Viva my gente!

News from Puerto Rico
As heard through NotiUno podcast via I-tunes

Many lamp post and streetlights, primarily in the west side of the island are off because people have been stealing the copper wiring.

I shook my head when I heard this, but this gets better!

When the reporter tried to figure out who is responsible for fixing the problems he went to the most logical source: The electric company. The representative said: Well, we are responsible for some, but you have to check with the Department of Transportacion because this also falls under them.

So the reporter goes to the representative at the department of Transportation and he says: well you have to check with the electric company and the municipal government because they take care of this things.

When I left la isla in 1987, the government started burying the electric lines with the goals of beautifying towns and prevent down power lines during hurricanes. This means that people have been digging up the copper wire and stealing it. The government is now thinking of returning to hanging wires again because at least that way people were not stealing it.

Please take a moment to honor the creatividad of tecatos and junkies who have come up with a new way of making money.