An investigation by the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico has revealed that nearly 1,000 more people died in the 40-day period after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico compared to that same time period last year. These findings sharply contradict the September 20 storm’s official death toll of 62. Meanwhile, nearly 90 percent of schools have reopened across the island, following protests and political pressure from parents. But parents whose children attend the schools that still remain closed are concerned they may never be reopened and that the storm may be used to further privatize education.
Kelvin Coffie: “My name is Kelvin Coffie. I’m a father of a child with autism. And we are here right now at the Department of Public Education of Puerto Rico to see if we can resolve the issue with the school that my kid goes, that has been closed. And right now, we don’t have an answer why it has been closed, even though it didn’t have any structural damage.”