This news disturbs me on several levels. First, I don't think our non-voting Delegate to Congress has enough clout to make a difference, although I hope she gets some attention on this. Is there anything that we mere mortals can do?
Secondly, Puerto Rico depends much less on the U.S. mail than do we as it is on regular UPS/FedEx/DHL routes and, being within the customs zone of the U.S., it is not considered a foreign destination by these carriers. We are. Only the U.S. mail comes through without international restrictions. We live and die by the U.S. mail; Puerto Rico does not, although I'll bet that the incremental cost to deliver one letter to Puerto Rico is greater than to the U.S.V.I. (who has all the carrier routes and who has all the P.O, Boxes? You do the math).
Thirdly, Puerto Rico gets enough chances to rifle through our parcels without sending everything over there. An awful lot of our mail seems to disappear in Puerto Rico unless it is insured or has a delivery confirmation tracking number. I would hate the thought that all our mail becomes subject to such an increased risk of loss and pilferage.
John Fuller
St. John
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