PuertoRico
Overview:
TheCommonwealthofPuertoRico,thesmallestoftheGreaterAntilles,islocatedeastoftheDominicanRepublicinthenortheasternCaribbean.
Populatedforcenturiesbyaboriginalpeoples,theislandwasclaimedbytheSpanishCrownin1493followingColumbus'secondvoyagetothe
Americas.In1898,after400yearsofcolonialrulethatsawtheindigenouspopulationnearlyexterminatedandAfricanslavelabourintroduced,Puerto
RicowascededtotheUSasaresultoftheSpanish-AmericanWar.PuertoRicansweregrantedUScitizenshipin1917.Popularly-electedgovernors
haveservedsince1948.In1952,aconstitutionwasenactedprovidingforinternalselfgovernment.Inplebiscitesheldin1967,1993,and1998,voters
chosetoretaincommonwealthstatus.
Territory:
PuertoRicoconsistsofamainislandofPuertoRicoandvarioussmallerislands,includingVieques,Culebra,Mona,Desecheo,andCajadeMuertos.
Ofthelatterfive,onlyCulebraandViequesareinhabitedyear-round.Monaisuninhabitedthroughlargepartsoftheyearexceptforemployeesofthe
PuertoRicoDepartmentofNaturalResources.Area:Land:8,959sq.km;Water:145sq.km;Total:9,104sq.km;Coastline:501km;Themainland
measuressome170kmby60km(100milesby35nauticalmiles).Itismostlymountainouswithlargecoastalareasinthenorthandsouthregionsof
theisland.Themainmountainousrangeiscalled"LaCordilleraCentral"(TheCentralRange).Highestpoint,CerrodePunta(1,338m;4,390ft).
AnotherimportantpeakisElYunque,locatedintheSierradeLuquilloattheCaribbeanNationalForest,withamaximumelevationof1,065m(3,494
feet).PuertoRicoliesattheboundarybetweentheCaribbeanandNorthAmericanplatesandiscurrentlybeingdeformedbythetectonicstresses
causedbytheinteractionoftheseplates.Thesestressesmaycauseearthquakesandtsunamis.Theseseismicevents,alongwithlandslides,represent
someofthemostdangerousgeologichazardsintheislandandinthenortheasternCaribbean.ThemostrecentmajorearthquakeoccurredonOctober
11,1918andhadanestimatedmagnitudeof7.5ontheRichterscale.ItoriginatedoffthecoastofAguadillaandwasaccompaniedbyatsunami.The
PuertoRicoTrench,thelargestanddeepesttrenchintheAtlantic,islocatedabout120km(75miles)northofPuertoRicointheAtlanticOceanatthe
boundarybetweentheCaribbeanandNorthAmericanplates.Thetrenchis1,754km(1,090miles)longandabout97km(60miles)wide.Atitsdeepest
point,namedtheMilwaukeeDeep,itis8,380m(27,493feet)deep,orabout8.38km(5.2miles).
Location:
BetweentheCaribbeanSeaandtheNorthAtlanticOcean,eastoftheDominicanRepublic,about1,600km(1,000mi)southeastofMiami,Florida.
LatitudeandLongitude:
1815N,6630W;
TimeZone:
GMT-4
TotalLandArea:
8959
EEZ:
Climate:
PuertoRicoÂ’stemperaturesaveragefrom22.7C(83F)inthewinterand29.4C(85F)inthesummer.PuertoRicoalsoexperiencesseasonal
hurricanes,butgenerallynotasoftenasotherCaribbeanislands.
NaturalResources:
Therearesomecopperandnickeldepositsaswellasapotentialforonshoreandoffshoreoil.
ECONOMY:
TotalGDP:
2003
65,210,000,000.00USD
PerCapitaGDP:
2003
16,730.00USD
%ofGDPperSector:
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
2003
2.7%
49%
48.3%
%ofPopulationEmployedbySector
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
2000
3%
20%
77%
ExternalAid/Remittances:
Growth:
RealGrowthRate(2003):1.6%;InflationRate:6.5%(2003);
LabourForce:
2000
1,300,000
Unemployment
Year:
UnemploymentRate(%ofpop.)
2002
12%
Industry:
pharmaceuticals,electronics,apparel,foodproducts,tourism
NicheIndustry:
Tourism
Tourism:
ImportsandExports:
Tot.ValueofImports
0.00()
FromEu:
ImportPartners(EU:)
PartnersOutsideEU:
ImportPartners:
Tot.ValueofExports
()
ToEu:
ExportPartners:
PartnersOutsideEU::
ExportPartners:
MainImports:
MainExports:
TRANSPORTATION/ACCESS
External:
NumberofAirports:
Thereare30airportsinPuertoRico,17withpavedrunwaysand13thatarenot.SeveraldailyflightsfromthecontinentalUnitedStates,theCaribbean
andLatinAmerica,SouthAmerica,andEurope.
NumberofMainPorts:
Internal:
Air
Road:
Thereareabout14,400kmofpavedroadsinadditionto96kmofrailway.Publictransport,carrental,taxiserviceandbusserviceisavailable.
Sea:
FerryservicetoCulebraandViequesisavailableatthesmallportofFajardoontheeastendoftheisland.Privateboatscanalsobecharteredatmany
ofthemarinasontheeastcoast.
OtherFormsofTransportation:
EconomicZones:
ThePharmaceuticalindustryisveryprosperousforPuertoRico.PuertoRicocurrentlymanufactures16ofthe20top-sellingdrugsintheU.S.and
approximately50percentofthepacemakersanddefibrillatorssoldintheU.S.Withcontinuedtaxincentivesandspecialpoliciesaimedatthe
pharmaceuticalcompanies,PuertoRicopersiststobeaviable,prosperous,andattractivelocationforoffshoremanufacturers.
EnergyPolicy:
Type
Sector
Total
TotalEnergy
Public
Public
Energy
Thermic Geothermic Other
Domestic Commercial
Industry
Year
Consumption
Service
Lighting
Production (Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
(Mwh)
OfficialCurrency:
UnitedStatesDollar(USD)
BankingandInsurance:
NumberofBanksandCreditUnions:
NumberofAgriculturalCreditUnions:
NumberofInsuranceCompanies:
TherearenostrictregulationsorrestrictionsonbankingandinsuranceinPuertoRico.
FinancialServices:
Communications/E-Commerce:
Outwardandopen.Governmentandprivatewebsitesoneconomyandtourismextensive.Englishand/orSpanish
PublicOwnership:
TherearenostrictregulationsorrestrictionsonpublicownershipinPuertoRico.
LandUse:
2001:Arableland:3.95%;Permanentcrops:5.52%;Other:90.53%;
Agriculture/Forestry:
sugarcane,coffee,pineapples,plantains,bananas,livestockproducts,chickens
MarineActivity:
Fishing:
territorialsea:12nm;exclusiveeconomiczone:200nm
MarineLife:
CriticalIssues:
EnvironmentalIssues:Urbanization,developmentanddegradationofcoastalandwaterfrontareas,erosion,destructionfromhurricanestoproperty,
crops,andcoastlines,periodicdrought.CriticalIssues:Morestrictregulationsprotectingcoastalandwaterfrontareas,moreprotectiononforested,
agricultural,watersources.TransshipmentofillicitdrugsfromSouthAmericatothecontinentalUnitedStatesisbecomingmoreofathreattosociety,
lawenforcement,andhealthinPuertoRico.
JURISDICTIONALRESOURCES
Capital:
Thecapital,SanJuan,islocatedonthemainisland'snorthcoast.Admin.divisions:none(commonwealthassociatedwiththeUS);therearenofirstorderadministrativedivisionsasdefinedbytheUSGovernment,butthereare78municipalities(municipios,singular-municipio)atthesecondorder;
Adjuntas,Aguada,Aguadilla,AguasBuenas,Aibonito,Anasco,Arecibo,Arroyo,Barceloneta,Barranquitas,Bayamon,CaboRojo,Caguas,Camuy,
Canovanas,Carolina,Catano,Cayey,Ceiba,Ciales,Cidra,Coamo,Comerio,Corozal,Culebra,Dorado,Fajardo,Florida,Guanica,Guayama,
Guayanilla,Guaynabo,Gurabo,Hatillo,Hormigueros,Humacao,Isabela,Jayuya,JuanaDiaz,Juncos,Lajas,Lares,LasMarias,LasPiedras,Loiza,
Luquillo,Manati,Maricao,Maunabo,Mayaguez,Moca,Morovis,Naguabo,Naranjito,Orocovis,Patillas,Penuelas,Ponce,Quebradillas,Rincon,Rio
Grande,SabanaGrande,Salinas,SanGerman,SanJuan,SanLorenzo,SanSebastian,SantaIsabel,ToaAlta,ToaBaja,TrujilloAlto,Utuado,Vega
Alta,VegaBaja,Vieques,Villalba,Yabucoa,Yauco
PoliticalSystem:
PuertoRicoisaselfgoverningcommonwealthinassociatedwiththeUnitedStates.ThechiefofStateisthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Theheadofthegovernmentisanelectedgovernor.Therearetwolegislativechambers;theHouseofRepresentativeswith51seats,andtheSenate,
with27seats.PuertoRicohasauthorityoveritsinternalaffairs.UnitedStatescontrols:interstatetrade,foreignrelationsandcommerce,customs
administration,controlofair,landandsea,immigrationandemigration,nationalityandcitizenship,currency,maritimelaws,militaryservice,military
bases,army,navy,andairforce,declarationofwar,constitutionalityoflaws,jurisdictionsandlegalprocedures,treaties,radioandtelevision,agriculture,
miningandminerals,highways,postalservices,socialsecurity,andallotherareasgenerallycontrolledbythefederalgovernmentontheUnitedStates.
ThemajordifferencebetweenPuertoRicoandtheother50USstatesisthatthePuertoRicanscannotvoteinthePresidentialorCongresselections.
TheexecutivepowerisexercisedbytheGovernor,wholeadsacabinetconfirmedby15ministers.Thegovernmentiselectedbyislandwideelections
everyfouryears.ThelegislativepowerresidesintheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentatives.TheSenateconsistsof27members,or2perelectoral
district,and11electedaccordingtothedifferentdistrictsproportionofpopulation.Twoextraseatsaregrantedineachhousetotheoppositionif
necessarytolimitanypartyÂ’scontroltotwothirds.TheHouseofRepresentativeshas53members,1perelectoraldistrict,and11electedaccordingto
thedifferentdistrictsproportionofpopulation.Legislatorsarepopularlyelectedto4yearterms.CourtSystem:SupremeCourt;AppellateCourt;Courtof
FirstInstancecomposedoftwosections:aSuperiorCourtandaMunicipalCourt(justicesforallthesecourtsappointedbythegovernorwiththe
consentoftheSenate)
PoliticalParties:
NationalDemocraticParty,NationalRepublicanPartyofPuertoRico,NewProgressivePartyorPNP(pro-USstatehood),PopularDemocraticPartyor
PPD(pro-commonwealth),PuertoRicanIndependencePartyorPIP(pro-independence).Elections:TheGovernor,Senators,andHouseof
Representativesareallelectedfora4yearterm.
ImportantLegislation:
ConstitutionoftheCommonwealthofPuertoRico:ratified3March1952;approvedbyUSCongress3July1952;effective25July1952.Itoutlinesthe
politicalfunctions,structures,andpracticesofPuertoRicoandisvitaltotheday-to-dayfunctioningofPuertoRico.LawoftheForestsofPuertoRico,
enactedin1972andamendedin2000.Thislawoutlinesspecificguidelines,restrictions,andprotectionstoPuertoRicoÂ’srichandlimitedforests.This
isanimportantlawbecauseitlimitstheamountofharvestingofthisnaturalresourceandoutlinestheconservationoftheforestedlandsofPuertoRico.
LawforthePlanofLandUseoftheAssociatedFreeStateofPuertoRicoof2004.Thislawwascreatedtodefinethenewpublicpolicy,createthe
OfficeofthePlanofLandUse,assignedtotheMeetingofPlanning,createtheInter-AgencyCommitteeoftheExecutiveBranch,authorizethe
designationofanExternalAdvisoryAdvice,toestablishtheprocedureofDeclarationofAreaofReservetoPerpetuity,andtoestablishthetransition
processtowardsthePlanandforotheraims.ThislawisimportantforPuertoRico,aswellasforallislandsbecauseitisnecessarytocarefullyplan
landbecauseitissorareandscarce.LawonEnvironmentalPublicPolicy,adoptedin1977,amendedin1998and2000.Theaimsofthislawarethe
followingones:(a)Toestablishapublicpolicythatstimulatesadesirableandadvisableharmonybetweensocietyandnature.(b)tofomenttheefforts
thatwouldpreventoreliminatedamagetotheatmosphereandtheenvironment,andtostimulatethehealthandthewell-beingofsociety.(c)toenrich
animportantunderstandingoftheecologicalsystemsandnaturalsourcesforPuertoRico,and(d)toestablishaMeetingofEnvironmentalQuality.
PuertoRicoÂ’s,aswellasallotherislandsenvironmentsisveryfragileandprotectingtheenvironmentthroughpoliciessuchasthisoneensuresthat
irreparabledamagewillnottakeplace.LawtoProtectthePurityofPotableWaters,enactedin1977.Thislawensurestheprotectionandpurityofthe
watersysteminPuertoRico.ThisisaveryvitallawtoPuertoRicobecausewaterisveryscarceonPuertoRicoduetolongdroughtsandfewsources
ofwater.Thislawensuresthatthisimportantresourcewillbeprotectedandkeepsafeforuse.
PrincipalTaxes:
AssociatedPower:
UnitedStatesofAmerica
Citizenship:
US
Paradiplomacy:
PuertoRicoisamemberCFTU,Interpol(sub-bureau),IOC,UPU,WCL,WFTU,WTO(associate);
HUMANRESOURCES
PopulationbyAgeandGender(2004):0-14:873,059(22.4%);male51.1%,female49.9%;15-64:2,550,657(65.4%);male47.9%,female52.1%;65+:
474,244(12.2%);male43.3%,female56.7%;Total:3,897,960(100%);male47.4%,female52.9%.Medianage:Total:33.8years;male:32.1years;
female:35.4years(2004est.);Populationgrowthrate:0.49%(2004est.).
Island
Area(kmsq.)
Population
%ofTotalPopulation
Population:
Year
ResidentPopulation
AgeofPopulation:
0-14
15-24
25-49
50-64
65andup
2004
873059
0
0
0
474,244
Migration:
NetMigration:-1.46migrant(s)/1,000population;
CrudeBirthRate:
2004
14.1%
LifeExpedctancy:
CrudeDeathRate:
2004
7.77%
Ethnicity:
white(mostlySpanishorigin)80.5%,black8%,Amerindian0.4%,Asian0.2%,mixedandother10.9%;
ClassDivision:
Languages:
Spanish,English
Religion:
RomanCatholic85%,Protestantandother15%.
Literacy:
definition:age15andovercanreadandwritetotalpopulation:94.1%male:93.7%;female:94.4%(2002).
EducationSystem:
TheschoolsystemisAdministeredbytheDepartmentofEducationandhasseverallevelsoflearning.ThelanguageusedinschoolsisSpanish,
however,Englishistaughtfromkindergartentohighschoolaspartoftheschoolcurriculum.SomeprivateschoolsprovideEnglishprogramswhereall
classesareconductedinEnglishexceptforSpanishclass.PuertoRicohasover50institutionsofhighereducation.PuertoRicohasachievedoneof
thehighestcollegeeducationratesintheworld(6th)with56%ofitscollage-agedstudentsattendinginstitutionsofhigherlearning.
TotalPre-schools:()
TotalPrimarySchools
FirstLevel:
SecondLevel:
ThirdLevel:
TotalSecondarySchools:
TotalProfessionalSchools
Universities:
NumberofSchoolsperIsland:
Pre-school
Pub
Priv
Elementary High-school Prof. University
1
2
3
Pub
Priv
Pub Priv
StudentsEnrolled:
Year:
Pre-School
Elementary
High-school
Prof.
University
High-School
Prof.
University
Teachers
Year
Pre-School
Elementary
1
2
3
MedicalServices:
AfullrangeofmedicalservicesandclinicsareavailableinPuertoRicoislandwide.
HISTORYANDCULTURE
History:
AnumberofAmerindianpeopleshavelivedonPuertoRico,whichmaybetheearliestsiteofhumanhabitationintheCaribbean.ItwastheTaÃ​nos
whowereinresidencewhenColumbusarrivedin1493.Thislargelypeacefulfamilyofautonomoustribeshaddevelopedasophisticatedculture,
languageandreligioussystem.Unusually,theTaÃ​noshadfemalechiefsaswellasmale,whowereentitledtonumeroushusbands,theforemostof
whichwasburnedwithhiswifeatthetimeofherdeath.TaÃ​nosreceivedprophecyfromgodsandthedeadthroughsuchmind-alteringpracticesas
inhalingahallucinatorypowdermadefromcohobaseedsandcrushedshells.Theywerealsoremarkablyniftyatballgames:theyinventedtherubber
ballandtheresultsoftheircontestswereoforacularvalue.Unfortunately,game-playingandshell-inhalingdidnotleavetheTaÃ​nospreparedtodefend
themselvesagainstthewell-armedSpanishsettlerswhoarrivedfromHispaniolawithJuanPoncedeLeónin1508.Thesettlersenslavedand
evangelisedtheTaÃ​nos,andmanyofthemostlymaleconquistadorstooklocalladiesas'wives'.AlthoughpocketsofTaÃ​noresistancecouldbefound
inthemountains,swampsandotherinaccessibleareasiftheislanduntilthe19thcentury,thevastmajoritysuccumbedtosuperiorweaponryand
Europeandiseasesbythebeginningofthe17thcentury.TheSpanishsettledatSanJuan,whichbecameoneofthemoststrategicoutpostsintheNew
World.OverthenextcenturyitunderwentmassivefortificationtoprotectitfromBritish,FrenchandDutchmaritimeincursions.InresponsetoaSpanish
strangleholdonregionaltrade,PuertoRicoimportedAfricanslavesanddabbledwithsugar,cottonandtobaccoplantationsinthe16thand17thcentury,
buttherewasmoremoneytobemadeinblackmarkettradingwithitsneighbours.Spain'sinabilitytopreventsmugglingundermineditsmoralauthority
ontheisland,andPuertoRicobegantodevelopitsowndistinctidentityduringthe18thcentury.Thiswasenhancedbyagrowingnumberofimmigrants
andanemergingbourgeoisieofcoffeeplantationowners.AsrevolutionsweptthroughtheNewWorld,Spainrelaxeditstotalitariantradepoliciesina
bidtokeepPuertoRicoandCubainthecolonialfold.SpanishloyalistsandPuertoRicannationalistsspentthesecondhalfofthe19thcenturyarguing
theprosandconsofself-rulewiththecolonialgovernment.AnunsuccessfulrevoltinthemountaintownofLaresin1868focusedeverybody'smindon
theseriousnessoftheproblemathand.Adegreeofautonomy-includinganelectedlocalgovernment,representationinSpainandtheirveryown
currency-wasachievedin1897.ThisbecameobsoletealmostimmediatelywhenUSforcesinvadedandoccupiedPuertoRicoduringtheSpanishAmericanWar.TheUSAruledPuertoRicoasacolonialprotectorateforthenextfivedecades,despitecontinuedcallsforautonomy.PuertoRicans
weregrantedUScitizenshipin1917,justintimeforthemtobeeligibleformilitaryserviceinWWI.Reformandinvestmentimprovedtheeconomyfor
largelandholders(particularlyUSsugarinterests),butthe1930sdepressionhittheislandhardandtheindependencemovementturnedtoviolence.
DuringWWII,theUSmilitaryappropriatedextensiveagriculturallandsthathaveneverbeenreturned,includingtheloudlydisputedislandofVieques.
PuertoRicowontherighttoelectitsowngovernorin1948,shortlyafterPresidentTrumanimplemented'OperationBootstrap',aimedatkick-startingthe
island'seconomy,largelybyforcingthesaleofmanypubliclyownedenterprisesandgivingtaxbreakstoresidentUScompanies.PuertoRicansvoted
threetooneina1951referendumtobecomeacommonwealthoftheUSratherthanremainacolony.Nationalistsseekingfullindependencetookthe
fighttotheUSmainlandwheretheyattemptedtoassassinatePresidentTrumanandopenedfireonUScongressmenfromthevisitors'galleryinthe
HouseofRepresentatives.PoliticalsupportforfullindependencewanedandcallsforUSstatehoodincreased,thoughneitherindependencenor
statehoodhaseverwonamajorityvoteinanyofnumerousreferendaonstatus.ThePuertoRicaneconomycontinuedtopostimpressivegainsinGNP.
Duringthe1950sand60saroundonemillionPuertoRicanswenttoworkintheUS(mainlyinNewYorkCity).ReturnmigrationtoPuertoRico
increasedduringthe1970sand80s;UScitizenshiphashelpedfacilitateatypeofcircularmigrationthathasledsometolabelPuertoRicothe
'commuternation'.TheislandhasahighstandardoflivingcomparedtomostotherCaribbeanislands,butitstilllanguishesbehindthepoorestUS
statesandcontinuestosufferhighunemployment.PuertoRicansvotedin1993and1998forcommonwealthstatusinpreferencetostatehood,though
themarginswerenotdecisive.
Referenda:
RecentSignificantEvents:
On21February2000,atleast100,000PuertoRicansgatheredforwhatwaspossiblythenation'slargestdemonstrationever,toprotestUSNavyplans
toresumetrainingontheislandofVieques.Thecrowd,whichhadbeensummonedbyreligiousleaders,carriedthePuertoRicanflagandbanners
demandingpeace.Althoughorganisersclaimedthemarchwasnotpolitical,manyleadersoftheIndependencePartyparticipated,asdidGovernorSila
Calderon.On24April2001,Calderonsignedalawprohibitingactivitiesthatcreatemorethan190decibelsofsound;USofficialsadmittedthatthe
repeatedshellingofViequesbrokethenewlaw,butstatedthattheywouldcontinuebombing.InJune2001,however,PresidentGeorgeWBushagreed
toendtheassaultonVieques,agreeingtophaseoutmilitaryactivitiesontheislandbyMay2003.Althoughnavaloperationsontheislandresumedin
2002,thatcommitmentwashonoured,andthefollowingyearthelastremainingUSbaseintheterritory,atCeiba,wasclosed.Althoughthevictoryat
ViequeshasmanyPuertoRicanscelebrating,theUSterritory'sabilitytodetermineitsownfuturecontinuestobecompoundedbyaninabilitytovotein
USnationalelections
Music,Dance,HandicraftandPatrimony:
Sources:
BureauofLabourStatistics.Availableonline.http://www.bls.govMarch2005.CIAWorldFactBook.‘PuertoRico.’February10,2005.Available
online.http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rq.htmlMarch2005.LexJurisRevistaJurÃ​dica(LexJurisLegalMagazine)‘PuertoRico
LawsbySubject.Â’Availableonline.http://www.lexjuris.comMarch2005.NationalCentreforHealthStatistics.December16,2004.Availableonline.
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/puertric.htmMarch2005.PuertoRicoTourismCompany.Availableonline.http://www.gotopuertorico.comMarch
2005.WelcometoPuertoRico.March10,2005.Availableonline.http://welcome.topuertorico.orgMarch2005.U.SCensusBureau.March1,2005.
Availableonline.http://www.census.gov/statab/wwwMarch2005.USDepartmentofLabour.Availableonline.http://www.doi.govMarch2005.US.
LibraryofCongress.‘PuertoRico’.October29,2004Availableonline.http://www.loc.gov/law/guide/us-pr.htmlMarch2005.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puerto_Rico.
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