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On Monday, Governor-elect Jenniffer González Colón revealed the first eight appointments for her constitutional Cabinet, designating former government transition committee member Verónica Ferraiouli Hornedo as the new Secretary of the Department of State.
Furthermore, Prosecutor Janet Parra Mercado, another member of the transition committee, has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Justice. Both Ferraiouli Hornedo and Parra Mercado have played integral roles in the preparations for the new administration and are expected to apply their knowledge and skills effectively in their new positions.
Other new appointees include Suzanne Roig Fuertes as Secretary of the Family, Edwin González Montalvo as Secretary of Transportation and Public Works, and Norberto Negrón as the executive director of the Ports Authority.
Roig Fuertes, a social worker with a background in the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration and former director of the Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents in Puerto Rico, brings extensive knowledge to her new position. González Montalvo, presently leading the Highways and Transportation Authority, will utilize his experience to manage transportation and public works operations.
Additional appointments include Astrid Piñeiro as the director of the Office for Socioeconomic and Community Development, Orlando Rivera as the director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Gabriela Boffelli as executive director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.
González Colón reiterated her commitment to appointing qualified professionals for these essential positions, emphasizing the value of public service and the dedication of her upcoming administration to the people of Puerto Rico.
The governor-elect urged the island’s Legislature to facilitate the approval of these appointments.
“Certainly, I will engage with legislative leadership once we take office, but I also need to inform the NPP [New Progressive Party, the new legislative majority] about who the individuals performing these roles will be, and that is what I am communicating today,” she stated.
Incoming Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz released a statement following the announcement of the Cabinet selections.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the nominees for their readiness to serve Puerto Rico,” he remarked. “Our goal is to provide the Governor with the team she has selected and requires to accomplish the work agenda set before us.”
“There is ample time to thoroughly evaluate each nominee,” Rivera Schatz continued. “This is our intention. We will fulfill our responsibility with utmost diligence and sincerity. We encourage the public to engage in the evaluation process of the nominees, by sharing their feedback with the Senate of Puerto Rico via email: comentariosnomramientos@senado.pr.gov.”
Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, the anticipated minority leader of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate, responded to the nominations later that same day.
“I believe it is critical that as the Senate allows us, public hearings are conducted prior to any determinations being made,” he said. “This process is vital to ensure we have all pertinent information on the nominees and can assess their qualifications and merits responsibly and fairly.”
“My pledge is to uphold transparency and prioritize the best interests of the people of Puerto Rico,” stated the outgoing president of the Puerto Rico Mayors Association. “We must provide advice and consent based on a thorough analysis and the information gathered during the hearings. This is not only right, but also mandated by our Constitution, and our constituents expect this of us.”
Hernández Ortiz added that the PDP delegation’s focus “will be to ensure that our decisions in the Senate reflect the interests of Puerto Rico and are made with the seriousness that these processes warrant. We will continue to operate responsibly, always prioritizing the people.”
