La mordida does not exist in Puerto Rico as such at the lower
echelons of public service. You will not have to bribe a public
official in order to get that person to do his or her job. On the
contrary, many public officials would be offended at an attempt of
bribery and the opposite results may ensue.
Political parties require huge amounts of money with which to finance
their campaigns. Generous contributors to the political parties often
expect and demand special favors once their candidates are elected.
The higher echelons of government are normally filled with people
loyal to the political party in power. At those levels, political
interests may at times prevail over public interest. Strong
supervision by opposing political parties and other concerned groups
will generally provide the necessary checks and balances needed for
our democratic system to operate smoothly. In recent times, however, some cases of corruption have resulted in convictions and severe jail sentences to quite a few important politicians and prominent people on the island.
Corruption is said to have been the keynote of the 2000 political elections in Puerto Rico. El Nuevo Día, one of Puerto Rico's most influential newspapers, editorially charged incumbent Governor Pedro Rossello with permitting the most corrupt government in the last one hundred years. Several important convictions helped convey the image of corruption to the voting public. Millions of dollars in government funds, both federal and local, had been misappropriated. Many important high government executives as well as private contractors are now serving stiff prison sentences. The pro-Statehood New Progressive Party lost the race for Governor, the control of both houses of the legislature and many of the municipalities that they had controlled in past years. The Popular Democratic Party won the elections massively and decisively on an anti-corruption platform led by Sila Maria Calderón, who became the first female to be elected to the Office of Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
“Oficina del Contralor de Puerto Rico” is a special governmental unit
that audits all other units from the three branches of government
(executive, legislative and judicial). The “Contralor” is named by
the Governor with the consent of the Legislature for a
ten-year non-renewable term. Results of audits of governmental units
are published in the local media and referred, when appropriate,
to the Justice Department for action. Some convictions of major
political leaders throughout the years attest to the effective
action of this office in combating corruption. Contact them at
telephone (787) 754-3030, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Telephone (787) 250-3313 is a special “hot” line for the public to use
to report any instances of misuse of public funds.
Oficina de Etica Gubernamental is another special government
unit whose director is named by the Governor with the consent of the
Legislature for a ten-year non-renewable term. The office
investigates alleged violations to the governmental codes of ethics
by government officials. It also requires certain government
officials at the higher echelons to file annual sworn financial
information reports. The office may establish fines for some
violations to the codes of ethics and may also refer cases to the
Justice Department for action. Call them at (787) 766-4400,
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Oficina del Procurador del Ciudadano Ombudsman de Puerto Rico
is still another special governmental unit whose director is named
by the Governor with the consent of the Legislature for a
ten-year non-renewable term. The Ombudsman’s mission is to receive
and process complaints from citizens about poor service and abuses by
any governmental offices. Reach them at (787) 724-7373 during normal
working hours, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
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