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Problems & Solutions. Tourism pumps $120 million a year into Puerto Rico's economy and is the fourth-ranking industry. Yet the luxury hotels on San Juan's beach front, towering not far from the fetid slum of La Perla, symbolize the island's problems. With 2,600,000 inhabitants (686 persons per sq. mi.), Puerto Rico is one of the world's most densely populated countries. Merely to keep up with the increase in population will require a giant jump in job openings—some 200,000 more in ten years—and Governor Sanchez has made employment the core of his 85-point program. He envisages a heavy-industry zone on the undeveloped southeast coast, with the Phillips complex as its nucleus. For the western region, he wants a scientific center to redress Puerto Rico's lack of research facilities. He also plans a modernized fishing industry to compete in rich home waters now exploited primarily by the Japanese.
Sánchez proposes a public corporation to raise investment capital at home. He aims to check inflationary land speculation, carry on large-scale road-construction projects, build new schools and hospitals, double teacher training, reform the fragmented housing program and—to help pay for it all—boost taxes. The only conspicuous initiative absent from his 85 points is an attempt to start a meaningful birth-control campaign, the one sure solution to the island's spiraling population.
"Illustrious Conscience." Sánchez Vilella does not propose to change the island's unique and somewhat vague relationship with the U.S. as a "free associated state." Although there is still some academic discussion over the alternative of full statehood or independence, Puerto Ricans are understandably wedded to the economic benefits of their present status, most notably exemption from federal income tax. Many feel, nonetheless, that this relationship tends to perpetuate the island's role as a passive dependency of the U.S.
Munoz used to thunder at the jibaros (peasants): "Be strong, have faith!"—and that sufficed. Sánchez, whom Munoz once called a "man of illustrious conscience," demands their participation in government, tirelessly urges Puerto Ricans to send their advice, criticisms and suggestions to La Fortaleza, the Governor's stately white mansion in Old San Juan. "We cannot maintain even for one more year the collective indifference toward the daily task of government," he pleads. "Let this be the year of the people's expression."