By The Star Staff
Amid the celebration of Three Kings Day, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón said she will reveal new appointments for her Cabinet today, but declined to provide any names. The governor spoke to the media on Monday as she handed out gifts and interacted with the public at the traditional Fiesta de Reyes, sponsored by La Fortaleza and held at the Coca-Cola Music Hall in San Juan’s T-Mobile Convention District.
González Colón said she is currently in the process of evaluating candidates for various positions.
“I am not going to reveal names,” she said. “I have been evaluating people. I have been meeting with current staff for different things, some for advisers, others for other types of positions.”
The governor plans to appoint the majority of her administration’s positions by the beginning of the legislative session on Jan. 13. “You will see, completing the process,” she added. “You will see others on Wednesday, obviously, and we will have the largest number, if not all of them.”
Thus far, González Colón has made more than 20 nominations for key government positions. Several critical appointments are still pending, including the secretaries of the Treasury, Economic Development and Commerce, Correction and Rehabilitation, Agriculture, the Consumer Affairs, Recreation and Sports, and Natural and Environmental Resources departments.
Additional positions yet to be filled include the directors of the Police Bureau, the Bureau for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration, and the Office of the Women’s Advocate. The governor is also yet to announce a candidate for executive director of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), which is not a Cabinet position. PREPA, a government-owned utility, is responsible for providing electricity to more than 1.3 million residential and business customers in Puerto Rico.
Three Kings tradition reigns in Moca
Also on Monday, the mayor-elect of Moca, Efraín “Franco” Barreto Barreto, and his wife, Ermelinda Valentín, expressed gratitude for being able to share a beautiful morning at the Festival de Reyes La Familia y la Amistad Inc. in the Voladoras neighborhood of the northwestern town, promoting friendship and love during the festivities.
The couple also took part in the Caminata de Reyes from the Cuchillas neighborhood, encouraging the cultivation of Christmas traditions. They also attended the Velario de Reyes of the Ramos family, where music, tradition, and culture were celebrated. Barreto emphasized the importance of celebrating tradition, unity, and roots, as it fosters community sharing and strengthens the community as a whole.
Moca is well-known for its strong commitment to preserving traditions, such as the Promise of Kings, which is well-attended in neighborhoods like Naranjo and Cuchillas. The Promise of Kings, an act of faith and gratitude, brings the community together.
Barreto’s swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18. The event will begin at 5 p.m. at the Nuestra Señora de la Monserrate Parish in the urban center, followed by official acts in the public square and culminating with a celebratory community event featuring music and entertainment.