Background
Puerto Rico is an island located in the Caribbean West Indies which was acquired by the United States after the Spanish-American War in 1898. It is considered a commonwealth, which is a state governed by the people, republic. It is also one of the Caribbean countries that make up the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) which was formed back in 1973 as a regional integration between the countries of the Caribbean. Its purpose is to help promote economic growth and gains through the use of free trade flow and investment between the countries through the use of low tariffs or the elimination of them on imports from fellow members. The goal is to help increase tourism traffic, movement of labor, duty free trade, flow of funds
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The primary exception is when an investor purchases a bond issued by his state of residence, as in a Floridian buying a Florida municipal bond. Jones-Shafroth exempted Puerto Rico’s municipal securities from various levels of taxation which resulted in the ability of all U.S. residents to invest in their bonds without having to pay taxes on the income paid out by the interest.
Investment Opportunities Puerto Rico has many finance institutes available to them, some are locally; as well as US corporations. All banks in Puerto Rico are subject to the FDIC and all the permitted laws. The banks offer debt financing, business and personal investment management instruments, business and personal checking and savings accounts, and business and personal credit cards. The economy of Puerto Rico is driven by an import and export market due to its location. If you start your own import/export business in Puerto Rico, you stand a very good chance of having a rush of business contracts to handle. This is due to the fact that almost all the manufacturing companies in Puerto Rico import their raw resources. Having an import and export business does require a registration and license from the government of Puerto Rico before you can conduct this type of
II. Body a. Should Puerto Rico become a state? i. How would it benefit the government? ii. The.
The debate on Puerto Rican Identity is a hot bed of controversy, especially in today’s society where American colonialism dominates most of the island’s governmental and economic policies. The country wrestles with the strong influence of its present day colonizers, while it adamantly tries to retain aspects of the legacy of Spanish colonialism. Despite America’s presence, Puerto Ricans maintain what is arguably their own cultural identity which seems largely based on the influence of Spain mixed with customs that might have developed locally.
Puerto Rico is the neighbor to the south of Florida. There is a growing population of Puerto Ricans in the United States. There is also a large United States interest in Puerto Rico. It is important to understand the culture of our neighbor should the United States wish to continue a positive relationship as well as globalization. Understanding the superstitions and the proper business etiquette in Puerto Rico can serve as a glimpse into the culture of the island.
In order to complicate the things, like not-incorporated territory, Puerto Rico never it was put in automatic route towards a possible statehood since it they have been all the other incorporated territories, as it they have not either been the other not-incorporated territories of Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Marianas Islands of the North. Confused contradictory and, the situation have been evolving gradually to one of gradual integration of Puerto Rico with the U.S.A. The legal and constitutional evolution of the law and precedents that has been accumulated through the years from the promulgation of the Insulars Decisions have tended to treat to Puerto Rico more and more like a state federated in very many areas of their political and economic subjects, except in the most important subject of their last sovereignty.
When the United States first took Puerto Rico from Spain, its plans concerning what to do with the island appeared to be noble. According to Fernandez, "The United States would resurrect Puerto Rico, like Lazurus, creating, in Senator Foraker?s words, ?a new era?a new life?and prosperity far exceeding any hopes that have been excited or any anticipations that have been entertained.?(Fernandez 2)" In other words, the United States viewed Puerto Rico as something that had to be saved, and claimed that their plan was to rescue it from its inferior status and improve the standard of living. Puerto Rico was to remain under the control of the U.S. until it was capable of taking care of itself. In the words of Trías-Monge:
The Island political status has been an issue over many years since Spanish-American War. Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth “Free Associated State of P.R” of the US. In fact, Puerto Rico became a US territory in 1898, when it was earned from Spain after the Spanish-American War. It gave Puerto Ricans the right
Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United States which makes it easy for natives to travel back and forth. Puerto Ricans first began to arrive in the United States to fill the work void left but those who went on to fight in World War I. Operation Bootstrap was a series of projects that attempted to turn Puerto Rico; a known agricultural economy to one that would concentrate on industrialization and tourism. Puerto Rico enticed many U.S companies with tax exemptions and differential rental rates on industrialized properties and so the shift in the economy had commenced. The shift however did not help the high unemployment rate on the island. Rather than having to deal with the droves of people seeking work they noticed the active recruitment of Puerto Rican workers by U.S. employers. The government began to encourage the departure of Puerto Ricans to the U.S. by requesting the Federal Aviation Administration to lower the airfares between Puerto Rico and the United States. This was an attempt to ch...
After the Spanish-American war, Spain granted the United States with full ownership of the island of Puerto Rico, which largely benefited the United States with profitable agricultural land, in the same way, Puerto Rican citizens were all benefited when they received U.S. citizenship, this granted them with greater opportunities that awaited them in the United States. However, despite their citizenship, Puerto Ricans are yet to have a vote in national U.S. elections. The ownership of the island has mostly benefited the United States as it is able to control the land, and impose tax and restrictions. Due to this, Puerto Rico transformed from a local economy, to one that is dominated by external U.S. companies. Because of many programs that have been implemented in order to stimulate economic development, the economy has progressed. However, one of the negative side effects left the population dealing with high income tax, as well as leading the economy further away from the local farmers and into the capitalist economy of the United States. It seems as if the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico benefit the capitalist country and its economy but fails to befit much of the islands population as they are later faced with high income tax and high unemployment rates. Because of the high unemployment, the Puerto
BOLIVIAN PARADISE Bolivia is an amazing country that is breathtaking and is similar to a paradise. Bolivia is an interesting country that practices an interesting style of living. Locals always have plenty to do. They can go out for pizza, go see movies, or simply sit and talk.
Haiti as a rich history, filled with many peoples’ blood and countless hopes of freedom. With such a rich history, the country has yet to become financially stable because of their past. From the beginning of the French settlement where slaves were brought over from Africa to harvest crops, to the dictatorship of the Duvalier family. Haiti has yet to see a time when they are not in need of help. After the racial caste systems were set in place, many people would not see a truly independent country. When France finally gave independence to Haiti, they did it for a price. After they paid that price, the US occupied them because of their location and many resources. Every year in Haiti’s history as a nation and before has effects on the world today. These effects are not hidden in fine print, but blatantly found within Haiti and those who have been involved with Haiti.
A great deal of Puerto Ricans are concerned that becoming a U.S. state will cause them to lose their culture. In the past few years Puerto Rico has managed to become a contender in international competitions, where it competes as a sovereign nation. "Puerto Rico is not a nation-state, not an independent … country, but still it has its own history, language, territory, culture and autonomy, and perhaps more importantly, the awar...
Dr. Pousada starts by examining the historical development of English in Puerto Rico prior to 1898. Interesting as it is one might think that English language controversies started with the United States invasion to the island, but being able to explore further in a history not much talked about one can see that in fact “there was a long history of cross influence” between the U.S and Puerto Rico. Going way back to 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries when our very own “American Pirates” made illegal dealings with Puerto Ricans. Even at that time it is mentioned that a small elite group used the language in international affairs. It is very interesting noting that many native Puerto Ricans also fought for Spain in the war with England to defend the island. All those things apart, the sole purpose of the trading activity that took place between Puerto Rico and the United States b...
Haiti is a very interesting country, people always want to visit places like Florida where it’s tropical. Well, if you want to visit a really tropical place you should go to Haiti. I promise you it doesn’t matter why you are going there: vacation, mission trip, or anything. You won’t regret it. I’m going to tell you more about Haiti, and how amazing it can be.
The Dominican Republic is a nation located in the Caribbean Sea and shares the land with Haiti, and the whole island is called Hispaniola as it was named when Christopher Columbus discovered it during his first voyage in the year 1492. The country has proved to be one of the leading Caribbean countries with accessible healthcare to its citizens and even expats. However, the country has a multinational population with low-to-medium incomes and multi-level access to healthcare based on income. Despite this, improvements to healthcare system can lead to better medical outcomes to all the citizens and even to the suffering citizens of the Haiti. Because the Dominican Republic is an immediate neighbor to struggling Haiti, it is the moral obligation of the Dominican to provide Haitians with access to healthcare.
Although it was never intended to be, the acquisition of Puerto Rico resulted in Puerto Rico becoming a colony of the United States, vis-a-vis the laws Congress passed and the nature in which the United States tried to "Americanize" the island. Puerto Rico was a colonial government in the hands of Spain, and although the Puerto Ricans hoped that with American invasion, more freedom would be granted. Unfortunately that did not change when the United States assumed control of the island. The social, economic, and political atmosphere greatly changed as well, and those changes were not necessarily for the better or better than what the Puerto Ricans had while under the control of Spain.