Puerto Rico status debate affecting economy

Some Puerto Ricans are insisting that the persistent wrangling over the island\'s political status is affecting solutions to its worsening social and economic challenges.



The population appears evenly divided between those happy with the status quo as a commonwealth and those who want Puerto Rico to become the 51st US state.



Unemployment in the US Caribbean territory is now over 14 per cent - caused by a four-year recession.



Economist Jose Villamil says the island’s current situation is much worse than a recession, as the economy has lost its capacity to generate growth.