As President Trump visits Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, island religious leaders are calling for aid, debt relief and measures to end child poverty. The statement is issued by San Juan's Catholic Archbishop, Roberto González Nieves, St. Thomas' Catholic Bishop Herbert A. Bevard and Evangelical Bible Society Head Reverend Heriberto Martínez.

"Our islands can not pay debt until we've rebuilt and we see positive economic recovery. We need a debt payment moratorium, debts must be cancelled and reduced to sustainable payable levels," wrote González, Bevard, and Martínez in their statement. "When economies are already dealing with austerity policies and financial crisis, they are ill prepared to deal with natural disasters like Hurricanes Irma and Maria."

Before Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, both US territories were wrestling with financial crisis and high child poverty rates. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Island religious leaders express that since the hurricanes struck, many civil institutions and communication systems collapsed.

"Before the hurricanes hit, we were dealing with a severe debt crisis on the islands with troubling austerity policies. Now we are dealing with a serious humanitarian crises," said Jubilee USA Executive Director Eric LeCompte who works with the islands' religious leaders. "The islands need sufficient recovery aid and debt relief to rebuild."

Read Eric LeCompte's statement on the crisis:

http://www.jubileeusa.org/religious_development_group_releases_statement_on_debt_relief_for_devastated_islands?utm_campaign=pr_prusvirelstm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jubileeusa

Read religious leaders' statement in English:

http://www.jubileeusa.org/english_pr_usvi_relleadappeal4aid_debt_endchildpov?utm_campaign=pr_prusvirelstm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jubileeusa

En español

http://www.jubileeusa.org/spanish_pr_usvi_relleadappeal4aid_debt_endchildpov?utm_campaign=pr_prusvirelstm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=jubileeusa