House Speaker Rafael “Tatito” Hernández Montañez revealed on Thursday that no payments had been made for water and electricity services in the past four years, so payment plans had been set to avoid suspension.
“To be clear, the official administration of the Legislative Assembly by our delegation began on Monday (January 11, 2021). From the information that transpired in the documentation provided by the transition documents, we have already identified that there were debts of $ 2,897,492.20 in the Electricity Authority (PREPA) and $ 829,412.90 in Aqueduct and Sewerage (AAA). More than a week ago, we coordinated with some contacts, and some meetings were coordinated for Tuesday “, Hernández Montañez declared at a press conference.
“Our concern was negative news that we started working in the Legislative Assembly and they cut off water and electricity. This was not acceptable, “he added.
He explained that “the Electricity Authority has notified us that no payments have been issued in the last four years,” he said.
He mentioned that in the current budget they do not have items to issue the corresponding payments to PREPA and AAA, so he asked them for a formal payment plan ordinary payment starting with July and debt payment plan.
“Here it is obvious that from an administrative point of view there are some major defects, there are serious indications in documents themselves that emerge from the transition with auditors highlighting serious administrative incapacities, material indications from an accounting point of view of administrative irregularity, and that, what was it was our responsibility to stay with them, “he said.
Hernández Montañez assured that Following the meetings, there were commitments not to suspend water and electricity services.
The current superintendent of the Capitol, César Hernández Alfonso, reported that they stopped paying marginal benefits to employees, such as pensions, medical and dental plans, and the Commonwealth Employees Association (ELA) for $ 157,000. In addition, there is a $ 166,000 security service debt, as well as another $ 221,000 debt, since no insurance premiums were paid for the Capitoline District in December last year.
As Hernández Alfonso explained, the last administration left $ 220,000 and $ zero for pay.
We recommend:
For his part, the President of the Senate, José Luis Dalmau, reacted by saying: “It seems to me, correctly, that no action has been taken here through the appropriate mechanisms. Here are some administrative secretaries, here are some auditors. But while it is true that obligations, such as the payment of water and the payment of electricity, have been breached, have these agencies come to collect or cut off electricity or water at some point? Have they taken any effective action to implement it? You have to ask that too. “
He explained that they have not yet completed the transition.