Puerto Rico legislators press Agriculture to reopen Arroyo’s closed fishermen facility, seek ramp and site visit

The House of Representatives’ Southern Region commission held a public hearing on the prolonged closure of Arroyo’s fishermen facility — the Villa Pesquera (also called Casa del Pescador) — and pressed the Department of Agriculture to explain why the building and site remain unused while the municipality has continued to pay utilities and maintenance.

Mayor Erick Bachel Román told the commission the hearing “nace de la resolución 103” and that the case arises from a petition by Arroyo fishermen asking for the facility and ramp to be returned to service. He said the structure and the parcel were transferred to the Department of Agriculture, but that the Municipality of Arroyo has borne water, electric and maintenance costs while the building remained closed for about a decade.

The hearing focused on who is responsible for reopening the site and building a usable ramp. Commission members and local fishing-association leaders said the facility has been closed for…