Pierluisi justifies holding an inauguration in the midst of the pandemic: “There will always be those who criticize”

The governor-elect Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia has defended today, Tuesday, the attendance of 400 people at his swearing-in ceremony on January 2, although it takes place weeks before the worst moment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico.

“I here can assure the people that we could not have been more reasonable and prudent in organizing the activity,” Pierluisi said after announcing 5 new appointments to his cabinet.

“This act is being carried out with strict measures. Never before seen. There will not be anyone stepping on it who does not have a negative test of COVID-19, an antigen test that is the one that is widely available and is not there is a lack of evidence. There is plenty of evidence of this test, “he added with some annoyance.

The number of guests at Pierluisi’s inauguration has generated multiple criticisms, as it is a crowded event that will take place amid one of the worst moments of the pandemic in Puerto Rico and while an executive order is in force. which, among other things, prohibits crowds, visits to the beach (except for sports individually), the sale of alcoholic beverages between Saturday morning to Monday morning and which maintains a total closure on Sundays.

Pierluisi made it clear that he does not pay attention to the criticisms that point to a double wand between what is being asked of the citizen and what politicians are doing, and has stressed that his activity is exempt from the executive order.

“There will always be those who criticize, sometimes it’s because of a diversity of opinion, other times it’s because of lack of information, other times it’s because of partisan political agenda. I respect criticism. But the act of taking office of a governor is laid down in our Constitution. It is an indispensable formality in a democracy like the one we live in Puerto Rico. And this act is being carried out with strict measures, never seen before“When we talk about 400 (guests) it’s because obviously nothing more than counting mayors, legislators and their partners, you’re already approaching the number of 300 people,” he added.

In addition, he maintained that he does not consider the number of guests high.

“It’s not when the norm is that this kind of activity goes 3,000 people. I think the numbers speak for themselves,” he stressed in New Day questions.

Rather, he said he is acting “as a good father in the family by celebrating the activity and urging the people” to witness it through the media.

A protocol activity, similar to the one to be held by Pierluisi, took place in the White House when President Donald Trump presented Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the candidate to fill the vacant position in the federal Supreme Court that remained after the death of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Less than 400 people participated in this activity and days later more than 20 were infected with COVID-19, including Trump himself.

The Department of Health today reported four new deaths from COVID-19 that raised the total number of fatalities associated with viruses to 1,460 since the start of the pandemic, while another 947 confirmed positive cases were recorded, 260 positive cases probable and 694 suspected positive cases.

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On the other hand, Pierluisi denied that he had suffered a setback after that the bill would not be approved in the extraordinary session that would have allowed him to appoint Nino Correa as property to be in charge of the Negotiated for Emergency Management and Disaster Management (NMEAD).

The piece of legislation, commissioned by Pierluisi to be attended to by the neo-progressive majority was not passed and sought to amend the law that gave life to the Department of Public Safety so that the NMEAD commissioner is not required to have a master’s degree. Correa does not have this requirement.

“It can’t be reversed yet because we haven’t started. We start on January 2 (January),” Pierluisi said.

Asked why a setback should not be considered if the legislative majority is made up of lawmakers from the New Progressive Party he presides over, Pierluisi said he would not go into the “interiors of the legislative process.”

“Again, we need to focus on January 2. onwards. I am going to have a new Legislative Assembly. The presidents of the bodies are leaders of the People’s Democratic Party and not of my party. This is for all known and I I have expressed that I will be in the best spirit of cooperating, reconciling and facing common ground with the new leadership of the Legislative Assembly for the good of Puerto Rico, ”he stated.

He also anticipated that he will leave Correa in office even if he does not comply with all the requirements of the law.

“Nino Correa stays with or without the title, he’s going to be in that agency,” Pierluisi said.

Asked about the sudden resignation of the executive director of the Highway and Transportation Authority (ACT), Rosana Aguila, the elected governor revealed that after the criticism the official received during the transition hearings, he decided to present his effective resignation as of December 31st.

“It is well known that she was criticized in the transition process due to federal funds available to improve the ticket offices of the Urban Train stations, and the Urban Train stations themselves, and possibly this goes causing unease to the civil servant and she decided to return to the private sector, ”Pierluisi said.

He reiterated that along with the nominee of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Eileen Vélez, will choose a new person to lead the ACT.