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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. 956 Suffers SetbackLegislators Defend Constituent Assembly Vieques Clean-Up Campaign Begins Puerto Rico Establishes Ohio Office In Cleveland NPP Denounces Lack Of Anti-Crime Plan Fajardo Pleads Guilty Arroyo In Latin Hall Pesquera Available To Cooperate With Feds
956 Suffers Setback February 7, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - Gov. Sila Calderon said she had a "wide range of alternatives" to file again before the U.S. Congress her proposal to amend U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 956. Calderon made her comments after Congress did not approve Wednesday the economic incentive package, which included the aforementioned amendment. According to Calderon, the rejection to the incentive package did not have anything to do with the inclusion of the 956 amendment, but with the internal fight between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. "This is an internal conflict that has nothing to do with us," said Calderon, who explained that her legal consultants will be the ones to propose a new strategy to ensure the amendment's approval.
Legislators Defend Constituent Assembly February 7, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - The leaders of the two legislative bodies on the island once again went against the will of Gov. Sila Calderon when one of them said he would push for the creation of a Constituent Assembly to solve the status issue and the other said he would scrutinize the privatization of government properties. Calderon said Wednesday that the idea of a Constituent Assembly is not in her agenda at the moment. However, House Speaker Carlos Vizcarrondo warned Thursday during a joint committee with the Senate that the Constituent Assembly "is the only mechanism that offers a real possibility of solving the status." For his part, Senate President Antonio Fas Alzamora said he won't hesitate to comply with his obligation to scrutinize, especially "the matters related to the partial or total privatization of the resources and goods of the people." Also, he sent a warning to the governor by saying that "the remaining co-stars of the government have the constitutional duty to respect our right and have the obligation to fully comply with that responsibility." Fas Alzamora has insisted that the Legislature must evaluate the privatization process of the operations and the management of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. But the government has insisted that such scrutinizing would hinder the capacity to negotiate with the companies that compete for the multimillion-dollar contract.
Vieques Clean-Up Campaign Begins February 7, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - The environmental cleaning campaign of the lands in the western side of Vieques that were transferred by the U.S. Navy last May began three weeks ago, according to Vieques Special Commissioner Juan R. Fernandez. Fernandez said in published reports that as part of the cleaning work, a live bomb that was found in the Punta Arenas and Green Beach was detonated. "They couldn't tell me from which year it was, but the model of the missile dates back many years," commented Fernandez, who was in Vieques supervising the works. Fernandez said many fragments and remains of ammunition have been found in those lands. The land of the western side of Vieques was transferred to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Vieques municipal government, and the Conservation Trust as part of the presidential agreement signed by former President Bill Clinton. The land of approximately 8,000 acres was used by the Navy as an ordnance reserve and to detonate discarded ammunition.
Puerto Rico Establishes Ohio Office In Cleveland February 7, 2002 CLEVELAND (AP) - Puerto Rico has opened an office in Cleveland as a link to the more than 66,000 Puerto Ricans living in Ohio. The office offers Puerto Ricans help in obtaining official records, such as birth and death certificates, or to offer legal assistance on matters such as family inheritance. It also will work to help Puerto Ricans economically and on political issues. Census figures show there are about 30,000 Puerto Ricans living in Cuyahoga County and 13,000 nearby in Lorain County. Puerto Ricans reside in 14 of Ohio's 88 counties. Marcos Rivera, 28, who came to Cleveland with his family in 1988 from Puerto Rico, will run the office. Rivera served eight years in the Marine Corps. "My job is to get out there, meet the people and hear their needs," he said. A ceremonial opening of the office is scheduled March 7 in the Rotunda of Cleveland City Hall. Mari Carmen Aponte, director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, is expected to attend.
NPP Denounces Lack Of Anti-Crime Plan February 6, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - The lack of an effective anti-crime plan, lack of resources, and the alleged use of partisan politics in the Police Department are the main causes of the increase in the crime rate, denounced several New Progressive Party (NPP) representatives in a Wednesday press conference. According to House NPP Minority Leader Anibal Vega Borges, during the past administration, the Police Department had been assigned $587 million, while the budget assigned this fiscal year was $548 million, $39 million less. "In light of all that has been happening, we make a plea to the governor to make the Police Department's budget allocation a priority," Vega Borges said. Meanwhile, NPP Rep. Iris Miriam Ruiz showed a letter signed by San German Commander Cap. Rosado sent to the Police Department's second in command, Col. Cesar Gracia, in which he recommends two people because they are good "populares," referring to the Popular Democratic Party. Ruiz assured that this is only one sign of the high level of partisan politics that reigns in the agency and did not rule out the possibility to refer the letter to the Ethics Committee.
Fajardo Pleads Guilty By Proviana Colon Diaz February 6, 2002 As announced by his attorney during his first appearance in court, former Education Secretary Victor Fajardo pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Hector Lafitte to charges related to a money laundering scheme that led to kickbacks of up to $4.3 million, of which $1 million went to the New Progressive Party (NPP). Also changing their plea Wednesday were Fajardo's sister-in-law Maria Ramos Matos, also a former department employee, and former Education Deputy Secretary Jose Omar Cruz Mercado. The trio entered a cooperation and plea agreement, in which they pleaded guilty to three of the eight-count indictment. Upon sentencing, scheduled for June 25 at 9:15 a.m., the remaining five charges are dismissed. On Wednesday, the three former public service employees pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion induced by economic fear and or under color of official right, theft concerning program receiving federal funds, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. As a result of the plea agreement, Fajardo faces a 70-80 month prison sentence and will have to restitute $2.3 million, of which he has already returned $1 million, Lafitte said. Cruz Mercado faces a sentence of 46-57 months and must repay $600,000; he has already returned $14,764. Ramos Matos, for her part, faces a 27-37 month prison sentence. According to the plea agreement, it is the defendants' obligation to cooperate and provide information regarding any criminal activities. He or she may also be asked to testify before any grand jury and agrees to provide truthful, complete, and accurate testimony and information on a continuing basis However, it is clearly stated in the agreement that if they fail to "fulfill completely" with all points of the agreement, he or she may be prosecuted for "perjury, false declaration, or false statement."
Arroyo In Latin Hall By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS January 5, 2002 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Former New York Yankees reliever Luis Arroyo was inducted Tuesday into the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, a Caribbean shrine that next year will finally have a roof. Arroyo, who pitched alongside the likes of Whitey Ford and became a Yankees scout after retiring in 1963, didn't make the ceremony because of passport trouble. That didn't stop hundreds of people in town for the Caribbean Series from honoring him at a ceremony. Arroyo, born in Puerto Rico, made the All-Star Game as a rookie with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1955. He had a career 40-32 record with 36 saves and a 3.93 ERA -- as well as a .227 career batting average. During the Yankees' famed 1961 season, with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris battling for Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs, Arroyo won 15 games and saved 29. Hector O'Neill, mayor of the San Juan suburb of Guaynabo, announced that a $15 million Latin hall museum will open during the 2003 Caribbean Series championship in Puerto Rico. ``We can't teach our youth about the history and roots of the sport if we don't have someplace to remember our heroes,'' O'Neill said. The museum will feature memorabilia from Cubans Martin Dihigo, Tony Oliva and Orestes Minoso; Puerto Ricans Roberto Clemente and Orlando Cepeda; and Dominicans Juan Marichal, Rico Carty and Sammy Sosa.
Pesquera Available To Cooperate With Feds February 5, 2002 SAN JUAN (AP) - New Progressive Party (NPP) President Carlos Pesquera said Tuesday that if requested of him, he is in the best disposition to cooperate with the federal authorities in the investigation that is being conducted on the million-dollar fraud scheme in the Education Department. "We are more than eager to cooperate with any investigation that is conducted on this matter," Pesquera responded to questions from journalists in a press conference after a meeting with the NPP Directorate. However, the statehood leader said the situation that occurred with former Education Secretary Victor Fajardo "is not a matter of the parties." He indicated that he has complete confidence in the matters conducted by his former secretary general, Jorge Davila, who has been identified as one of the people from the NPP who would collect funds from businesspeople who had contracts with the Education Department.
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