Puerto Rico Morning Brief Thursday, November 5, 2026

Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives unanimously approved a joint resolution seeking to begin canceling two New Fortress Energy contracts, citing alleged failures to supply natural gas. Representative José Aponte Hernández filed the measure, which covers the fuel supply contract and the agreement giving the company exclusive control of docks in San Juan Bay. Governor Jenniffer González has insisted her priority is guaranteeing fuel and activating legal mechanisms to allow other suppliers to enter. She says the contracts can be canceled only through a court process.

Two KFC restaurants and a Taco Bell in Barceloneta closed indefinitely, and the IHOP in the Outlets area cut its operating hours to run from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The closures of chains including KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, and the uncertainty around IHOP, are a hard blow for thousands of families and local economies in several Puerto Rico towns. Resident Irada Vázquez Centeno called it a big loss, noting that many people who must pay for their home and car are left without jobs, which she said is especially sad during the Christmas season. The Barceloneta IHOP has 25 employees, and staff confirmed off camera that sales fell after the closures were announced.

Fast-food chains are hiring in Puerto Rico after the closure of KFC and Taco Bell restaurants and the suspension of operations at several Pizza Hut locations. Burger King says it seeks to fill more than 500 positions and will hold job fairs in several towns through November 13. McDonald’s takes applications through the "Trabaja con nosotros" (Work with us) section of its website.

Puerto Rico’s Department of Economic Development and Commerce reported a slight economic improvement in August in its latest Economic Activity Index, while some economists warn a recession is imminent or may already be underway. The index reached 128.6 points in August 2026, up 0.8% from July and only 0.1% above August 2025. It stood 0.5% below the January-August 2025 level.

Vega Alta Mayor María M. Vega Pagán on Wednesday, November 4, denounced what she called apparent negligence, apathy and indifference by the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) over a drinking water outage in the Mavilla sector. Eight days in, families there were still without water, and the AAA had offered no solution, clear explanation or action plan, she said. "This is abuse!" the mayor said.

Eddie Charbonier Chinea, chair of the House Treasury Committee, proposed using leftover funds from the 2026 Tax Relief program, created through Joint Resolution 6-2026, to pay for measures that cut the cost of living for Puerto Rican families. The measures include a temporary elimination of the excise tax known as the "Crudita" and a temporary suspension of the sales and use tax (IVU) on certain items. Charbonier said families face significant economic pressure from sustained increases in the cost of food, fuel, medicine and other basic goods.