A former LUMA Energy executive has sued the company in federal court, alleging he was fired for refusing to tolerate what he calls "politiquería" (political maneuvering) by the Partido Nuevo Progresista (PNP) and because he is Black, Dominican and 51 years old. The plaintiff, identified as Ángel Silverio Linares, joined LUMA in 2021 as fleet director and in 2023 became vice president of Operational Excellence.
According to the complaint, one of his main assignments was to standardize procedures and eradicate a "culture of improper politicization" that the company apparently inherited from the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (AEE). The lawsuit says Silverio Linares was replaced by current LUMA vice president Alejandro González Laboy, who, per the legal document, "is white, Puerto Rican, younger and a PNP activist, although he has less administrative experience."
The complaint states that, precisely because of his "apolitical and straightforward approach," the plaintiff faced constant friction with officials openly identified with the PNP, NotiCel reported. Silverio Linares seeks no less than $2 million in lost wages and damages, plus reinstatement to his position.