Protests erupt after warehouse filled with forgotten emergency aid found in earthquake-hit Puerto Rico
- Anger grows after discovery of unused emergency supplies leftover from the devastating Hurricane Maria
- Puerto Rico’s embattled governor has already fired three officials
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the seaside governor’s mansion and Capitol building on Monday to demand the US territory’s leader resignation and to protest the recent discovery of apparently forgotten disaster supplies amid continuing earthquakes.
“We have to get rid of all the corrupt officials,” said Mari Rivera, a government employee who said that Governor Wanda Vazquez “needs to stop blaming others and show her face.”
About 600 people banged on pots and some waved Puerto Rican flags as one of them yelled into a loudhailer: “Wanda, turn over the disaster supplies!”
Evangelical preacher Ramon Marrero, who drove up from the southern coastal town of Guayama with his wife and daughters, said they came “to show our indignation, our annoyance, our rebellion”.
The scene reminded many of the beginning of protests that escalated over the summer and led to the resignation of former governor Ricardo Rossello, with demonstrators once again vowing to remain in the streets until Vazquez also steps down.
“This fight goes on no matter what!” they chanted.