Sixteen organizations representing a cross-section of the island’s private sector warned the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority that a new environmental fee currently under review will represent a blow to economic development, cause business closures, bankruptcies and the loss of thousands of jobs.
Puerto Rico’s retail activity showed a positive upturn during the first six months of the year, totaling $17.5 billion, or a 2.24 percent increase over the same period in 2011, government agency Puerto Rico Trade and Export announced Monday.
Puerto Rico Telephone, which does business as Claro, announced Friday that if the increase in Universal Service Fund charges that the Federal Communications Commission is pushing for is approved, landline and wireless customers will see an increase in their bill starting the first quarter of 2012.