Eleventh decade 1993 – 2003

Puerto Rico

  • On September 11, 2011, four terrorist events against the United States caused the death of 3,016 people, and injuries to over 6,000 others. The events were at the Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.
  • In 1996, Congress eliminated fiscal incentives and derogated the Section 936, with a clause that extended the incentives for ten years to companies that had been established in Puerto Rico under the 936.
  • Governor Pedro J. Roselló declared both Spanish and English its official languages.
  • In 1998, the government sold the Puerto Rico Telephone Company (PRTC), and this sale generated protests and unrest on the island.
  • On 21 September 1998, category 4 Hurricane Georges slammed into the island, causing widespread destruction and leaving most residents in a total blackout.
  • The XVII Central American and Caribbean games were celebrated on the island.
  • Pedro Rosselló was reelected to a second mandate in 1996.
  • In 1999, the civilian David Sanes Rodríguez was killed during military exercises in Vieques. This prompted a wave of protests and the occupation of Navy land by protestors.
  • In 2000, Sila María Calederón was elected Governor of Puerto Rico, the first woman to occupy the highest executive position on the island.
  • In 2004, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá was elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
  • After many protests, civil disobedience in Vieques, and a large march against military exercises, the United States Navy withdrew from the island municipality in 2003.
Puerto Rico map

Music

  • This was the decade of Spanish rock and pop music. With the help of radio stations like Alfa Rock and Radio Heavy, along with the rise of the channel MTV, U.S-based rock was extremely successful in Puerto Rico.
  • Among those who stood out in this scene where René Farrait, Robi “Draco” Rosa, Ricky Martín, Chayanne, Wilkins, Tommy Torres, Luis Fonsi, Fiel a la Vega, Cultura Profética, Los Chicos, Las Cheris, Salsa Kids, and as a precursor to this pop and rock generation, Menudo. One of the forefathers of Puerto Rican pop was José Feliciano, who played soul music, rock, and Latino pop.
Musical notes

Christmas tree

  • Professional designers began to decorate the trees, and large stores began to sell thematic decoration kits with textures, and matching ornaments and colors. Toward the end of this decade, LED lights were used for the first time.
  • Towards the end of this decade, LED lights were used for the first time.