Puerto Rico is the easternmost and smallest of the Greater Antilles, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and the Caribbean Basin to the south.
Neither a state nor independent, the island has been a US territory since 1898.
Everyone born on the island is an American citizen and holds a US passport. However, residents cannot vote in US presidential elections, unless they are registered to vote in one of the 50 states.
Puerto Rican culture is a blend of Amerindian Taino, Spanish and African influences with Spanish being the island’s first language.
Tourism is an important money-earner and the island attracts millions of visitors each year. But crippling public debt, poverty and high unemployment have seen many of the islanders leave for the US mainland.
COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO: FACTS
- Capital: San Juan
- Area: 9,104 sq km
- Population: 3.2 million
- Languages: Spanish, English
- Life expectancy: 73 years (men) 82 years (women)
LEADERS
President: Joe Biden
Governor: Pedro Pierluisi
Pedro Pierluisi became governor i August 2019 after the resignation of his predecessor, Ricardo Rossello after a group chat on the Telegram app between Rosselló and his staff was made public, which contained offensive remarks and which mocked Puerto Rican’s struggles after 2017’s deadly Hurricane Maria.
MEDIA
Broadcasting is regulated by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Home-grown comedies, talk shows and Spanish-language soaps are staple fare on local TV stations. The multichannel offerings of cable TV are widely available.
News and talk and Spanish-language pop music are among the most popular radio formats.
TIMELINE
Some key dates in the history of Puerto Rico:
1493 – Christopher Columbus claims the island for Spain on his second voyage to the Americas. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon establishes the first settlement in 1508.
1500s – The indigenous Amerindian Taino population is virtually wiped out by disease and new settlers. African slave labour is imported.
1868 – A popular uprising against Spanish rule is suppressed but becomes a symbol of the independence struggle.
1898 – Spain cedes Puerto Rico to the US at the end of the Spanish-American War.
1900 – US Congress establishes a civil government under the Foraker Act but maintains strict control over island affairs. Puerto Ricans are granted US citizenship in 1917 under the Jones Act.
1940s – Puerto Rico gains partial self-rule with popularly elected governors.
1952 – Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing commonwealth of the United States. Under US administration, it experiences growth but nationalist sentiment is still present.
1960–70s – Violent separatism – A series of bombings and killings in the 1970s and 1980s are blamed on pro-independence group, the Macheteros, or Cane Cutters.
1998 – Puerto Ricans back continued commonwealth status in a referendum.
2003 – The US government stops military training on the offshore island of Vieques after protests.
2006 – The expiry of a federal tax break for US corporations in place since 1976 triggers economic recession.
2012 – Puerto Ricans vote for US statehood for the first time in a non-binding referendum on the island’s status.
2017 – The territory declares bankruptcy – the largest ever for a US local government.
2020 – In a non-binding referendum, Puerto Rico votes again to become a US state.
Source : BBC
