Above: Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuño has inaugurated the island’s new Pitirre Rehabilitation Centre, part of an initiative aimed at combating drug addiction in the territory.

The $2 million plan, which is a partnership between Puerto Rico’s Department of Health and the nonprofit Community Initiative, focuses on addressing the drug problem in an integrated manner.

“We recognize that the drug problem contributes to social ills and affects public safety,” Fortuño said. “The simply reality is that drug addiction affects not only the individual, but also their relatives and community.”

“It’s times like these, when a relative or member of our community falls victim to drugs, that we really try,” he said. “But we will not falter in our fight. Here in Pitirre we will not give up.”

PITIRRE, which means “kingbird,” is part of 13 programmes that comprise the Community Inititaive.

“Kingbird, the little bird that is a small inhabitant of immense flora and is not intimidated by the size of its challenges, is the metaphor of a programme that has greatness and transcendence not from its size but by the challenge it undertakes,” said Dr Vargas Vidot, founder and programme director.

Fortuño said the new centre was part of an integrated plan by the government to fight drug addiction.