San Juan, Puerto Rico — On Wednesday, Puerto Rico’s government was forced to cancel ferry trips between the two in protest of the rate increase American zone and the small island of Vieques which is popular with tourists.
The protests come as Puerto Rico reports a surge in visitors this month, with many locals and tourists traditionally visiting nearby islands during Holy Week.
Police said in a statement that about 12 trucks were blocking the boat terminal Viex.
For decades a one-way ferry trip to the island cost $2, but officials recently raised it to $11.25 for anyone not living on Vieques, causing an uproar. The government also increased ferry travel to the smaller neighboring island of Culebra from $2.25 to $11.25.
Raising the rates was delayed until May, but activists have vowed to keep fighting them and are demanding that business owners and Puerto Ricans in general be exempted.
