The island territory of the United States is Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico: colonial sadness How the US is “helping” now or the Ukrainian scenario in the Caribbean

The president Donald Trump stated yesterday that Puerto Rico is in "big trouble" faced with widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Maria.

Trump noted the island's aging electrical infrastructure and Puerto Rico's massive debts, which will cost billions of dollars to rebuild.

It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars....

“Food, water and medical care must be a priority, and Puerto Rico receives all of them in full.”, Trump tweeted.

According to The Washington Post, Trump's tweet came literally immediately after House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called on the Pentagon to send more people to help Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands so that residents know: “The American government will do whatever is necessary for them without question or hesitation.”.

Near 3.4 million Puerto Ricans were left without electricity. It will take months to restore it, authorities say. Satellite photos show the island on July 24 and September 25.

Let us recall that federal emergency resources are already torn between helping those affected by three major hurricanes that hit the US territories: Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Many note that the response to the call for help from Puerto Rico was not as massive as for Florida or Texas.

Perhaps that's because, according to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll conducted in March, most Americans don't understand that Puerto Ricans... are Americans, too.
Here are answers to some questions about the island

Are Puerto Ricans American Citizens?

Yes. Under Section 302 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, people born in Puerto Rico have the same birthright rights as those born in the 50 states.

You may think so, considering they are American citizens, but…. No.

What exactly is Puerto Rico's status called?

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated organized commonwealth territory of the United States.

In practice this is quite difficult. Thus, most Puerto Ricans do not pay federal income taxes, but they do pay taxes on Social Security, Medicare, import taxes, and export taxes. Some articles of the Constitution apply in Puerto Rico, some do not, and even experts are not always sure which ones.

Why isn't Puerto Rico the 51st state?

There has been a decades-long movement in Puerto Rico to become the next state. Five referendums have been held on this issue over the years. In the last one, which took place in June with very low turnout, 97 percent of the votes cast were in favor of joining the United States.

However, the decision on this must be made by Congress, and when this will happen is unknown.

Governor of the Island Ricardo Rosselo Yesterday he emphasized Puerto Rico's affiliation with the United States when he asked for federal assistance.

“The island is on the verge of a humanitarian crisis,” - he said . “To avoid this, we must recognize that we Puerto Ricans are also American citizens. When we talk about a disaster, everyone should be treated equally.".

Is Puerto Rico the USA? A few facts about the island that turned into ruins updated: August 20, 2019 by: Alina Dykhman

Island Puerto Rico Easy to find on the world map, this is a real paradise in the Caribbean for lovers of tropical delights, colorful coral reefs and turquoise seas.

Every year more and more tourists come here from all over the world. This amazing island of eternal summer offers the traveler a relaxed lifestyle against the backdrop of paradise landscapes in the best traditions of Caribbean hospitality.

Puerto Rico on the World Atlas

Thanks to the development of the tourism industry, people come to the island every year millions of vacationers from different parts of the planet.

This island is valued for the friendliness, warmth and sincerity of its hospitable locals.

Where is it located and what country is it?

Puerto Rico is one of the states Central America, consisting of several islands: a large one of the same name and a group of small ones: Mona, Desecheo and others. They belong to the Greater Antilles group.

From the east, the borders of the islands are adjacent to the British Virgin Islands, to the west - to. General square The state is 9104 km². One of the main problems of the country is significant overpopulation.

The political structure of this country is quite unusual: The fact is that Puerto Ricans have self-government and their own Constitution, but are subject to the United States Congress. This arrangement is typical for territories that were preparing to become one of the states of the American power.

Highest official - governor, which is chosen by local residents. Despite the fact that every resident of the island has American citizenship, they cannot participate in the election of the owner of the White House.

Brief historical background

An island whose name literally translates as "Rich Port", was discovered personally by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to New Land. The first name, San Juan de Bautista, was given to the island by the great navigator himself, and today the capital bears a shortened form of this name.

The indigenous inhabitants here were the Taino Indians, who were soon destroyed everywhere by the conquistadors.

Gradually Puerto Rico became Spanish colony and went through all stages of development: from the largest commercial port to an abandoned island without serious prospects for development. At the end of the 19th century, Puerto Rico came under the control of the United States of America, but this did not bring major changes in the life of the population.

The 20th century for local residents was marked by a protracted struggle for independence, which gradually came to an end as the new millennium arrived. At the moment, an increasing number of islanders are in favor of joining the United States with rights 52nd state.

Pregnant women, like no one else, should purchase travel health insurance. Read about the nuances of applying for this type of insurance.

State structure

The paradise splendor of the island does not in any way affect enough deplorable demographic situation in the country. The period of active development of Puerto Rico ceased at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and after World War II, the outflow of the local population to continental America only intensified.

The population decline is also influenced by the deteriorating economic situation, and as a result, the low birth rate.

The religious situation in Puerto Rico is quite typical for all Caribbean countries. Has significant parity Catholic Church, since the times of Spanish rule, Protestant denominations have recently begun to gain influence, but their percentage is still not high.

A small Orthodox community of Puerto Ricans, mostly Russian-speaking, is cared for by a small metropolitan parish of the Greek Church in honor of St. Spyridon, which does not give up hope of moving into the jurisdiction of the Russian Church. There are also eight mosques in Puerto Rico and one Jewish community in the capital.

Languages ​​spoken by the vast majority of citizens - Spanish and English, and they own both of them quite confidently, especially city residents. For a long time, the recognition of English as a second state language or the abolition of this status by various Puerto Rican governors was an indicator of the level of political closeness of local authorities with.

Transport

Puerto Rico's transportation infrastructure is quite extensive high level: due to the absence of a railway here, the most remote parts of the island are connected by developed roads and highways. However, it is worth noting that bus service on the island is not popular: it is easier to rent a car.

Guests from the mainland are received by the capital Carolina airport, named after Luis Munoz Marin, a famous political figure in the country and the first governor elected by popular vote. The airport also carries out large-scale cargo transportation between all countries of Central and Latin America.

The port of San Juan provides maritime traffic, and in the center of the capital there is a single-line subway, inaugurated in 2004.

Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna of Puerto Rico is very rich and represents the best example of Caribbean fauna. You can most fully get acquainted with the diversity of the island’s natural wealth by visiting the local nature reserve "Caribbean National Forest" or “El Yunque”, whose area is more than 11 thousand hectares. Beautiful waterfalls, mangrove forests and unusual animals: all this will leave a lasting impression on the most discerning traveler.

Puerto Rico is also surrounded by coral reefs, of which there are a huge number. The real symbol and talisman of the islanders has become a small coki frog, famous for its deafening, in the literal sense of the word, scream.

Unfortunately, the aggressive colonial activities of the Spanish invaders led to the global extinction of many species of flora and fauna of Puerto Rico.

Despite this, today the island boasts:

• 13 types of unique ground mammals;
• 18 types of unique marine mammals;
• 5 families and 13 species bats;
• 349 species birds;
• 25 types amphibians;
• 61 species reptiles;
• 677 species fish.

Vegetable world Caribbean island represented by:

1. 750 species plants;
2. 225 species trees;
3. More than 100 types mosses and ferns.

Climate

The state of Puerto Rico is located in tropical zone. The climate here is quite mild and humid. The temperature is always moderately high, on average +27-29 degrees above zero throughout the year. The south is warmest, and the coolest weather is in the center of the island, where the mountain ranges lie. and in the fall there are strong hurricane winds blowing from the Atlantic.

How to get there?

Direct flights from Puerto Rico No, so you will have to make at least one transfer in such major European or American cities as:

• Madrid;
• Frankfurt am Main;
• Miami;
• Houston.

If you have planned a trip from another Russian city, you will have to make another transfer in Moscow.

You can buy a plane ticket to connecting cities using this convenient search form. Enter cities of departure and arrival, date And number of passengers.

City infrastructure

The dense population of the islands of Puerto Rico leads to the fact that local settlements become quite large major cities. It is in the urban area that the developed infrastructure is located, which forms such an attractive resort image of the country.

Administrative division

The relatively small island of Puerto Rico and its related islands are divided into 78 municipalities, each headed by a democratically elected mayor. The period of performance of his official duties is 4 years. Each municipality is divided into districts, and those into sectors.

At the moment, the number of municipalities has been finalized; the last of them was formed back in 1971.

Large resort towns

The most significant cities in Puerto Rico in terms of recreation and the level of development of resort infrastructure are:

1. San Juan. The capital of the state is not only the administrative, but also the tourist center of the country. The ancient city, which was founded by Columbus, reached its peak after World War II, when it became a real tourist “calling card” of the island. San Juan attracts tourists not only for its incredible beaches, but also for its architectural structures, many of which date back to the 17th century;
2. Aguadilla. The industrial capital of Puerto Rico, located in the northwest of the main island. Despite the large number of banks and business centers, Aguadilla is also rich in excellent beaches that will please everyone;
3. Mayaguez. The picturesque port city in western Puerto Rico is located in the gorge of two enchantingly beautiful rivers: the Rio Yaguez and the Rio Guanajibo. For Eugenio Maria de Hostos, this city was not only his homeland, but also his muse, as the famous Puerto Rican educator and writer has repeatedly admitted.

Every coastal town on the island boasts incredible wealth its underwater world, so this type of recreation, such as diving, is in no way inferior to the beach one.

Puerto Rican Trench on a map of the Atlantic Ocean

On the border of the Atlantic and the Caribbean lies the infamous shift of underground plates- the Puerto Rico trench, aggravating the seismological situation in the region. A number of large-scale natural disasters, the last of which occurred in 2010, according to research, originated from here.

The Puerto Rico Trench is located 120 km north of the Caribbean coast of the islands of the same name. It is a narrow depression, more than 1,700 km long and 94 km wide. Measurements by American scientists on the Vima ship showed that its depth is 8742 meters. This deepest place Atlantic Ocean.

The shape of the gutter is long and narrow. It represents a transition from land to the oceans, in other words: an island with a mountain range.

The island of Puerto Rico itself is quite relief, and the main mountain range runs through its middle and is called Central. At the bottom of the trench there are volcanoes that are currently inactive. US authorities constantly monitor the Caribbean to prevent and protect the population from natural disasters in the form of tsunamis and earthquakes.

Associated Free State of Puerto Rico(Spanish) Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico ) is located in the Caribbean Sea, is part of the Greater Antilles and consists of the island of Puerto Rico and a number of adjacent small islands. Puerto Rico is a dependent territory of the United States and has the status Unincorporated organized territory, which means that it does not have the US Constitution, but the Bill of Rights and 3 branches of government.

Puerto Rico has its own Constitution, legislative, executive and judicial branches. The connection to the US is shared citizenship, currency and defense. Currently, Puerto Rican politicians are discussing the feasibility of granting statehood to this territory.

History of the island

Pre-Columbian period

The history of Puerto Rico in the period preceding the arrival of Christopher Columbus on this land has not been fully studied. Everything that is known today comes to us from archaeological excavations and oral stories of the first Spanish travelers. The first book to comprehensively describe the history of Puerto Rico was written Freym Lasierra(Spanish) Fray Iñigo Abbad y Lasierra) in 1786, 293 years after the Spaniards first visited this island.

The first settlers of Puerto Rico were orthoroids(English) Orthoroid), representatives of ancient culture. Excavations carried out in 1990 found the remains of primitive man, dating back to approximately 2,000 BC (4,000 years ago). The remains were named " Puerto Ferro man"(English) Puerto Ferro man). Between 120 and 400 AD, representatives of the Igneri Indian tribe arrived on the island. Igneri) from the Orinoco River region in South America. Between the 7th and 11th centuries, the island was inhabited by the Arawak Indian tribe, who founded the Taino culture, and by about 1000 AD, this culture began to dominate the island until Columbus arrived in 1493.

Spanish colonial period

When Christopher Columbus arrived on the island on November 19, 1493, as a result of his second voyage to the shores of America, the island was inhabited by Indians who called themselves Tainos. Tainos called the island " Boriken"(Spanish) Borikén), which was later interpreted by the Spaniards as " Borikuen"(Spanish) Borinquen). The island was originally named by the Spaniards San Juan Bautista in honor of St. John the Baptist, but ultimately the island was named Puerto Rico, which means " rich port" Name San Juan passed to the capital of the territory and to a small island " Old San Juan"(English) Old San Juan), now part of the capital. In 1508, the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon(Spanish) Juan Ponce de Leon) became the first governor of the island.

The island was soon colonized by the Spaniards. African slaves were brought to the island as free labor to replace the rapidly declining Indian population forced to work for the Spanish crown. In the end, Tainos completely died out as a result of diseases brought by the Spaniards and Africans, as well as from the harsh conditions in which they were forced to endure. Puerto Rico quickly became an important fortress and port of the Spanish Empire in the Caribbean. However, the colonial emphasis at the end of the 17th-18th centuries was still placed on the more prosperous territories of the mainland rather than on the island, impoverished by population decline. To protect against the threats of Spain's European enemies, various forts and fortresses gradually appeared on the island, such as La Fortaleza(Spanish) La Fortaleza), Fuerte San Filipe del Morro(Spanish) Fort San Felipe del Morro) And San Cristobal(Spanish) El Castillo de San Cristóbal). The French, Dutch and British made repeated attempts to capture Puerto Rico, but were defeated in their long occupation of the island.

In 1809, as Napoleon I's troops occupied most of the Iberian Peninsula and the First Spanish Revolution was in full swing, an assembly of populists from the Spanish city of Cadiz declared Puerto Rico an overseas province of Spain with the right of representation at the Spanish court. First representative of the island in the Cadiz Cortes Ramon Power and Gilart(Spanish) Ramon Power and Giralt) died shortly after arriving in Spain. With the adoption of the Cadiz Constitution in 1812, when Spanish territories were divided into provinces, Puerto Ricans were granted conditional citizenship.

On August 10, 1815, Spain issued a royal decree encouraging Spaniards and other non-Spanish Europeans loyal to the Spanish Crown and the Roman Catholic Church to settle on the island, opening the door for Puerto Rico to trade with other countries. This was the beginning of the growth of the island's agricultural economy, with sugar, tobacco and coffee becoming the main export products. The island began to fill with immigrants from Germany, Corsica, Ireland, France, Portugal and the Canary Islands, fleeing difficult economic times in Europe and attracted by free entry to the island. However, these minor concessions and rights were soon revoked. After the overthrow of Napoleon I, an absolute monarchy returned to Spain, which abolished the Candiza Constitution and returned Puerto Rico to the status of a colony, a symbol of the unlimited power of the Spanish monarchy.

On June 25, 1835, the wife of the Spanish king Ferdinand VII, Maria Cristina, being at that moment the regent of Spain (1833-1840), abolished the slave trade in the Spanish colonies. In 1851, the island's governor Juan de la Pezuela Cevallos(Spanish) Juan de la Pezuela Cevallos) founded on the island Royal Academy of Belles Letters, which educated school teachers, formulated teaching methods, and organized literary competitions that propelled the island's intellectual and literary progress. In 1858, Samuel Morse established in the city Arroyo(Spanish) Arroyo) the first telegraph apparatus on the island.

Life in Puerto Rico in the second half of the 19th century took place against the backdrop of a struggle for autonomy. The 1860 census showed the island's population to be 583,308. Of these, 300,406 (51.5%) people were white, the rest belonged to other races. Of these, the vast majority (83.7%) belonged to the poor. The island's agricultural development was hampered by a lack of roads, primitive tools, and natural disasters such as hurricanes and drought. The economy also suffered from high tariffs and taxes imposed by the Spanish royalty. September 23, 1868 in the city Lares(Spanish) Lares) a rebellion for independence broke out, known as El Grito de Lares", which was soon quickly suppressed. The leaders of this revolt Ramon Emerito Betances(Spanish) Ramon Emeterio Betances) And Serguno Ruiz Belvis(Spanish) Segundo Ruiz Belvis) in modern Puerto Rico are regarded as the fathers of the Puerto Rican nation. Later, a political movement for independence arose under the leadership of Romana Baldorioti de Castro(lang-es|Román Baldorioty de Castro), and at the end of the century the movement led Luisa Munoz Rivera(lang-es|Luis Muñoz Rivera). In 1897, Munoz Rivera and his associates spoke to the liberal Spanish government for autonomy for Cuba and Puerto Rico. The following year, 1898, an autonomous government was declared for a short period. The Charter of Autonomy was responsible to the island's governor, appointed by Spain. The governor had the right to annul any decision of the local government, and participated in parliamentary elections.

American rule period

On July 25, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, American troops invaded Puerto Rico and landed in the municipality Guantica(Spanish) Guanica). As a result of the war, Spain was forced to cede Puerto Rico, as well as Cuba, the Philippines and the island of Guam under the Treaty of Paris in 1898)]. Puerto Rico entered the 20th century under the military rule of the United States, including a governor appointed by the President of the United States. In 1917, according to Jones-Shafroth Act(English) Jones-Shafroth Act) Puerto Rican residents were granted U.S. citizenship, a status that continues to this day. Since World War I, many Puerto Ricans have served in the US military. Natural disasters and the Great Depression made life on the island worse. Some politicians, such as the leader of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Pedro Albizu Campos(Spanish) Pedro Albizu Campos), advocated for granting independence to the island. He was subsequently arrested twice and imprisoned for subversive activities against the American administration on the island. First democratic elected governor of Puerto Rico Luis Munoz Marin(Spanish) Luis Muñoz Marin) also initially advocated the independence of the territory, but observing a serious economic decline, accompanied by an increase in crime and popular discontent, chose the status of an associated territory as an intermediate stage on the path to independence.

During the Roosevelt-Truman administrations, changes occurred in the nature of the territory's internal governance, as a result of compromise between various political forces. These changes culminated in President Harry Truman's appointment of the first Puerto Rican-born governor in 1946. Jesus T. Pinero(Spanish) Jesus T. Piñero). In 1947, the Americans gave Puerto Rico the right to choose its own governor. In 1948, Luis Munoz Marin was democratically elected governor of Puerto Rico, serving in this post for 16 years until 1964.

From that point on, large numbers of immigrants from the island moved to the mainland United States in search of a better life. If in 1945 there were about 13,000 Puerto Ricans living in New York City, then by 1955 their number was already about 700,000 people, and by the mid-1960s they exceeded a million.

November 1, 1950 Puerto Rican nationalists Griselio Torresola(Spanish) Griselio Torresola) And Oscar Gollazo(Spanish) Oscar Collazo) attempted an assassination attempt on President Truman. The consequence of this incident was Truman's agreement to hold a referendum on the island regarding Puerto Rico's own constitution. As a result of the approved constitution on July 25, 1952, Puerto Rico received its current status as an associated territory. In the 1950s, the island experienced rapid growth in industrial production, which allowed Puerto Rico's economy to transform from an agricultural to an industrialized one.

Currently, Puerto Rico has become a major tourist destination with a developed pharmaceutical and manufacturing structure. The political status is still not fully determined, and therefore various plebiscites have been held on the island in recent years.

Geographical data

Puerto Rico is made up of the main island of Puerto Rico and many smaller islands and cays including Mona(Isla de Mona) Vieques(Vieques) Culebra(Culebra) Dececheo(Desecheo) and Caja de Muertos(Caja de Muerto). Of the last five islands, only Vieques and Culebra are inhabited throughout the year. Mona Island is inhabited only by employees of the Puerto Rican Ministry of National Resources.

The main island is 170 km long and 60 km wide, mostly mountainous with large coastal areas in the northern and southern parts. The main mountain range of the island is called " La Cordillera Central", which means "central ridge", is also home to Puerto Rico's highest point, Mt. Sierra de Punta(Cerro de Punta), altitude 1,338 m above sea level. Another important peak, Mt. El Yunque(El Yunque), 1,065 m above sea level, located in Caribbean National Forest in the municipality Sierra de Luquillo(Sierra de Luquillo). The island's capital, San Juan, is located on the northern coast of the island.

The climate of Puerto Rico is marine tropical, mild with slight seasonal temperature fluctuations: in the southern part the temperature is slightly higher than in the northern part, and in the central mountainous part it is always cooler than on the rest of the island. The average annual temperature is + 28ºC. Hurricane season lasts between June and November.

Puerto Rico has 17 lakes, none of which are natural, and more than 50 rivers, most of which flow from the main mountain range. In the northern part of the island, the rivers are wider and deeper than in the southern part.

According to 1998 data, the flora of Puerto Rico consisted of 239 different species of plants, 16 species of birds and 39 species of amphibians and endemic reptiles were observed in the fauna. The most recognizable species and pride of Puerto Rico is the Tiny Frog (Eleutherdactylus coqui), known for its loud croaking. Humid tropical Caribbean National Forest, also known as " El Yunque", is the main habitat of these frogs.

Geological structure

The geological structure of the island consists of volcanic and igneous rocks formed between the Cretaceous period and the Eocene epoch of the Paleogene period, on top of later rocks of the Oligocene era, and even later carbonates and sedimentary rocks. The oldest rocks are estimated to be approximately 190 million years old (Jurassic) and are located in the municipality Sierra Bermeja(Sierra Bermeja) in the southwestern part of the island. These rocks may represent parts of oceanic crust, and apparently came from the Pacific Ocean.

Puerto Rico lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates and is currently being tectonically deformed by the action of these plates. Such transformation can cause earthquakes and tsunamis, which, together with landslides, pose the greatest geological hazard on the island and the northeastern Caribbean. The last major earthquake in Puerto Rico occurred on October 11, 1918, measuring approximately 7.5 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the earthquake was at the bottom of the sea off the coast of the municipality Aguadilla(Aguadilla), which caused the tsunami.

The Puerto Rico Trench, located 120 km north of the island, is the largest and deepest oceanic trench in the Atlantic Ocean. It lies on the boundary of the Caribbean and North American plates. The length of the trench is 1.754 km, the width is about 97 km, and the greatest depth is 8.380 m.

Demography

It is sometimes said that Puerto Rico has a European (Spanish) majority, an almost extinct American Indian population, a mixed-race population, an African population, and a small Asian minority. Blood and protein analysis showed that the population was 45% Caucasian, 37% African and 18% Indian. A more recent analysis of Mitochondrial DNA from 800 individuals found American Indian mtDNA in 61.1% of the population, African mtDNA in 26.4% of the population, and Caucasian mtDNA in 12.5% ​​of the Puerto Rican population.

During the 1800s, hundreds of Corsicans, French, Lebanese, Chinese, and Portuguese, along with large numbers of immigrants from Spain, the Canary Islands, and other Spanish colonies in South America, moved to Puerto Rico. After Decree 1815 year, which allowed foreigners to settle in Puerto Rico, thousands of immigrants from all over Europe arrived in the country. Massive immigration in the 19th century saw the island's population increase from 155,000 in 1800 to almost a million at the end of the century. The census taken in accordance with the royal decree of September 30, 1858, gives the following picture of the population at that time: white population - 300,430 people, free colored population - 341,015, slaves - 41,736, unspecified - 127 people. Puerto Rico later became the permanent home of more than 100,000 immigrants, coming not only from Spain but also from Latin American countries. Immigrants from Argentina, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Venezuela entered the country. The wide variety of surnames also gives an idea of ​​different origins.

Emigration from the country has also been an integral part of Puerto Rico's recent history. After the end of World War II, due to poverty, cheap airfare and support from the island government, waves of emigration moved to the United States, especially to New York, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, Tampa and Hartford. Emigration continued even after the economy improved and the birth rate fell. It continues at the present time, and together with the fall in the birth rate, in the next 20 years it can lead to rapid aging of the population and its decrease.

In 2000, a census was taken that asked Puerto Ricans what race they considered themselves to be. 95.8% reported only one race: 80.5% described themselves as white, 8% as black, and 0.4% described themselves as Native American. One of the problems of modern Puerto Rico is the high level of poverty - 50% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Education

Education in Puerto Rico is four-level and is divided into elementary, middle and high schools, as well as higher education. The school can be either public or private. According to a 2000 survey, 60.0% percent of the population had received a high school diploma (the equivalent of complete secondary education in Russia) or higher, and 18.3% had at least a bachelor's degree. These figures rank sixth lowest compared to the mainland US, where the national average is 80.4% and 24.4%, respectively. As of 2002, the literacy rate of the island's population is 94.1%, with female literacy rates slightly better than male literacy rates.

Private schools are run by various non-governmental organizations, mostly by the Roman Catholic Church. Two large public higher education institutions are University of Puerto Rico(Spanish) Universidad de Puerto Rico) And University of San Juan(Spanish) Colegio Universitario de San Juan ). The major private universities on the island are Ana G. Mendes University(Spanish) Sistema Universitario Ana G. Mendez ), Inter-American University(Spanish) Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico ), Catholic University(Spanish) Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico ) And Sacred Hearts University(Spanish) Universidad del Sagrado Corazon ).

Every year approximately 100,000 students attend 1,500 schools. The Ministry of Education, with 45,000 teachers, is the largest employer on the island. Puerto Rico Teachers Federation(Spanish) Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico ) is the largest union representing all permanent teachers in the public sector.

Languages

The official languages ​​of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English. Spanish is the main language in government institutions, although English is a compulsory subject of study from primary school to the second year of college). As of 2006, approximately 3,860,120 people use Spanish as their primary language and 82,000 use English. Although a relatively small proportion of islanders consider English their primary language, the majority of the population in major cities speaks both languages, or at least understands English and uses it in certain situations.

In 1991, the island's governor Rafael Hernandez Colon(Spanish) Rafael Hernandez Colon) signed legislation declaring Spanish as the only official language in government offices in Puerto Rico. Although many politicians supported this decision, supporters of joining the United States as a state saw this as a threat to their aspirations. The law was also welcomed by the people of Puerto Rico, resulting in the prestigious 1991 Prince of Asturias Awards(Spanish) Premio Principe de Asturias) in Literature, awarded annually for contributions to literature in Spanish. In 1993, the new governor Pedro Rosselló(Spanish) Pedro Rossello) signed another law, returning English to state status. This was seen by many as a step towards rapprochement with the United States.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Church historically dominates the island's religious communities, although the advent of American sovereignty has seen the emergence of followers of Jehovah's Witnesses, various Protestant communities, and Mormons. Protestantism was persecuted during Spanish rule. For example, the first non-Catholic Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity in Ponch began to ring its bells only in 1898, with the landing of American troops on the island.

There is also a small but diverse Jewish community in and around the city of San Juan, representing all branches of Judaism. There is a Muslim community with houses of worship throughout the island. The three main mosques are located in Rio Pedras, Poncha and Mega Alta.

Thanks to several advocates, Taino religious practices were rediscovered.

Administrative division

Puerto Rico is divided into 78 municipalities, which in turn are divided into districts, and those into sectors (Mona Island is part of the municipality Mayaguez(Spanish) Mayagüez)) Each municipality has its own mayor, elected for a 4-year period. First municipality (formerly known as "city"), San Juan, was formed in 1521. In the 16th century, two more municipalities were formed, Koamo(Coamo) and San German(San Germán), both in 1570. In the 17th century, three more municipalities appeared - Arecibo(Arecibo), 1614; Aguada(Aguada), 1692 and Ponche(Ponce). In the 18th and 19th centuries, the island's population increased rapidly, leading to the creation of 30 municipalities in the 18th century and another 34 in the 19th century. In the 20th century, only 6 municipalities were founded, the last of which was Florida(Florida), formed in 1971.

Economy

In the early 1900s, Puerto Rico's economy was predominantly agricultural, with sugar being its main commodity. In the late 1940s, several projects were launched under the code name " Operation Bootstrap", the essence of which was tax exemption and the construction of factories. As a result, industrial production became the main industry of the island. During the Great Depression, economic conditions in Puerto Rico improved markedly due to outside investment in capital-intensive industries such as petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Thanks to American tax breaks, local industries can now compete with countries where wages are far below American standards. In recent years, many U.S. and foreign manufacturers have moved to low-wage countries in Latin America and Asia. Puerto Rico follows US labor laws and restrictions.

Tourism is an important component of the Puerto Rican economy and generates approximately $1.8 billion annually. In 1999, about 5 million tourists visited the island, mostly from the United States. About a third of them are cruise ship passengers. The number of hotel registrations is constantly increasing (statistics since 1998), new hotels and other tourism centers are being built, which indicates the good state of the tourism industry.

The island's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2004 was 17,700 per year per capita, showing a significant increase from 2002 (14,412). However, if we compare this value with the main territory of the United States, then according to American statistics, the poorest US state of Mississippi in 2002-04 had an income of 21,587 per year per capita, which is much higher than the Puerto Rican indicators. Since 1952, the difference in per capita GDP between Puerto Rico and the main U.S. territory has remained constant—the island has about a third of the U.S. average.

On May 1, 2006, Puerto Rico's budget faced a severe cash shortage, leading to the closure of the local Department of Education and 42 other government agencies. All 1,536 state schools were closed and 95,762 people faced a partial government shutdown for the first time in the island's history. On May 10, 2006, the budget crisis was resolved with a new tax deal so that all government employees could return to work.

Culture and sports

The national symbols of Puerto Rico are the small bird of the tanager family Spindalis portoricensis, the Thespesia flower (Thespesia grandiflora) and the cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra). The unofficial national animal is the Tiny Frog (Eleutherdactylus coqui).

Representatives of Puerto Rico constantly participate in the Miss World and Miss Universe beauty contests. Contest Miss Universe Puerto Ricans have won 5 times (1970, 1985, 1993, 2001, 2006), second only to the United States in the number of nominations, and once won the Miss World competition (1975). At this competition in 2005, the representative of Puerto Rico took second place.

Puerto Rico has its own Olympic team in the Summer and Winter Olympics and also competes in other major international competitions such as Pan American Games(English) Pan American Games), Central American and Caribbean Games(English) Central American and Caribbean Games ), And Caribbean Cup Baseball(English) Caribbean World Series). At the Olympic Games, Puerto Rican athletes have won 6 medals (1 silver and 5 bronze) since 1948, when Juan Evangelista Venegas(Juan Evangelista Venegas) won a bronze medal in boxing.

Although the island is known for boxing, basketball, volleyball and baseball, the latter was traditionally considered the most popular sport on the island until the number of basketball players increased in recent years. The island has its own professional baseball league. Puerto Rico participates in the World Baseball Championship and has 1 gold (1951), 4 silver and 4 bronze awards.

August 8, 2004 marked a significant milestone for the Puerto Rican Olympic team when the national basketball team defeated Team USA at the Athens Olympics.

Transport

The island has a well-developed network of roads, including highways, which are under the control of the local Department of Roads and Transport(English) Roads and Transportation Authority ). Major cities have bus and metro services, locally called "Tren Urbano". Main airport " Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport"(Spanish) Aeropuerto Internacional Luis Muñoz Marín ) is located in the municipality of Carolina, the main port of the island is Port of San Juan(English) San Juan Port).

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We continue to look at clear examples of the deceitful policies of the United States of America and their crimes against entire nations. The authorities of this state not only do not deal with the issues of their country, but also oppress the nations of the territories under their control. Some US citizens have methane gas coming out of their taps along with supposedly drinking water. Water can easily be set on fire, but drinking is not recommended. What can we say about the so-called unincorporated territories, where people live with the rights of colonially dependent citizens. The White House loves to reproach Moscow for any reason for some kind of “imperial ambitions,” “aggressions,” and “encroachments on someone’s sovereignty.” However, he does not notice the beam in his own eye. These “democrats” seem to take us back two or three centuries. How else can one evaluate their actions in Puerto Rico? Washington constantly shouts about democracy, but at the same time it terrorizes and does not allow more than 3.5 million people to develop. How is this possible these days? Can the island country of Puerto Rico continue to face such conditions? And what are the prospects for the further existence of this people?

Briefly about the history and current status of the Puerto Rican state

Perhaps few modern people will immediately understand the legal status of Puerto Rico. This island nation is administered by the United States, but is not officially part of the United States. The country's economy is in a deep crisis, which was largely provoked by Washington. The country came under American control back in 1898. This happened immediately after the end of the American-Spanish hostilities. Currently, the state has the status of an unincorporated territory, which is governed by the American authorities. If we put aside all the legal terms, then in fact this is a colony of the 21st century. Every Puerto Rican is considered a citizen of the United States. However, this is very conditional. In fact, the population of this country in America is treated as second class citizens.

Puerto Rico is represented in the US Congress by only one member. However, he does not have the right to vote in government decisions. Also, no Puerto Rican can vote in the election of the American President. Residents of the island are allowed to elect their own governor and local Congress. They have their own courts. However, all local power is strictly limited by the enormous powers of Washington. The islanders are not covered by the American constitutional amendments regarding individual rights. There are no social programs that exist here in the United States.

The benefits of the “true fighters for democracy” from the White House

At the same time, any legislative acts that were adopted by the US Congress are binding on the territory of Puerto Rico. There are also separate laws that apply only to so-called unincorporated territories. It goes without saying that they are all aimed at oppressing the local population. And these are not cliched phrases from the Cold War. Judge for yourself. Take, for example, the Johnson Act, which was issued by the Americans back in 1920, but is still in effect today. According to its provisions, the transportation of any type of cargo both from the island and to the island is prohibited if it is carried out by a vessel not flying the American flag. What did this give to the Americans? In the last century - total control of the existence of a multi-million people. After all, nothing could be exported or imported without the permission of Starstriped Washington. However, even at the moment, the US authorities are profiting from an act issued almost 100 years ago. In order not to violate its provisions, all operating Puerto Rican carriers reload cargo onto American ships. At the same time, foreign ships that arrive at the ports of the island of Puerto Rico must pay significant fees. On whose shoulders do you think this burden falls? Of course, on Puerto Rican consumers, who are forced to pay more for goods than their neighbors from other Caribbean islands. Exactly as much as Washington brazenly takes for itself in the form of taxes from exporters. Isn't this outright racketeering? The only difference is that, with the tacit approval of the US’s Western allies, such things are allowed to happen in the 21st century not by a bandit or terrorist group, but by “the main fighter for democracy and civil rights.”

How the United States is “helping” now or the Ukrainian scenario in the Caribbean

And this is just one example of the actions of the United States in Puerto Rico. The colonial status of the Caribbean island led to widespread poverty of the local population. According to official statistics, more than 46% of the island's residents are below the poverty line. How is Washington reacting? In order to overcome the economic crisis in the colonial country, the administration of the former head of the White House Obama is creating a special Council for Control and Financial Management. He will completely usurp the implementation of Puerto Rico's economic policies. Do you think the robbery of the country has stopped? No matter how it is. The result of the “work” of the Council was the widespread introduction of severe austerity measures, which included:

• reduction of all pensions and scholarships, as well as other social payments;
• sending people who had jobs on unpaid leave;
• reduction in funding for the educational sector.

The Americans closed 184 schools on this island!

Do you know who became the executive director of the controlling American Council in March of this year? Former head of the financial ministry of Ukraine, Ms. Natalia Yaresko. Citizens of the current Ukrainian state can only sympathize residents of Puerto Rico. They know for sure that as long as this lady is involved in the economic policy of the island state, the people will become even poorer and hungrier.

The future of Puerto Rico

The current governor of the country, Mr. Ricardo Roseyo, and the overwhelming majority of the island's population see relief from colonial status in the urgent annexation of Puerto Rico to the territory of the United States. The island should become a full-fledged state of modern America. This is exactly what the islanders voted for in the Referendum that took place the day before. The current White House administration has a great chance to demonstrate to the world that they are ready to abandon colonial exploitation and restore the civil rights of the local population. Previously, the American Congress ignored the results of the popular referendum four times. How will it be this time?

The whole difficult history of the existence of this Caribbean island shows that it has earned the right to become part of the United States. Or, as another scenario, gain complete independence from America. Otherwise, a national liberation struggle is inevitable. And she will not be stopped by the money that the White House is already allocating to extinguish protest sentiments on the island. In the 21st century, such inequality and all sorts of “unincorporated statuses” are simply unacceptable.

Puerto Ricans, immigrants from the US possession of Puerto Rico, should also be considered among the national minorities of the United States. 1 They speak Spanish. There are quite a lot of them (700 thousand according to 1957 data). Immigration of Puerto Ricans has increased significantly since the First World War. As residents of the US colony, they were not required to enter the country as required for immigrants from abroad. By 1920, the number of Puerto Ricans who moved to the United States. doubled compared to pre-war. The dominance of American monopolies, which have completely ruined the population of Puerto Rico, is driving thousands of poor people out of the country, desperate to earn a piece of bread in their homeland. But in the United States their situation is little better. 83% of all Puerto Ricans settled in the United States live in New York City. Their colony in Harlem is equal in size to the largest city in Puerto Rico. Poor living conditions, hunger, poverty, high infant mortality - an indispensable feature of the Harlem slums greet Puerto Rican immigrants here. Since Puerto Ricans are of mixed origin and have an admixture of black blood, in the United States they suffer from racial discrimination, falling into the category of “colored” with all the ensuing consequences.

The majority of Puerto Ricans are people of unskilled labor, and only half of them work in industry (in sugar factories, in the clothing industry, etc.). A large number of Puerto Ricans are employed in serving the population: they work as hotel receptionists, bellboys, and dishwashers; Puerto Rican women are hired as domestic workers and laundresses. And the number of Puerto Ricans who own their own business is very small. As a rule, these are small “businessmen” - owners of bars, small shops, and repair shops.

Filipinos

Until 1920, predominantly young people came to the United States from the Philippines to obtain higher education (in 1920 there were only 5,603 Filipinos there). Few of them remained in the country. After the “gentlemen's agreement” between the United States and Japan to limit Japanese immigration (1907), the importation of indentured Filipino workers to Hawaii and then to the United States began, since restrictive laws against people of Asian origin did not apply to Filipinos. The subsequent influx of Filipinos to Hawaii was prompted by a 1924 law that also allowed for the immigration of Filipino residents as citizens of U.S. possessions. From here, many Filipinos, mainly persecuted participants in the great strike on Hawaiian plantations, moved to the United States. Then an increasing number of immigrants began to come to the United States directly from the Philippines. This was facilitated by the agitation of Western agricultural and industrial companies interested in cheap labor.

One of the points of the Philippine Independence Act (1934) was the extension of restrictive laws to the immigration of Filipinos to the United States (a quota was set at 50 people per year). A year later, another law appeared (Repatriation Act), according to which the United States subsidized the return of Filipinos to their homeland (with the right to return only on a first-come, first-served basis according to the quota established for them).

There are 50 thousand Filipinos in the United States (1950 census), and most of them live in California. Their status is very uncertain. Many received American citizenship by joining the American army during the Second World War. When they became US citizens, they brought their families with them. These are agricultural workers, seasonal workers, workers in canneries and mines, domestic servants, hotel staff, urban transport workers, etc. Many immigrants from the Philippines did not have any profession and did not know English. Whether at home in Hawaii or locally in the United States, they fell into the hands of contractors who shamelessly profited from their inexperience.

Filipinos, perhaps even more than other minorities in the United States, suffer from the racist bullying that is widespread in cosmopolitan California. They are given the lowest paid jobs; even the few intellectuals most often do not have the opportunity to work in their specialty due to unwritten racist laws.

Discrimination in social and political life is aggravated by everyday difficulties. Immigrants from the Philippines are predominantly young men who arrived relatively recently, or middle-aged people, from 35 to 45 years old. There are very few women: the ratio between the number of men and women is 14: I 1. Since mixed marriages are rare among Filipinos due to racial prejudice, 77% of adult men are unmarried. Quite rare cases of mixed marriages occur in the state of New Mexico: between Filipinos and Mexicans and even American women. In cities, Filipinos live mainly in Chinatowns or neighborhoods of immigrants from other Asian countries.

People from Asian countries

A fairly large group of the US population is legally placed in an exceptional position. These include the Chinese, Japanese, Indians and other residents of Asian countries. According to the 1950 census, there were 117,629 Chinese and 141,768 Japanese in the United States. A large number of them, despite the fact that they have lived in the United States for a long time, do not have the rights of US citizens. Their children, born in the USA, are American citizens. The fact is that both the Chinese and the Japanese are considered peoples subject to anti-immigration laws.

Chinese in the USA

Chinese immigration is associated with the development of industry on the US Pacific coast. In the 19th century, when the development of the West was underway and the Western and Pacific regions were included in the circle of economic interests of the United States, workers were needed. The import of Chinese coolies - cheap and unpretentious workers - satisfied the demand of the Pacific regions, starting from the middle of the 19th century. They worked on the construction of railways, cities, and in mines. By the end of the 19th century. The West is being flooded with workers from the eastern states. During times of crisis, agitation arises here against the import of Chinese workers and against granting them civil rights. In the 80s of the XIX century. Several laws are being passed banning entry into the United States for persons of Chinese origin hoping to get a job 2 . This law does not apply to students, businessmen, and people of intelligent professions. The emergence of such laws was exploited by American entrepreneurs and Chinese recruiters, who profited from the illegal importation of completely disenfranchised Chinese coolies, mainly through San Francisco. The Chinese were prohibited from marrying American women, from owning land in the United States, from hunting, and from carrying weapons. According to California law, a Chinese person cannot hold municipal or government office.

Given this state of affairs, it is natural that the Chinese population of the United States began to decline since the advent of prohibition laws. In 1890, 107,488 Chinese were registered in the United States (of which 87,828 lived on the Pacific coast), in 1900 - 89,863, in 1910 - 71,831, in 1920 - 61,639 3.

According to the 1950 census, there are about 118 thousand people of Chinese origin in the United States 1 . Chinese in the United States, like other groups subject to restrictive laws, are characterized by a numerical preponderance of men.

60% of all US Chinese live in the western regions, 33% in the eastern regions. Mostly the Chinese are city dwellers. The largest Chinese population is in San Francisco, where 23,215 Chinese were registered in 1940, followed by New York (13,731). The Chinese population in cities lives in colonies. The oldest Chinese colony is in New York: Chinatown is a Chinese city. It is located in the Bowery district near other immigrant neighborhoods. Narrow streets, shops with Chinese products, signs written in Chinese characters everywhere, inviting you to Chinese restaurants, Chinese shops, curio shops, etc.

The largest Chinese settlement in the United States, and at the same time outside Asia, is in Chinatown in San Francisco. Here, 15 streets reminiscent of the cities of Southern China are lined with pagodas; houses with dragon moldings; narrow and dark shops selling Chinese souvenirs, silks, and Chinese cuisine. Almost all residents of the quarter come from Guangdong province. Most of them speak Cantonese, which is more widely spoken here than English. There is even a Chinese telephone exchange in San Francisco. The Chinese still have large families, which include distant relatives. In such families, the leading role belongs to the older generation.

Men working in production, as well as people of intellectual work, wear European dress. To maintain an “exotic” flavor, the owners of shops, opium dens and restaurants sometimes wear Chinese national costume.

Chinese colonies have numerous public organizations that help those in need, settle disputes, and protect the rights of their fellow tribesmen. These organizations are a great help in the lives of Chinese immigrants who are completely powerless in the United States.

The isolation of the Chinese population is expressed not only in the existence of special quarters and in the especially degraded position of Chinese workers, who are paid less than other workers, but, as already mentioned, also in the artificial isolation of the Chinese from the public life of the country. As a rule, there are no Chinese in any of the country's elected bodies. Receiving higher education does not save the US Chinese from discrimination, since they are, as a rule, not allowed into intelligent professions. But not all physical labor is available to the Chinese. Every year the number of Chinese working in mines decreases (in 1860, 35 thousand Chinese worked in mines in California, in 1920 - only 151 people), on railways, in agriculture (in 1860 there were 30 thousand Chinese - agricultural workers, and in 1920 - 3600) 2. Most of the Chinese work in laundries and restaurants. Very often, occupation in a family is inherited.

The Chinese public in the United States was very sympathetic to China's struggle for independence. Working people sent their savings to the fund for the struggle for the liberation of China. In 1937, a monument to the great Chinese revolutionary democrat Sun Yat-sen was erected in Chinatown in San Francisco.