Puerto Rico's Decade-Old Fiscal Board Faces Scrutiny Amid Record Drought
A historic drought has forced water rationing in Puerto Rico, and investigators say the island's unelected fiscal board, known as “La Junta,” bears responsibility.
Puerto Rico is grappling with a historic drought that has triggered island-wide water rationing, a situation residents say could have been avoided with better infrastructure upkeep. Climate scientists have long cautioned that changing Caribbean weather patterns will exacerbate the territory's aging water systems, but government action has been limited. The fiscal oversight board installed a decade ago under the PROMESA bankruptcy framework—commonly called “La Junta”—continues to wield broad authority over public policy and finances.
Investigative reporter Luis Valentín argues that the board’s focus on debt reduction has crowded out resources needed for critical water system repairs. Juan Carlos Dávila highlighted a pattern of governmental inaction that fuels calls for increased privatization of water services. The controversy underscores the intersection of climate risk, fiscal governance, and public-service delivery on the island.
Why it matters
The story shows how fiscal governance can directly affect essential services like water during climate-driven crises.
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