Failed services lead to uncertainty in the near future

 

The privatization of energy services has plunged the country into an unprecedented crisis. Frequent power outages now affect thousands of citizens daily. Despite the investments sought to improve the electrical grid, it only takes a storm or a gust of wind for the system to collapse. These blackouts not only disrupt electricity but also paralyze the distribution of drinking water, severely jeopardizing public health. Both problems are deteriorating the physical and mental well-being of the population, while also driving up operational costs for businesses, which face higher expenses just to stay afloat.

Another alarming issue is the deteriorating sewer systems, which are not receiving proper maintenance. This leads to flooding, even with light rainfall, as the drainage system isn’t equipped to handle even an inch of water. To make matters worse, many rural roads are in deplorable condition, eroded to the point that entire communities are cut off, leaving them without access to essential services.

The healthcare system is also in crisis. Hospitals and medical centers are unsanitary, while insurance companies continue to profit at the expense of patients, who suffer the consequences of a system seemingly designed to lead to unnecessary and premature deaths. Education, too, is in one of its worst moments in history. Academic performance is far below the national average, and schools are in a sorry state, with underpaid teachers and a lack of resources, especially for students with special needs.

Insecurity is another critical issue that remains unchecked. Violent crime and murders are a daily reality, and authorities seem incapable of providing effective solutions. Regarding public debt, the situation is grim. Not only is the debt unpayable, but leaders have proposed mortgaging government funds for the next forty years, fully aware that the debt will only increase with time.

An additional problem worsening the island’s crisis is the housing market. The boom in short-term rentals has drastically driven up property values, making it nearly impossible for locals to purchase a home. This has created a significant barrier for Puerto Rican families seeking stability, as housing prices have risen to unsustainable levels. While short-term rentals may seem beneficial in the short run, they contribute very little to the local economy compared to long-term home ownership. As a result, access to decent housing has become increasingly limited, exacerbating the island’s already complex economic and social crisis.

Despite this grim reality, the same political leaders who brought the country to this state continue asking for more time in power. In their desperation to remain in office, they resort to questionable tactics, including seeking votes from the absent, the deceased, or the missing. Moreover, many of these officials have enriched themselves through their positions, as long as federal authorities haven’t intervened. We serve the government when it should be the other way around.

Faced with this bleak outlook, a growing number of citizens are considering emigrating to countries like the United States, the Dominican Republic, or Spain, in search of better living conditions and stability. Most of those planning to leave are young people with families who can no longer bear the heavy tax burden imposed by the government. Additionally, the sharp decline in birth rates foreshadows a future where an aging population, without a solid workforce base, will become a significant burden on the government, further threatening the country’s economic sustainability.

Continuing with the same leadership will only lead to the same results. If we don’t take drastic action now, the future will be marked by more corruption, inefficiency, and a system incapable of providing a decent life for its citizens. A deep change is essential to break this cycle and prevent further deterioration of our living conditions.

*The author is a pediatric surgeon and writer.