US Territories’ November 18-24, 2019 news week in tweets
Infrastructure in Puerto Rico Remains a Pressing Issue
"I'm on my way to a Dr., for an emergency operation. This is how the system treats us in Puerto Rico. Both parties, equally irresponsible, stealing from what people pay in taxes…Abusers!" Man clears roadway himself in Utuado 2yrs after Maria destroyed it pic.twitter.com/PNErvB8LWc
— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) November 22, 2019
A Puerto Rican man, on the way to the hospital, has to clear a roadway himself two years after Hurricane Maria destroyed it in Utuado.
Banner Reads “Cancel Puerto Rico Debt” at Harvard-Yale Football Game Protest
One of my colleagues, who’s at the #HarvardYale game, snapped this pic of a student protest during halftime. Look closely and you’ll see “Cancel Puerto Rico Debt” written in one of the banners. Hopefully, more folks in privileged circles become aware of what’s up in #PuertoRico. pic.twitter.com/xSMGPhkJzp
— deepak lamba-nieves (@deepakln) November 23, 2019
Before the start of the Harvard-Yale football game a group of protestors stormed the field. Many of the banners were related to climate change, but one reads “Cancel Puerto Rico Debt.” The protestor’s tactics have drawn the praise of some and the ire of others on social media.
St. Croix to Get its First Bike Path
https://twitter.com/oconnorshane/status/1198283848590733312
St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands, to get its first bike path. The bike path was made possible through the AARP Community Challenge and VI Trail Alliance and Partners.
US Territories to be $1 Billion Short in Medicaid Funding
There's a health care crisis unfolding in the U.S. territories.
It's called the "Medicaid cliff."
Puerto Rico, Guam, and the other islands say they'll be $1 billion short next year.
They'll need to make drastic cuts to Medicaid unless Congress acts.👇https://t.co/OYXRh1NQhz
— Selena Simmons-Duffin (@selenasd) November 20, 2019
The federal money to fully fund the medicaid programs in the US Territories of Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands is about to run out. Without an act of Congress the territories will have to slash their medicaid budgets. Leaving many people without access to the healthcare they need.
Two Suspected Measles Cases in American Samoa
MEASLES UPDATE: Two suspected cases in American Samoa | American Samoa | Samoa News https://t.co/rEBJ3verz8
— Kat LaRue (@KatLaRue7) November 22, 2019
There are now two suspected measles cases in American Samoa. As a measles epidemic hits Samoa hard American Samoa has taken measures to prevent a similar outbreak.
The Northern Mariana Islands Moves Towards Full Soccer Status
Northern Mariana Islands moves toward full soccer status https://t.co/uMaV8jL8dh
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) November 20, 2019
The American territory of Northern Mariana Islands has made a key step toward joining FIFA by being recommended for membership in the Asian soccer confederation. If successful they would become the 47th full Asian member and be granted rights to vote at the soccer body’s annual congress and receive development money.
