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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. PIP Repudiates '50 Years Of Colonialism'$40M Cut In Economic Development Agencies DecriedUnions To Lobby For 956$500K For Commonwealth’s 50th AnniversaryNavy Rejects Live FireElectoral Reform ProposedPesquera: People Will Pay For Budget DisasterReform Should Have Parties OK
PIP Repudiates '50 Years Of Colonialism' February 14th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - The Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) announced that it will hold a demonstration July 25 to repudiate the political disadvantage of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which will turn 50 this year. PIP Vice President Maria de Lourdes Santiago announced during a Thursday press conference that the protest will be held at the Guanica oceanfront, where the American soldiers entered the island in 1898. "The PIP believes we have nothing to celebrate during these 50 years of Commonwealth. On the contrary, we have much to demand and to denounce," Santiago said. For his part, PIP General Secretary Vance Thomas said the event, preliminarily known as "People against Colonialism," will be open to "anyone who is outraged as a result of the political situation of the country." "We want to send a clear message to the government of Puerto Rico and to the government of the United States that we don't want the Commonwealth and that we feel politically inferior," Thomas stated. At the same time, Santiago stressed that the United States "has disassociated" itself from the demands of the people for political equality and assured that it is due to the current situation that the island hasn't been able to develop according to its potential.
$40M Budget Cut In Economic Development Agencies Decried February 14th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - New Progressive Party (NPP) Rep. Jose Chico denounced Thursday that the budget for Fiscal Year 2003 recommended by Gov. Sila Calderon reduced the allocations to economic development agencies more than $40 million. Chico, who presided the United Retailers Association of Puerto Rico, said after analyzing the FY 2003 budget report, he found that the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co. had a budget cut of $34 million, while the Commerce Development Administration budget was reduced $923 million. Chico added that the Puerto Rico Export Development Corp. budget was reduced $2.3 million and the Tourism Co. was left with $4.6 million less. "It is highly contradictory for the governor to speak of job creation and helping the Puerto Rican families, when there are budget cuts as high as the ones we see here," the NPP legislator said.
Unions To Lobby For 956 In Exchange For Salary Increase February 14th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Several union groups under the Puerto Rico Syndicate (PRS) committed to lobby for U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 956's approval in exchange for Gov. Sila Calderon's commitment to identify other sources to grant additional economic benefits to the 95,000 public employees. PRS President Jose La Luz proposed that the governor convoke agency heads, legislators, union leaders, and Office of Management and Budget Director Melba Acosta in an "Excellence in Public Service Commission." This commission would be in charge of identifying the funds. "We have the possibility to influence Congress. . .and we will commit to support Section 956. . .but that does not come for free. It will be subject to reaching an agreement in the salary increase," La Luz said in a press conference.
Half A Million Allocated For Commonwealth Commemoration February 13th, 2002 CEIBA (AP) - Gov. Sila Calderon referred a series of bills related to the budget to the Legislative Assembly, which includes an allocation of almost half a million to commemorate the Commonwealth's 50th anniversary and the 4th of July.
Navy Rejects Using Live Fire In Vieques February 13th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, the U.S. Navy said the George Washington battle group would not use live fire in its next round of exercises this spring in Vieques. "This does not deal with a simple decision. It is not merely a situation that can be resolved through what I want to do. We have to take into consideration the concern of the people in Vieques and the environment to avoid turning this into a worse situation," Navy Secretary Gordon England said in published reports. England avoided taking a positive position, but before the insistent questions from Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), he said to return to use "live fire" in Vieques could complicate the case more. He indicated that for the moment, the commander of the Atlantic Fleet decided that the Washington battle group, which could probably train in Vieques at the end of next month, will not use live fire in the military range.
Electoral Reform Proposed To Prevent Illegal Donations February 13th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Gov. Sila Calderon recommended Tuesday during her State of the Commonwealth address to increase up to $1 million the Electoral Fund in electoral and non-electoral years to each political party. The recommendation is the beginning of a much announced electoral reform, known as "Clean Money for Electoral Campaigns," which is aimed at cutting the knots between political candidates and private interests. "This reform that my government is proposing is a very profound one and represents a big investment for the Puerto Rico government. We have estimated it at approximately $50 million," Calderon said in her speech. However, the governor affirmed that this cost will never be as high as the cost of corruption. As part of the proposal, a new direct deposit mechanism to the State Elections Commission will be created to place the money for the potential candidates. It also includes strict regulation for the creation and use of the political action committees (PAC). Guaranteeing free television time to candidates is also considered, as well as the creation of a Commission for the Integrity of the Electoral Campaign Financing.
Pesquera: People Will Pay Budget Disaster February 12th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Five hours before the presentation of Gov. Sila Calderon's State of the Commonwealth Address, New Progressive Party (NPP) President Carlos Pesquera criticized the government for allegedly changing her public policy in increasing taxes. Pesquera affirmed that the Calderon administration created the economic crisis the island is experiencing, but the government insists it is the past administration's responsibility. "This administration, because of their paralysis, their incompetence, has placed the island in a situation much worse than last year's," Pesquera said in a press conference. The NPP president said it will be the people who will pay in taxes the budget increase, estimated at $500 million. "There is an economic crisis that this administration has promoted and has not been able to manage. . . and today the people are going to be misled by this administration, in their efforts to blame the past administration for their own failure," Pesquera affirmed.
Pesquera: Electoral Reform Should Have Parties Approval February 12th, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Any proposed electoral reform announced by Gov. Sila M. Calderon must have the approval of the three political parties, said New Progressive Party (NPP) President Carlos Pesquera. In published reports, Pesquera said the democratic tradition of reaching a consensus over changes in the Electoral Law should prevail. The NPP president affirmed that the electoral reform proposed by Calderon would not prevent corrupt acts from happening. According to what is known from the proposal so far, it could cost over $100 million and would establish strict conditions to the parties that would receive the benefit.
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