Puerto Rico Country & Tourist Information

Location
Caribbean.

Area
8959 sq km (3459 sq miles).

Population
3.91 million (official estimate 2005).

Population Density
437.1 per sq km.

Capital
San Juan.
Population: 442,447 (2004).

Government
Self-governing US Commonwealth Territory (incorporated). Gained internal autonomy in 1951.
Recent history: In December 1998, the third referendum in 30 years was held on the issue of whether voters wished Puerto Rico to become the 51st state of the USA, become independent, enter a compact of Free Association (similar to that which operates in a number of Pacific micro-territories) or retain the status quo. By a narrow majority, they voted for the status quo. There is still a strong lobby for full independence for Puerto Rico, and the issue remains a sensitive issue on the island: its advocates received a boost in 2003 when the US military ended its use of the island of Vieques for military exercises after 60 years.
Executive power is held by the Governor, who is elected by universal adult suffrage for a four-year term, assisted by a 15-member Cabinet staffed by appointees. A bicameral Assembly, a scaled-down version of the US Congress, is responsible for legislation. The House of Representatives has 54 members; the Senate has 28.
Puerto Rico has a representative in the US House of Representatives; the inhabitants of the island are US citizens, but they may not vote in Presidential elections. The latest election for Governor, held in November 2000, was a three-way fight between PNP candidate Carlos Pesquera, Sila Maria Calderón of the PPD and Ruben Berrios Martine of the small Partido Independentista. Calderon won with just under half the total poll. Elections to the Senate and the House of Representatives on the same day gave the PPD a small majority in both houses. At the end of 2004, Calderón was opposed by Anibal Acevedo Vila. After two months of wrangling and recounts, the leader of the pro-Commonwealth Popular Democratic Party was confirmed as the new Head of Government.

Language
Spanish and English are the official languages.

Religion
Roman Catholic 85 per cent; the remainder are other Christian denominations and Jews.

Time
GMT - 4.

Electricity
110 volts AC, 60Hz.

Head of Government
Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila since 2004.

Head of State
President George W Bush since 2001.

Telephone
IDD service is available. Country code: 1787.

Mobile Telephone
CDMA/TDMA networks exist that are not compatible with GSM handsets (although there are plans to introduce the network soon).

Internet
Internet is available in limited areas; access can be found in hotels and business centers.

Media
Broadcasting is regulated by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).


Post
Puerto Rico post is part of the US postal system. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week.

Press
The English-language newspaper published in Puerto Rico is The San Juan Star; others include El Nuevo Día, El Vocero de Puerto Rico and Primera Hora.

Radio
WIAC Radio Puerto Rico is a commercial station (news and talk), as is WPRM Cadena Salsoul (salsa and tropical music). WIPR Radio 940 is a public radio station.

Below are Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
11 Jan Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos.
15 Jan Martin Luther King Day.
12 Feb President’s Day.
22 Mar Emancipation of the Slaves.
6 Apr Good Friday.
16 Apr José de Diego Day.
23 May Memorial Day.
4 Jul US Independence Day.
15 Jul Luis Muñoz Rivera’s Birthday.
25 Jul Constitution Day.
26 Jul José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday.
4 Sep Labor Day.
9 Oct Columbus Day.
11 Nov Veterans’ Day.
19 Nov Discovery of Puerto Rico Day.
23 Nov Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
6 Jan Epiphany.
11 Jan Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos.
15 Jan Martin Luther King Day.
12 Feb President’s Day.
22 Mar Emancipation of the Slaves. 
21 Mar Good Friday.
16 Apr José de Diego Day.
23 May Memorial Day.
4 Jul US Independence Day.
15 Jul Luis Muñoz Rivera’s Birthday.
25 Jul Constitution Day.
26 Jul José Celso Barbosa’s Birthday.
4 Sep Labor Day.
9 Oct Columbus Day.
11 Nov Veterans’ Day.
19 Nov Discovery of Puerto Rico Day.
23 Nov Thanksgiving Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
Each town celebrates a festival or fiesta in honor of a local patron saint. These can last up to 10 days.

Contact Information:

Diplomatic Representation
As an estado libre asociado (a ’commonwealth state’) of the USA, Puerto Rico manages its own affairs, but is represented abroad by US Embassies and Consulates. Addresses of these and of US Tourist Offices may be found in the United States of America section.

Puerto Rico Tourism Company in the UK
67a High Street, 2nd Floor, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey KT12 1 DJ, UK
Tel: (01932) 253 302.
Website: www.gotopuertorico.com

Caribbean Tourism Organization in the UK
22 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1BP, UK
Tel: (020) 8948 0057.
Website: www.doitcaribbean.com

Puerto Rico Tourism Company in the USA
666 Fifth Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10103, USA
Tel: (212) 586 6262 or 1 800 223 6530 or 866 7827.
Website: www.gotopuertorico.com


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