Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Trump to Visit Puerto Rico Next Week

by VOA News

   President Donald Trump has announced that he will visit Puerto Rico
   next Tuesday- nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated the
   island territory.

   "Puerto Rico needs a lot of money, I'm going to Puerto Rico on Tuesday
   (October 5)," President Trump said, speaking with lawmakers. "Tuesday
   seems to be the first time we can do without really disrupting first
   responders and the efforts that are being made to help people," he
   added.

   On Monday, in a series of tweets, Trump said Puerto Rico's
   infrastructure contributed to the severity of Maria's impact. He also
   noted the territory's debt crisis "must be dealt with," though his
   tweets offered no specifics on what that might mean.

   Carmen Yulin Cruz, mayor of San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico,
   said on CNN Tuesday that these were two separate issues. She
   acknowledged Puerto Rico's debt, "But you don't put debt above people,
   you put people above debt," she said.

   Puerto Rico's governor warned that island faces a "humanitarian crisis"
   in the wake of two hurricanes if the U.S. government does not move
   quickly to help.

   "Puerto Rico is part of the United States. We need to take swift
   action," Rossello said at a news conference Monday in the capital San
   Juan.

   "The magnitude of this hurricane and the two we passed is
   unprecedented," he added, noting Puerto Rico's government debt of more
   than $70 billion even before the hurricane.

   Puerto Rico remains without power, except for generators, and phone
   service is spotty, as officials struggle to provide food and water to
   those affected by the worst storm to hit the island of 3.4 million in
   nearly a century.

   U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said Monday Congress is committed
   to relief efforts in Puerto Rico, saying images and stories from the
   island are "devastating".

   "Congress is working with the administration to ensure necessary
   resources get to the U.S. territory. Our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico
   remain in our prayers as we make sure they have what they need," Ryan
   said in a statement.

   Upon returning from a visiting the island Monday, Florida Senator Marco
   Rubio said power crews were needed as soon as possible, warning of the
   "potential for serious crisis."

   In addition to Puerto Rico, Maria lashed other parts of the Caribbean.
   Twenty-seven people were reported dead on Dominica, which has a
   population of about 71,000. Three deaths were reported in Haiti, two in
   the French territory of Guadeloupe and one in the Dominican Republic.