Jorge Santini, general secretary of Puerto Rico’s New Progressive Party (PNP), denied that a boycott is under way against the party’s convention scheduled for December in western Puerto Rico, saying in an interview with Normando en la Mañana that colleagues have simply given reasons they cannot attend. Among the absences he cited were vice president Johnny Méndez and Ramón Luis Rivera, both because of previously scheduled travel commitments.
Senator Carmelo Ríos will be at an event where he is to be named president of an organization of legislators, an achievement Santini said had not been reached by a Hispanic or Latino in 70 years. Santini also confirmed that San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero would not attend, nor, as he understood it, the president of the Federation of Mayors.
Despite those absences, Santini said the convention will be held as planned in Mayagüez, San Germán, Cabo Rojo and Rincón, and that the party’s base, which he called the largest in Puerto Rico, will be there. He said holding it in the west is meant to give that region prominence, unlike the tradition of holding it in the east.