I filled in today for our Education Team.

Within 5 minutes, a girl asked.."Can I hold your hand?" Of course I said yes!

"My Mom says that it (the Dominican Republic) is not a place to raise a girl" And "My Father was deported." Her plan is to visit her Dad again when she is 13.

Another..."My house got hit by the hurricane in Puerto Rico." and expressed her excitement (and gave the exact date) when she will return home. (The teacher in attendance told me of the trauma and advancement this child had made.)

These are 3rd and 4th graders...

I am humbled.

Wow.

Privately, we can make charitable contributions (be it time or money) and that would be kind and noble.

Systematically, what can we do?

1. Dole out more federal/foreign aids
2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (reduce hurricanes and similar weather related disasters over time)
3. Reduce demand for narcotics (reduce the influence of drug gangs)

When it comes to trade and investment, Puerto Rico is already a US territory and the Dominican Republic is already part of the Central America Free Trade Agreement. Are there still more trade/investment impediments to be removed or more trade/investment incentives to be added?

Are there other “macro” actions to consider?