Puerto Rico's Social Movements Demand Audit of Public Debt

Various social groups announced in a press conference the creation of the Citizen Front for the Audit of the Public Debt Monday.

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“The audit of Puerto Rico's debt has become one of the main demands of various sectors in order to address the tax crisis of the government,” said Eva Prados Rodriguez, representing the Broad Movement of Women and spokesperson of the Citizen Front.

“As a result, legislators appointed a Commission for the Integral Audit of the Public Credit, which has already preliminarily identified various irregularities and violations in many aspects of the debt,” she added. “Yet one year after its creation, the Commission has still not officially initiated the audit, for the lack of funds and the absenteeism of state officials.”

The social movements are calling for a “broad” front, including representatives from various sectors like feminists, health care workers, cooperatives, community groups, businesses, religious groups and labor unions, among others.

The front will now organize a campaign to collect signatures for a petition demanding the audit, as well as greater transparency within the Commission.