Puerto Rico

Hispanic, Afro Caribbean and North American influences meld in Puerto Rico, a self-governing Commonwealth, which belongs to the United States.

The subtropical Caribbean area is urbanized, industrialized and relatively prosperous.

The United States attack and occupied Puerto Rico during the Spanish American war of 1898, rule from Spain ends centuries. The United States saw the island as a strategic value and ran it as a colonial protectorate.

Spanish built defenses survey the ocean in old San Juan

Under American rule, Puerto Rico saw growth and development. But nationalist sentiment spread sometimes in violence, in particular in the 1930s and 1940s. Nationalists staged an armed attack in the US Congress in 1954.

The blame on a pro-independence group, the Mac heteros or sugar cane cutters were a series of bombings and killings in the 1970s and 1980s. Fugitive leader of the Group was killed in 2005 by federal officials.

Tend to parties favor Puerto Rican voters who choose a Governor of the island, supporting the Union with the United States. Puerto Rican figures not U.S. income tax and the island receives federal funds.

There is an established cycle of migration between Puerto Rico and the United States; Hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have lived and worked in New York and other cities.

The once significant US military presence has with the locks was reduced to a major naval base and a bombing. Resentment over the latter grew after a civilian staff member was killed by a stray bomb.

Explorer Christopher Columbus claimed Puerto Rico for Spain in 1493, heralds an influx of Spanish settlers. Territorial Taino Indian population decimated the newcomers and the diseases that they brought with them.

The largest settlement, San Juan, was an important Spanish outpost. Slaves were brought in the 16th and 17th century on the island.

Puerto Rico's landscape is varied and includes rainforests in the North-East. The area is vulnerable to hurricanes.

Tourism is an important money earner; the island receives up to two million visitors each year and is a port of call for cruise liners.

Area: Puerto Rico status: self-governing territory belong to the United Statesfull name: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico population: 3.9 million (via UN, 2006) capital: San Juan area: 8,959 km2 (3,459 sq km) major languages: Spanish, English (both official) major religion: Christianity life expectancy: 71 years (men) 80 years (women) currency unit: $ Most important exports: chemicals, machinery, food GNI per capita: $10.950 (World Bank, 2001) Internet domain: puertorikanische international dialling code: + 1787

Head of State: President Barack Obama

Governor: Luis Guillermo Fortuno

Luis Fortuno of the new progressive party began his tenure in January 2009, and is the ninth Governor of Puerto Rico. His party, which favours full integration of Puerto Rico as the 51st US State, won the November 2008 elections in Puerto Rico's Legislative Assembly.

His successor was Anibal Acevedo Vila of the popular party, from 2004 until 2008th Mr. Acevedo Vila had initially favored Puerto Rico's Commonwealth status persisted, but later decide on the United States to his own future can be called.

Puerto Ricans choose their Governor for a term of four years. A Senate and the House of representatives is the Constitution, modelled on the United States. But supported by a referendum in 2005 the idea of the body by a legislative one House to replace.

Inhabitants of Puerto Rico are not in the US presidential election. But choose non-voting delegate to Congress.

Mr Fortuno of a comprehensive program of public spending cuts has started since he took office. In May 2009, tens of thousands of workers marched through the streets of San Juan in protest against possible large layoffs.

Broadcasting is regulated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Staple fare on local TV stations are home-grown comedy, talk shows and Spanish soaps. The multichannel offerings from cable TV are widely available.

Music among the most popular formats, radio news and talk and Spanish pop.

The press

Watch TV

Radio

View the original article here