Maritime transportation issues cause outrage in Puerto Rico
For residents of two island-municipalities of Puerto Rico, Vieques and Culebra, a daily commute is a rather long journey to the Puerto Rico mainland. "We have reached a point that we are tired," said Maria García, a Culebra resident. Residents from both islands, which are part of Puerto Rico's archipelago and are part of the 78 municipalities that make up the U.S. territory, have complained about what some have called inferior service from the Maritime Transportation Authority of Puerto Rico (ATM).
Puerto Ricans from Vieques and Culebra travel by ferry to the main island for doctor appointments, work, school, and even grocery shopping when supplies on their home islands run low. Vieques and Culebra are both 29.1 miles driving distance from San Juan. Problems with the ferry's departure and arrival schedules, boat maintenance, and accessibility make up the litany of complaints about commuting between the two islands and the Puerto Rican mainland.
"They are failing in basic things like scheduling and trip capacity of both passengers and cargo," said Elda Guadalupe Carrasquillo, part of the group "Somos Más Que 100x35," which roughly translates to "We are more than 100x35," a reference to Puerto Rico's size, 100 miles long by 35 miles wide. Delays in trips have led to outrage among residents and discrepancies in gas and food distribution, residents say. Reliable transportation to the main island is considered a human right for the approximately 11,000 residents that live in Vieques and Culebra according.
"The ferry is our highway," said Culebra resident Juan Carlos Garavito. "It's there for connectivity. On some occasions, some residents said they have had to wait long hours to get on a ferry to either travel to the island or to return home. Some said they had been forced to sleep in their cars. Culebra has a clinic that can treat emergencies.
And though a massive vaccination effort has been launched on both island municipalities, the potential devastation of COVID-19 on the already trouble-plagued local transportation system and health centers further concern residents and serve as a reminder of the islands' vulnerability amid emergencies. On March 13, ATM director Mara Pérez resigned. The new director, Jorge Droz, was announced the day protesters took to the water demanding change. Droz has not issued any public comments on the transportation issues as of yet.
Regarding the complaints, the spokesperson said that a document with claims was received last Tuesday by the agency from residents and protesters. "At the moment, claims are being analyzed," the spokesperson said. Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi addressed the concerns and outrage over the transportation complaints on Twitter last Sunday. We recognize the lack of services suffered by the residents of Culebra and Vieques, and we respect their right to protest," Pearl said. "We must also respect free movement to the Islands and efforts to stabilize the system and meet the needs of our people. Let's work together to solve this once and for all."
Still, residents from both islands say they will not stop protesting and fighting until they see further change.” If we need to get on the water, even if they criticize it for being a self-punishment act, if we need to go to San Juan if we need to build a camp, we have decided that we will keep this in the public eye," said Carrasquillo.
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