In Puerto Rico, Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos proposed suspending state taxes on diesel fuel to alleviate the cost of this fuel amid rising gasoline prices, exacerbated by the conflict between Iran and the United States. Ríos stated that diesel is not a luxury, but a necessity for economic development, and suspending the tax for transporters would not alter tariffs and would lower costs.
He mentioned that he would be sending a letter to the Department of Hacienda, where he has already presented his proposal, although the agency is reportedly reluctant to implement the measure. Ríos criticized New Fortress, a company that had lied, and mentioned a controversy involving a subsidiary of the company, New Fortress Energy, which had used a tanker ship that was not suitable for the New Fortress dock, leading to a dispute that reached the Federal Court. The senator argued that removing the tax could affect Hacienda’s revenue and budget.