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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. PIP Accuses Governor Of Vieques BetrayalPDP Asked To Reveal Fundraising DetailsMiss Universe Pageant RejectedMisla Public Hearings SetStalled Economic Bills To Be ResubmittedCalderon: Vieques Protesters Are ‘Heroes’Leaders Express Christmas Wishes
PIP Accuses Governor Of Betraying The People December 27, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) General Secretary Vance Thomas accused Gov. Sila Calderon on Thursday of betraying the Puerto Rican people regarding the Vieques issue. Thomas said the governor "has a political and moral commitment with the people of Puerto Rico to not make things easy for the U.S. Navy," but she threw it all away when she kept the local police in Vieques to intervene with anti-Navy demonstrators. "By putting aside her commitment, Calderon is irresponsible and a traitor who betrayed the people of Puerto Rico," Thomas said in a radio interview. Thomas added that the local government is not obligated to detain those incurring in acts of civil disobedience because they are violating federal laws, not local ones. "It seems she thinks we are fools, that we are ignorant, and although it's true she withdrew the riot squad from Vieques, she increased the number of police agents and now she says it is irresponsible to support acts of civil disobedience," Thomas said when remembering the time Calderon implied that she was for civil disobedience acts during her political campaign. Thomas added that the change of heart of the governor and her actions facilitating the Navy practices on Vieques must serve as a lesson to those who trusted her to deal with the Vieques issue.
PDP Asked To Reveal Details Of Their Fundraising Events December 27, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - The New Progressive Party (NPP) requested that Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President and Gov. Sila Calderon make good on her promise of keeping her public affairs transparent by revealing the details of the donations received during the two fund-raising events held by the PDP on Dec. 8. NPP General Secretary Rep. Angel Cintron said the best gift that the PDP can give to the people is to present a complete breakdown of the funds raised during those events that reportedly yielded more than a million dollars. "There should be a complete breakdown that includes the amount of cash money, checks, the names of the public officials that sold raffle tickets, and if they sold them during working hours," Cintron said. PDP General Secretary Jorge Colberg Toro said the PDP will file its reports of the aforementioned events to the State Elections Commission, as stated by law. "The Electoral Law is clear when establishing that all donations greater than $50, be it by check or cash, must be accompanied by the name, address, and Social Security number of the contributor. Besides, in a non-electoral year, contributors may not give more than $1,000, and no corporation donations are allowed," Colberg Toro said.
Tourism Co. Focuses On Island Rather Than Miss Universe December 27, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - The local government and the Tourism Co. rejected the proposal submitted by multimillionaire Donald Trump to bring back the headquarters of the Miss Universe pageant to the island because it wasn't profitable enough. Tourism Co. Executive Director Milton Segarra explained that it was better to advertise Puerto Rico as a tourist destination directly to potential travelers to pick up the tourism industry in the island after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. "We received the proposal of Miss Universe [organization] and analyzed it. The economic request was estimated at approximately $4 million, which is a considerable amount, and according to the current situation, we believed there would be a need to create special promotions instead of highlighting the image of the destination," Segarra said. Segarra added that redeeming this investment in May wasn't a good deal for the tourism industry, which is in need of an immediate boost.
Public Hearings In Misla Case To Begin In January December 26, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - The House Ethics Committee called for public hearings on Jan. 3-5 after recommending the filing of 19 charges against New Progressive Party Rep. Edison Misla Aldarondo, six of them contained in an indictment by a federal grand jury. The other charges, ratified by the committee, are linked to perjury, failure to report incomes in tax returns, illegal benefiting of a public official, interfering with the due process of law regarding biddings, and contracts with the government, and violations to the Electoral Law, according to published reports. Thirteen witnesses have been called to testify at the January hearings, including two of Misla Aldarondo's sons. Misla Aldarondo has been accused in federal court of money laundering, extortion, and interfering with justice.
Three Economic Bills In Standstill At U.S. Congress December 26, 2001 SAN JUAN (AP) - The U.S. Congress ended its duties this year without the approval of the tax reimbursement for more than 800,000 Puerto Ricans, the amendments to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 956, and the 10-year extension for the Nutrition Assistance Program. These three legislative initiatives are the most significant for Puerto Rico that remained pending at the end of the first session in Congress, according to published reports. The Democrats at the Senate kept their decision of not voting on a new version of a joint bill to stimulate the U.S. economy that was approved by the Republicans at the House. The approved version didn't include the Democrat proposal of adding the Puerto Rican tax payers and of other U.S. territories to the list of citizens to receive a tax reimbursement of $300 to $600.
Governor: Island Measures To Be Submitted To Congress Again By Proviana Colon Diaz December 26, 2001 Gov. Sila Calderon said Wednesday that the measures to stimulate the island's economy, which failed to be approved in the U.S. Congress, would be submitted anew during the new session. Congress ended its duties this year without the approval of the tax reimbursement for more than 800,000 Puerto Ricans, the amendments to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 956, and the 10-year extension for the Nutrition Assistance Program. This because, according to Calderon, no economic incentives, for any state, were considered during this session as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement over the issue. "Both the reimbursement and Section 956 were part of the package for economic stimulation that was not approved for any U.S. citizen, which includes Puerto Rico," said Calderon, adding that she was sure her administration will obtain the 10-year extension for the Nutrition Assistance Program.
Calderon Described Vieques Protesters As 'Heroes' By Proviana Colon Diaz December 26, 2001 Gov. Sila Calderon on Wednesday described those who engage in civil disobedience in Vieques as "heroes." Although as governor she can't endorse civil disobedience because she has to abide by law and order, those who engage in such activity are "very valiant, and valiant people are heroes." "As I said recently, I understand with all my heart the people who peacefully make a demonstration to validate the human rights of the Puerto Ricans in Vieques. I understand it; I comprehend it; I can't as governor endorse it. I have to comply with the law whether I like it or not. Obviously, they are people who have been very valiant, and valiant people are heroes," Calderon said. On a related matter and because she has to abide by the law, Calderon described a petition by Mayors Association President Jose Aponte to remove the police presence from Vieques as "irresponsible." "To remove the police from Vieques would seem an act of great irresponsibility. The police will be in Vieques as needed," Calderon said.
Puerto Rican Leaders Share Their Christmas Wish December 25, 2001 It's Christmas time and in the spirit of the season PuertoRicoWOW News Service summoned some of Puerto Rico's leaders and gave them an opportunity to express their best wishes to the island residents. Here's what they said: "May there be peace among Puerto Ricans and among all humanity and that unity prevails in Puerto Rico." - Senate President Antonio Fas Alzamora. "May we spend Christmas with our families and may we realize that spiritual things are much more valuable that material ones." - New Progressive Party (NPP) Minority Leader Sen. Kenneth McClintock. "May Jesus child be reborn in the hearts of all Puerto Ricans so that we may achieve interior peace in our hearts and I ask God for peace for the whole world next year." - House Speaker Carlos Vizcarrondo. "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and may we become better human beings in the new year." - NPP House Minority Leader Rep. Anibal Vega Borges. "Peace for Vieques and the whole world." - Puerto Rican Independence Party Rep. Victor Garcia San Inocencio. "My Christmas wish is that the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico (MAPR) may be able to establish a fund with sponsors to help acquire works from Puerto Rican artists to add to our collection so that children may see the main works of our best Puerto Rican artist." - Carmen Teresa Ruiz de Fischler, executive director of the MAPR. "Good health for everybody. That's what's most important. I wish the world to live in peace and that we are able to solve all of our differences. But the little boy inside me wishes for a Game Cube!." - Bill Perez, president of Fondos Unidos. "Plenty of health and hope for the Puerto Rican people." - Richard D'Costa, of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce. Compiled by Proviana Colon Diaz and Melissa Gonzalez of PuertoRicoWOW News Service.
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