Puerto Rico

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    Map of Puerto Rico

    Hispanic, Afro-Caribbean and North American
    influences meld in Puerto Rico, a self-governing commonwealth that
    belongs to the United States.

    The subtropical Caribbean territory is urbanised, industrialised
    and relatively prosperous.

    Overview

    • Overview

    The US invaded and occupied Puerto Rico during the
    Spanish-American War of 1898, ending centuries of rule from Spain.
    The US saw the island as a strategic asset and ran it as a colonial
    protectorate.

    Spanish-built fortifications, Old San Juan

    Spanish-built defences survey the ocean at Old San Juan

    Under American administration Puerto Rico saw growth and
    development. But nationalist sentiment sometimes spilled over into
    violence, notably in the 1930s and 1940s. Nationalists staged an
    armed attack in the US Congress in 1954.

    A series of bombings and killings in the 1970s and 1980s were
    blamed on a pro-independence group, the Macheteros, or Cane
    Cutters. The group’s fugitive leader was killed by federal agents
    in 2005.

    Puerto Rican voters, who elect a governor for the island, have
    tended to favour parties that support the union with the US. Puerto
    Ricans do not pay US income tax, and the island receives federal
    funds.

    There is an established cycle of migration between Puerto Rico
    and the US; hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have lived and
    worked in New York and other cities.

    The once substantial US military presence has been scaled down
    with the closures of a major naval base and a bombing range.
    Rancour over the latter grew after a civilian employee was killed
    by a stray bomb.

    Explorer Christopher Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain in
    1493, heralding an influx of Spanish settlers. The newcomers, and
    the diseases they brought with them, decimated the territory’s
    Taino indian population.

    The main settlement, San Juan, became an important Spanish
    outpost. Slaves were brought to the island in the 16th and 17th
    centuries.

    Puerto Rico’s landscape is varied, and includes rainforests in
    the north-east. The territory is prone to hurricanes.

    Tourism is an important money-earner; the island receives up to
    two million visitors each year and is a port-of-call for cruise
    liners.

    Facts

    • Facts
    • Territory: Puerto Rico
    • Status: Self-governing territory belonging to the
      USA
    • Full name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
    • Population: 3.9 million (via UN, 2006)
    • Capital: San Juan
    • Area: 8,959 sq km (3,459 sq miles)
    • Major languages: Spanish, English (both official)
    • Major religion: Christianity
    • Life expectancy: 71 years (men) 80 years (women)
    • Monetary unit: US dollar
    • Main exports: Chemicals, foodstuffs, machinery
    • GNI per capita: $10,950 (World Bank, 2001)
    • Internet domain: .pr
    • International dialling code: +1787

    Leaders

    • Leaders

    Head of state: President Barack Obama

    Governor: Luis Guillermo Fortuno

    Luis Guillermo Fortuno

    Luis Guillermo Fortuno

    Luis Fortuno of the New Progressive Party began his term in
    January 2009, and is the ninth governor of Puerto Rico. His party,
    which favours full integration of Puerto Rico as the 51st US state,
    also won the November 2008 elections to Puerto Rico’s legislative
    assembly.

    He succeeded Anibal Acevedo Vila of the Popular Democratic
    Party, who served from 2004-2008. Mr Acevedo Vila had initially
    favoured maintaining Puerto Rico’s commonwealth status, but later
    called on the USA to let it decide its own future.

    Puerto Ricans elect their governor for a four-year term. The
    constitution, modelled on that of the US, provides for a Senate and
    House of Representatives. However, voters in a referendum in 2005
    backed the idea of replacing the bodies with a one-house
    legislature.

    Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in US presidential
    elections. But they do elect a non-voting delegate to the US
    Congress.

    Since taking office, Mr Fortuno has launched a major programme
    of public spending cuts. In May 2009 tens of thousands of workers
    marched through the streets of San Juan in protest at possible
    major layoffs.

    Media

    • Media

    Broadcasting is regulated by the US Federal Communications
    Commission (FCC).

    Home-grown comedies, talk shows and Spanish-language soaps are
    staple fare on local TV stations. The multichannel offerings of
    cable TV are widely available.

    News and talk and Spanish-language pop music are among the most
    popular radio formats.

    The press

    Television

    • Telemundo (channel 2)
      – commercial
    • WAPA (channel 4) –
      commercial
    • Univision
      (channel 11) – commercial
    • TUTV (channel 6) –
      public

    Radio

    • WAPA – commercial,
      news and talk

    Link:
    Puerto Rico