Residence La Fortaleza Formation 2 January, 1949 | Inaugural holder Inés Mendoza Website Official website | |
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Style First Lady of Puerto Rico
(diplomatic)
The First Lady
(third person) | ||
First Lady of Puerto Rico is the title given by the government of Puerto Rico to the spouse of the Governor of Puerto Rico or the daughters of the Governor should the Governor be a lady, single, divorced, or a widow. The First Lady leads the Office of the First Lady of Puerto Rico and is expected to represent the women of Puerto Rico in elegance and demeanor. The current First Lady is Beatriz Areizaga, wife of Ricardo Rosselló.
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Role
The position of First Lady carries no official duty and receives no compensation for their service. They generally oversee the administration of La Fortaleza, the mansion that serves as the Governor's residence and office. They also organize events and civic programs, and typically get involved in different charities and social causes.
Portraits
The official portraits of each First Lady, beginning with Jesús T. Piñero's wife, are exhibited in La Fortaleza since Rafael Hernández Colón's administration. They are located in the staircase that leads to the third floor private gubernatorial residence. Current First Lady Lucé Vela had the portraits loaned to the Puerto Rico Department of State, to be seen by the public during two weeks in May 2009. The opening reception of the exhibit, presided by Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock, was attended by three governors (Luis Fortuño, Rafael Hernández Colón, and Carlos Romero Barceló), and four first ladies (Jeannette Ramos, Kate Donnelly, María Elena González, and Lucé Vela).