Fortuño sworn in as Puerto Rico governor
Caribbean Business Newspaper
By: CB STAFF

(FOTO: REUTERS/Ana Martínez/Luis Fortuño takes oath as the 9th elected governor of P.R. while his wife Luce Vela holds his grandmother Bible)

Luis Fortuño was sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico in a grand yet sober ceremony Friday afternoon at the steps of the Capitol building in San Juan.

In his inaugural message as the ninth governor-elect of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño said on Friday he was committed to solve the precarious fiscal crisis the island is going through by controlling government spending.

“Puerto Rico will come out of this,” said Fortuño before thousands of attendees crowded in front of the Capitol building, where the swearing-in ceremony took place on Friday afternoon.

“As I swear in as governor, I do it while convinced that no matter the difficulties we may face ahead, this crisis will pass,” he stated.

He added the electorate sent a clear message clamoring for change and seeking to reduce the local government’s size. The government currently has a payroll of 250,000 employees in an island with a population of 3.9 million.

“We are convinced the government must be smaller in order to be more effective…the government has ceased being the solution to your problems and has instead become the problem we all must solve,” said the pro-statehood leader, who did not discuss the issue of the island’s political status.

In contrast, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama did mention status, making a commitment to address the issue sometime in the next four years.

In a message read by Nick Razod, Obama also made a commitment to restore the island’s economy. Obama indicated that Puerto Rico will become an “integral part” of the new economic stimulus package to be approved in the U.S. mainland. He said the island will receive the same treatment in federal health programs, as well as financial help towards new job creation.

“Puerto Rico doesn’t deserve any less,” he indicated.

Fortuño, wife Lucé Vela, and their three children were introduced by designated State Secretary Kenneth McClintock amid a fanfare by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.

Heavy applause greeted the new First Family, in contrast to the reception previously given to outgoing Puerto Rico Gov.Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, who was met with boos and name-calling.

On hand at the ceremony were a who’s who of public figures in the realm of politics, public service and even show business. Former Puerto Rico Govs.Rafael Hernández Colón, Carlos Romero Barceló and Sila M. Calderón were on hand, as was Congressman Luis Guiterrez (D-Ill.) and Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández, among others.

A surprising appearance at the ceremony by singer Marc Anthony and his wife, singer/actress Jennifer López, prompted the media to report that the showbiz power couple is in negotiations with the incoming administration to establish a movie studio/theme park on the northeastern part of the island through a multi-million-dollar investment.
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