The past couple of years have been especially difficult for Puerto Rico. Caught in a decade-long recession, the island has been buffeted by multiple shocks, particularly Hurricane Maria in 2017. To be sure, efforts to rebuild Puerto Rico have made some progress and the island’s resilient population continues to strive for a better future. But profound challenges–many the product of the island’s serious and complicated economic situation–remain.

What is Puerto Rico’s outlook in 2019? What measures is the local government pursuing to get the island’s economy and energy infrastructure on the right track? What else can and should be done? How can the federal government most effectively assist and support the island?

The Inter-American Dialogue is pleased to welcome the Secretary of State of Puerto Rico, Luis G. Rivera-Marín, for an open exchange on the island government’s recent efforts to address the island’s economic issues, and other moves made by governor Rosselló’s administration to promote a better, more prosperous future for the people of Puerto Rico.

The discussion will be followed by a moderated panel of experts to further explore the current situation and the key issues and policy choices confronting the island.

Follow this event on Twitter at #PuertoRico2019 and @The_Dialogue.

FEATURED SPEAKER

LUIS RIVERA MARÍN

Secretary of State, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (@LuisRiveraMarin)

PANELISTS

RICHARD CAMPBELL

Specialist in Energy Policy, Congressional Research Service

ROSANNA TORRES

Director, Washington Office, Center for a New Economy

BRAD SETSER

Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations (@Brad_Setser)

MODERATOR

MICHAEL SHIFTER

President, Inter-American Dialogue (@MichaelShifter)