Group: Keep politics out of business

The Private Sector Coalition spoke out on the issue as the New Progressive Party and the Popular Democratic Party spar in the press over the Fortuño administration’s plan to privatize Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.

“We should unite in consensus to seek solutions to pull the island out of its economic crisis,” the Private Sector Coalition said.

“Over the years we have come out against elements that threaten the island’s investment climate and politicize initiatives that lead to the creation of permanent jobs,” the business group said. “The foundation for the development of investment is trust.”

The Private Sector Coalition’s call came amid a flap over letters sent by Popular Democratic Party Reps. Jaime Perelló and Roberto Rivera this week to the top executives of the two consortiums vying to land the airport public-private partnership (PPP) contract warning them that they would face a legislative investigation. The lawmakers told Ferrovial S.A. and Aeropuertos del Sureste (ASUR) that the Fortuño administration has kept the Legislature in the dark about its plan to put the Caribbean’s busiest airport under a PPP. They also reminded the business executives that it is an election year, noting that there could be a change in administration after the November vote.

The PDP lawmakers also raised questions about a fundraiser for Fortuño held in the offices of a law firm that represents a company in one of the consortiums.

“Decisions like this, as well as those made in back rooms, put the island’s economic stability at risk, creating an uncertain environment for investors,” Private Sector Coalition spokesman Francisco Rodríguez Castro said. “The coalition rejects actions such as this because Puerto Rico can’t tolerate a lack of transparency and actions that undermine the island’s credibility.”