Nilsa Aviles testifies on water and electricity

Good afternoon.

My name is Nilsa Aviles, co-founder of Ignite and Rise.

I am a blessed, I'm blessed because I'm Puerto Rican.

I am firmly against Essencia and all projects that aren't for the people of Puerto Rico.

Before we talk about building massive development,

that will require enormous resources, why don't we take care of the people who are already living there?

There are communities that continue to struggle with unreliable water and electricity that is unreliable for years.

That inconsistency and uncertainty affects people's lives and their mental health.

I want to speak about my aunt that lives in Puerto Rico.

Because of the inconsistent light and the inconsistent water, she's been suffering from anxiety, from depression, and this is not...

Something that she used to suffer with.

It's just now that she's just always like nervous about, oh, you know, the water, oh, the electricity.

And I think this is a mind game that they're playing with the Puerto Rican people.

They're trying to break us down little by little, but we're made from strong stuff.

Water is not a luxury.

Water is life.

I believe our people should have reliable water consistently for more than two or three years before they even consider

a project of that magnitude.

And this is bigger than just water.

Puerto Ricans have been fighting to protect our land for generations.

Today we are still saying this is our land, these are our beaches, these are our mountains, these are our rivers, these are our wetlands, these are our

oceans, our turtles, manatees, and communities.

Progress should not come.

Thank you.

Progress should not come to the expense of the Puerto Rican people who already live there.

Before you approve a billion-dollar project, make sure the people of Puerto Rico have reliable electricity and water.

Protect our lands.

Esencia no va.

Que viva Puerto Rico.