Puerto Rico: Demonstrators to protest against LUMA on Expreso Las Americas in San Juan Oct. 15

Event

Demonstrators will hold a protest denouncing LUMA Energy on the Expreso Las Americas highway in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 17:00 Oct. 15. Participants, who have termed the event "All Puerto Rico against LUMA," will gather on the highway outside the Plaza Las Americas mall in what will likely result in a partial or total blockage of the route - one of the territory's busiest.

Localized transport disruptions are likely along the highway, potentially in both directions. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces are possible, particularly if security personnel move to forcibly disperse protesters to restore traffic flows.

Context

Protest organizers have called for the demonstration to denounce both electricity rate increases and intermittent power outages that have continued to affect Puerto Rico this year. These issues have notably persisted following the partial privatization of the territory's electric grid in June, in which LUMA Energy took over distribution and transmission responsibilities. The power outages have attracted the attention of both the Puerto Rican and US congresses, which have begun to hold hearings into LUMA's management of grid; many on the island have called for a complete reversal of the privatization.

Advice

Avoid the planned demonstration. Consider taking alternative routes to circumvent the vicinity of the Oct. 15 protest. Heed directives from local authorities.