Wednesday, June 12-18, 2019 - // no. 007
Puerto Rico and the Caribbean
www.theweeklyjournal.com
LEISURE & HOSPITALITY JOBS ON THE RISE P14 GIG ECONOMY SOARING IN PUERTO RICO P8 HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE P26
DOES INSURANCE
REALLY INSURE? A year and nine months after Hurricane Maria, thousands are still fighting over millions of dollars’ worth of claims
A Cynthia López
LA LOÍZA: AN ICONIC STREET WITH GROWING POTENTIAL P18
clopez@wjournal.com
@cynthia_lope
lmost at the end of Ashford Avenue in Condado, an affluent beachfront neighborhood in San Juan, a big banner explaining the ragged appearance of the property greets residents and pedestrians walking by the Ashford Plaza. “Dear Residents, the insurance company Triple S does not respond to our claims for the damages of Hurricane Maria. We request your patience as we begin repairs of
elevators, roofs, lobby, electric sub-station, etc.”, reads in Spanish the sign on the condominium´s main entrance. They are not alone. One year and nine months after the Category 4 storm pummeled Puerto Rico, crippling the island’s power grid and communication networks, thousands of Puerto Ricans are still fighting insurance companies over millions of dollars’ worth of claims; amongst them are condominiums, hospitals, municipalities, and public housing projects. Up to now, insurance companies have paid