Puerto Rico's governor elect announces new Cabinet members
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| Published on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 |
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By María Miranda Sierra
Caribbean Net News Puerto Rico Correspondent
Email: miranda@caribbeannetnews.com
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Just one week after winning the island’s gubernatorial election, Governor-elect Luis Fortuño announced Tuesday the names of some of his future Cabinet Members.
Fortuño emphasized that his Cabinet Member’s main priority will be to boost the island’s economy forward as proposed in his government platform.
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| Luis Fortuño |
The Governor-elect designated Senate President Kenneth McClintock to head the Commonwealth’s State Department, while Juan Carlos Blanco was designated to be the Government’s Chief of Staff, Alejandro Figueroa was selected as Organization of Public Policy Secretary and Velmarie Berlingiri was nominated to run the governor’s mansion La Fortaleza.
Fortuño made the announcement at the former Puerto Rico Casino, accompanied by his wife Lucé Velá and Resident Commissioner Elect Pedro Pierluisi.
“These four people have a number of qualities. First of all, they are committed with our agenda of change, they’re honorable and good people, they will work for wellbeing and for all Puerto Ricans wellbeing,” Fortuño said.
Fortuño added that the Chief of Staff will be in charge of the government’s daily operations. While the Organization of Public Policy Secretary, a non existing position that will be created through an executive order will be in charge of implementing the dramatic changes proposed in the New Progressive Party’s government plan.
While McClintock, as Secretary of State, will focus some of his main priorities in speeding up the corporation registration process.
Meanwhile, 14 prominent private sector figures, will take part in the Advisory Economic and Fiscal Reform Council, created by Fortuño, to straighten out the government’s finances and the island’s economy.
The group, headed by Banco Popular de Puerto Rico President and CEO Richard Carríon, will have until December 15 to submit their initial recommendations on fiscal reform and possible public-private alliances that can be created to work together for the island’s wellbeing. The group will then have until mid-March to present their proposals on how to improve the island’s economy.
“The idea is not to make studies. The studies have already been made…It’s the moment to act, of implementing specific recommendations that will stem from the work made by this team,” Fortuño said.
Other members of the Economic and Fiscal Reform team include Grande Supermarkets President Atilano Cordero, former Treasury Department Secretary Xenia Vélex and former Government Development Bank Presidents William Lockwood, José Ramón González and Marcos Rodríguez Emma. | | | | Reads : 801 |
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