by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
This year’s Puerto Rico Summit II hosted by the Jacksonville Port Authority at the World Golf Village featured a bigger crowd than last year and a sense of urgency.
Port Authority Communications Director Robert Peek said about 250 people attended the two-day meeting. Many were on hand to determine ways to help alleviate Puerto Rico’s declining economy, something that is directly attributable to a tax break that is about to end.
“We are here to talk about a tax incentive issue,” said Peek. “For about the past 75 years, Puerto has lost 25 percent of its manufacturing jobs. They have left for other countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Ireland.”
Peek said it’s important for American companies, shippers and ports to work together to find ways to keep Puerto Rico as a viable distribution point.
“It’s important to keep some of those profits coming back to the United States to keep those outside dollars from leaving the U.S. system,” said Peek. “The best solution is to lobby the federal government. We need to do something to encourage U.S. business in Puerto Rico. There are a variety of ways that can have a negative impact on our port and the Jacksonville economy. Our concern is the ripple effect it will have on the local economy.”
Peek said he originally expected about 275 to attend the economic trade summit but Hurricane Wilma closed South Florida airports earlier this week and made it impossible for some from Puerto Rico to make the meeting.