House Resolution 854, introduced by Representative José Aponte Hernández, has asked the Puerto Rico House Government Committee to investigate claims that local transportation companies and service providers at the San Juan Bay cruise terminals are being displaced under the public‑private partnership (PPP) between the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and San Juan Cruise Port LLC (SJCP). The resolution, filed last week, directs the committee to conduct an urgent inquiry into allegations that businesses with decades of experience in the cruise industry have been adversely affected by changes implemented under the concession agreement awarded to SJCP in 2022. The measure notes that concerns about the PPP’s impact on local businesses surfaced even before the contract was finalized, despite provisions intended to protect and promote their participation. According to the resolution, Schedule 15 of the concession agreement commits SJCP to work collaboratively with local stakeholders and service providers, promote fair competition, and expand business opportunities through increased cruise traffic. The contract also requires the concessionaire to cooperate with local communities and government authorities to integrate the cruise port into the broader tourism destination of the San Juan metropolitan area for the benefit of local businesses and Puerto Rico’s economy. Despite these commitments, the resolution alleges that since 2025 SJCP has taken actions that have displaced local businesses, particularly those involved in tourist transportation services at the cruise piers. Lawmakers say they have received information indicating that exclusivity arrangements have been granted to other companies, including foreign firms, limiting opportunities for longstanding local operators. The measure states that multiple attempts to resolve the situation have been unsuccessful and warns that the alleged changes could threaten the livelihoods of hundreds of families that depend on cruise‑related transportation services as their primary source of income. The resolution requires the committee to submit interim reports as needed and to deliver a final report containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations before the end of the current legislative session.
Article source: San Juan Daily Star | Image credit: San Juan Daily Star