SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) 鈥� The head of 鈥檚 key economic development agency announced his resignation on Tuesday as he criticized , accusing it of interfering in the department’s work.
The departure of Sebasti谩n Negr贸n Reichard from the powerful Department of Economic Development and Commerce comes at a critical moment for Puerto Rico as it seeks to .
Negr贸n Reichard noted in his statement that more than 10 officials with leadership roles at the agency 鈥� including its chief of staff, general counsel and the finance chief 鈥� also stepped down following what he called interventions by the government. He said those include reversing two summary suspensions that Negr贸n Reichard had issued after an investigation found improper interventions in the agency鈥檚 procurement activities.
The government’s actions “made it impossible to continue performing the duties of the position with the integrity and autonomy that the role requires and that every secretary owes to the public,鈥� Negr贸n Reichard said.
He added that those actions also left 鈥渦nprotected the staff who reported alleged irregularities in internal processes.鈥� Negr贸n Reichard said he would not comment further, pending legal actions.
Gov. Gonz谩lez expressed disappointment after reporters questioned her about the resignation and brushed off questions about alleged interference.
鈥淚鈥檓 disappointed because I think he was a great agency secretary,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e accomplished a lot and worked hard.鈥�
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico Senate President Thom谩s Rivera Schatz, who has recently been at odds with Gonz谩lez, though they are from the same , called the resignation 鈥渆xtremely regrettable.鈥�
鈥淚 hope that those responsible for evaluating and understanding the scope of these circumstances will do so and take the corrective actions they need to take, which I鈥檝e been warning them about for quite some time,” Rivera Schatz said.
“If they don鈥檛, well, I鈥檒l be talking to these people, and if they bring evidence to me that shows something is wrong, I鈥檒l go after them,鈥� he added.
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