getting input from PR. But, just like with the US, a strong case can be made for not just allowing it but for providing full assistance with the process.

Expanded Answer: If Vieques mustered the clear support for independence, there are very compelling reasons why this would become quite acceptable to both PR and the US Congress.

Question 30: Can a small country the size of Vieques become an internationally recognized country?

Short Answer: There are 193 countries in the United Nations. Of those, two are about 10,000 people and one considerably smaller. The land areas of the three are all smaller.

Expanded Answer: UN membership is not automatic. There are some sovereign nations unable to secure the requisite votes to join the club. With US backing, it would not be difficult.

FAQ 3 of 4: VIEQUES TRANSITION INTO AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY

Question 40: How does a dependent municipality become an independent country over night?

Short Answer: It doesn’t. It takes five to ten (or more) years of investigation, negotiation, consensus making, planning, designing systems, building organizations, training, etc., to transition into an independent, sustainable entity that can run and mange itself.

Question 41: Without money, businesses, experience, training, and all of the community infrastructure and systems in place, how can Vieques possibly begin a transition much less run as an independent country?

Short Answer: It can’t. The following questions break down the problem into smaller parts for which solutions are offered.

Question 42: Our local political leaders barely manage our municipality, how are they possibly going to run a country?

Short Answer: Before we can talk about who will run the country, we need to decide what the government organization should look like so that the people we have can govern Vieques. Our municipal government is structured and funded by PR – it is part of a totally unmanageable, broken system that must be redesigned from the ground up to meet our needs.

Expanded Answer: Communities of our size should have governments that are horizontal with three levels: elected council or board, hired professional management, and contracted services.

Question 42A: What about a Constitution and Bill of Rights?

Expanded Answer: Read More

Question 43: Who in Vieques is qualified to govern a small country?

Short Answer: We are. Among us are many with experience in government, public works, utility services, education, healthcare, transportation, etc. Our lights have been hidden by the bushel of broken systems implemented by PR so that it has not been obvious that our own citizens have the appropriate capabilities.

Expanded Answer: Vieques has talent, and with the proper structure and systems, the community can pull together and govern itself quite handily.

Question 44: How can we do this on our own?

Short Answer: We don’t – we hire expert consultants to assist and guide us through the entire process from the design of our government and the required systems (including education, healthcare, social services, legal, and the many other others required), through recruitment of management staff, selection of contractors, and implementation. We also have a number of full and part time residents who are experts, or well connected to experts, that can provide many services pro bono or for little cost to help our efforts.

Question 45: What is planned for the new systems for education, healthcare, social services, legal system, justice system, and land use?

Short Answer: These plans must be developed by representatives selected by Viequenses and ultimately approved by referendum.

Expanded Answer: As starting points for discussion, the following are offered:

Education. Read More

Healthcare. Read More

Social Services. Read More

Legal System. Read More

Justice System. Read More

Land Use. Read More

Question 46: Vieques is poor. How can we possibly provide viable opportunities for new businesses to locate here?

Short Answer: We change the rules. Neither Puerto Rico nor the US are particularly business friendly any more. With our excellent geographic location, attractive climate, and through the creation of an appropriate tax and regulation environment, Vieques can become a desirable business destination.

Expanded Answer: Most of the developed countries in the world have grown their regulatory and taxing bureaucracies beyond reasonable limits. They’ve become gigantic, inefficient, and undemocratic. We can provide an efficient, level playing field that attracts sufficient business to generate the jobs and taxes required to fund our operations and social programs.

Question 47: How can we support new businesses in Vieques with the existing transportation system – the ATM?

Short Answer: We add a private contracted service. Without logistical support Vieques dies a slow death: that’s what we are seeing now. The ATM will get even worse.

Expanded Answer: We need an efficient system running the short route for cargo, residents, and tourists.

Question 48: How do we guaranty access to the main island and a stable, efficient terminal facility under our control?

Short Answer: We buy Roosevelt Roads.

Question 49: Why would PR sell Roosevelt Roads to Vieques?

Short Answer: PR has been unsuccessfully trying to develop the former Navy base for a decade and can’t. They bought the facility for $16 million because they couldn’t sell it to developers.

Expanded Answer: Roosevelt Roads and Vieques have been codependent for 70 years. As a new country without debt and with a favorable business climate, we can develop some of our new business utilizing the remaining infrastructure built by the Navy. Any business we develop will benefit PR, especially the surrounding areas.

Question 50: The problems with the electric and water companies are legion. How do we provide high quality systems under our control at predictable, affordable prices?

Short Answer: We build our own, environmentally clean, sustainable, electrical generation and desalinization plant.

Expanded Answer: Through the use of ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) systems, we can become totally independent, continue to supply Culebra, and actually send both water and electricity back to Roosevelt Roads and other main island destinations.

Question 51: What types of business development would be viable for Vieques?

Short Answer: We know for certain that eco-tourism is a winner for us, but we have strong reasons to believe that medical tourism, spaceport operations, and shipping could be very viable. We have a population of under 10,000 so we don’t need (nor can we handle) much.

Expanded Answer: In addition, there are so many potential opportunities that we have only a little knowledge of that could provide exceptional success.

Question 52: How does Vieques raise sufficient funds from taxes to be sustainable?

Short Answer: The tax system is created to be fair, simple in structure and in filing, easy to enforce, and attractive to both businesses and individuals.

Expanded Answer: Nobody likes taxes, period. But, the governments of the world have made bad systems even worse. Not Vieques!

Question 53: How do we fund a transition from our current disenfranchised state to an independent country?

Short Answer: With a little help from our friends: government assistance and grants.

Expanded Answer: We will attempt to negotiate financial and service support at the current levels from the US and PR while funding the design and implementation of the new systems via grants.