The Electric Power Authority (PREPA) hired former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie as an administrative consultant, whose company will charge at a rate of $ 28,750 per month until December, confirmed the deputy executive director of the public corporation, Jaime López.
The contract between PREPA and the company Christie 55 Solutions, for the sum of $ 201,250, was signed on May 29 and expires on December 31, according to the registry of the Comptroller’s Office.
A first contract between both parties, also for administrative consulting and amounting to $ 86,250, was in force between February 13 and May 13.
In interview with The new dayLópez indicated that Christie is recognized nationally as a governor who effectively handled natural disasters, particularly the Superstorm Sandy, which wreaked havoc on New Jersey and other east coast states, in 2012.
“He was able to capture funds from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and other federal agencies. I don’t have the data (the data), but it was close to a record in terms of what it captured. It has incredible credibility in the federal spheres, because it has already gone through a process similar to the one we are going through after the natural disasters that have touched us in recent years, “said the executive deputy director of PREPA in reference to hurricanes Irma and Maria, in 2017, and the earthquake of january 7.
According to López, Christie has “incredible value” for PREPA “at this historic moment”, in which FEMA and other federal agencies would be spending billions of dollars to rebuild the electrical system.
“We want to use your credentials and history in managing those federal funds. The ‘scoop’ (scope) of the contract is focused on that support to the Authority. We had not been fortunate to have this type of resources within the Authority, beyond what our offices in Washington, the government of Puerto Rico and other resources can support us, ”he said.
Is a collection of $ 28,750 a month justified ?, he questioned The new day, to which López replied: “If you look at the value that he (Christie) has, it is incalculable. We are talking about billions of claims, of funds that could enter the Authority in the next five to 10 years, which will be the key to rebuilding the network, especially now that we do not have access to the capital markets to make the investment for our own account ”.
“I think it’s a fair value for the purpose of what he (Christie) can bring us. I don’t think it is an unreasonable cost, considering the benefit, “he stressed.
On its website, Christie 55 Solutions defines itself as a “strategic advisory and consulting services company to assist clients with their business strategies and opportunities, and with complex public policy and regulatory challenges at the state, federal and international levels. “
Christie, who is a member of the Republican Party, was the 55th Governor of New Jersey between 2010 and 2018.
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