Puerto Rico: Economic Crisis Fuels Migration and Debt Crisis

2015-07-14 6

Puerto Rico's worsening economic crisis has fueled the growth of the island's internal debt, which now stands at a staggering US$73 billion. The island's status as a territory as opposed to a state, prevents cities and public companies from declaring bankruptcy. With unemployment at 20%, double the U.S. average, migration to the mainland is on the rise. In San Juan, officials propose austerity measures to deal with the debt. Bianca Perez reports from Washington. teleSUR