'Disaster Capitalism': Puerto Rico Mulls Utility Privatization

By Shihab Rattansi, Al Jazeera

24 February 18

Governor Ricardo Rosello wants to privatise Puerto Rico's electricity company and schools in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, but Puerto Ricans worry that privatisation in the wake of disasters is a troublesome model.

uerto Rico's governor Ricardo Rosello has been visiting the US mainland, looking for financial support for the island battered by hurricanes last year.

Rosello is pushing for the privatisation of public sector businesses in Puerto Rico, but many are sceptical that it will help.

The track record of privatisation in the wake of disasters spotty and Puerto Rico's history with utility privatisation has many fearing it will be big businesses, not the residents, that benefit from rebuilding.

Al Jazeera's Shihab Rattansi reports.