Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón, who also presides over the New Progressive Party (PNP), played down announced absences by party leaders at the convention to be held December 4 to 6 in western Puerto Rico, saying the reorganization schedule will go ahead. "Whoever doesn’t want to go, let them not go, but the party is going to keep running, I’m going to keep reorganizing," she said.
She explained that the PNP’s rules require its women’s, youth and public servants’ organizations to hold assemblies before the end of December. The activities will be spread across Lajas, Moca, Aguada, Cabo Rojo, Aguadilla, Isabela, Añasco, Mayagüez and Rincón. Conventions are usually held in San Juan, she said, but she believes in strengthening the west, and the PNP will hold this one there.
The response to the call has required adding three hotels in the western zone because the originally chosen hotels filled up. Asked whether absences would affect the event, she said no, "because none of them is going to run for the presidency of the women, youth or public servants" groups. She said she understands that San Juan senators will not travel west and expects leaders and mayors from the west to attend.
On the party’s vice presidencies, she said the reorganization process starts this semester, but the assembly will be held next semester.