Puerto Rico in Distress

ABI Analysis

Puerto Rico said that it made all principal and interest payments due yesterday, averting a default on directly guaranteed bonds and allowing the commonwealth to continue talks with creditors to reduce its $70 billion debt burden, Bloomberg News reported yesterday.

Puerto Rico faces a moment of truth today, as the island owes a $355 million payment — a possible default which could trigger lawsuits, further spook investors and undermine the island's efforts to climb out of $72 billion in debt, Reuters reported today. The payment on bonds issued by the U.S.

If anything stands as a symbol of how Puerto Rico ended up mired in billions of dollars of debt, it is an oceanside golf resort going to seed some 15 miles east of San Juan, the New York Times DealBook reported today.

Congress has scheduled yet another hearing on the debt crisis slowly destroying the lives of millions of American citizens living in Puerto Rico. If this results in prompt legislative action, we should applaud the exercise of strong, even if belated, leadership, according to a commentary by Prof. John Pottow in The Hill yesterday.

Other Resources

The Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act of 2016. The Board consists of seven members appointed by the President of the United States and one ex officio member designated by the Governor of Puerto Rico. Access information on the Board, documents, videos of meetings, calendar of events and live webcasts by clicking here.