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Representatives from the Popular Democratic Party, including Domingo Torres García, Ángel Fourquet Cordero, and José Rivera Madera, along with Jean Paul González Santini, Ponce’s economic development director, urged Governor Pedro Pierluisi Urrutia on Monday to incorporate the proposal aimed at transferring the Mercedita Airport to the Port Authority of Ponce into the extraordinary session of the island Legislature.
“In light of the governor’s veto of House Bill 1617, we express our commitment to convene and explore a consensus measure that ensures the airport’s transfer and consequently fosters economic growth in the southern region,” expressed Torres García, the bill’s author, in a written statement.
Fourquet Cordero emphasized that the airport’s transfer is vital for businesses, manufacturers, and developers in the southern area.
“The veto of this proposal is a setback for enhancing the economy of the south and for the overall economic progress of our area,” he asserted. “We have the chance to make this a reality during the extraordinary session.”
González Santini highlighted that the Municipality of Ponce had already addressed inquiries from the executive branch and organized meetings with the Federal Aviation Agency.
“I am astonished by the veto of the bill without a chance for it to be passed in this legislative period; 180 days in committee means starting over after three years of efforts,” he remarked.
As reported by the STAR earlier, last week, Pierluisi declined to transfer the airport to the Ponce Port Authority, instead enacting an executive order to establish a committee that will review the transfer and provide a report in 180 days.
Over the weekend, House Minority Leader Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez and Daniel Vega Ortiz, the New Progressive Party’s candidate for the House seat in District 25, pledged to take measures to facilitate the airport’s transfer to the municipality.
