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Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. Supreme Court Holds Presidential Vote UnconstitutionalVieques Solution Is Only SolutionResidents Balk At Land DealVote Law Briefs FiledClinton Backs RomeroVieques Lands To Be TransferredResident Commissioner Candidates DebatePresidential Vote Is 'One More Distraction'Rossello: Presidential Vote Shouldn't Be Stopped******* Supreme Court Holds Presidential Vote Unconstitutional By Ivonne Garcia and Proviana Colon Diaz November 2, 2000 SAN JUAN — 11/02/00 - In a 5 to 2 decision, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the law enabling the presidential vote is unconstitutional because it assigns public funds to an event that has no "legitimate public purpose." The court also issued a final order to the State Elections Commission (SEC) to halt all preparations related to the presidential vote. In their ruling, the justices found that the recent 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision that Puerto Rico residents did not have a constitutional right to vote for the U.S. president and vice president nixed all possibilities that the votes cast under the presidential vote law would be counted. "If [the presidential vote] has no consequence given the decision by the Federal Circuit Court [...] there is no public purpose at all that satisfies the constitutional [requirement]," said Justice Federico Hernandez Denton in the majority decision. ******* Rossello: Clinton's Vieques Solution Is Only Solution By Proviana Colon Diaz November 1, 2000 SAN JUAN – 11/01/00 - There is no other solution to the Vieques issue than the current presidential agreement signed into a law Monday by President Bill Clinton, Gov. Pedro Rossello said Wednesday. "There is no other better road that the one already established. I repeat, this is a solved problem," Rossello said, defending the presidential accord that was signed into a law Monday. After a meeting Monday at the White House, both officials agreed that some 7,900 acres in the western side of Vieques now owned by the U.S. Navy will be transferred to the municipality, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust by year's end. Furthermore, Clinton also agreed that he would set a date for the referendum of Vieques before his tenure as president is over, Rossello said. ******* Vieques Residents Balk At Land Deal October 31, 2000 San Juan - Vieques residents on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction with legislation signed this week by U.S. President Bill Clinton handing over 8,000 acres of territory currently used by the U.S. Navy to the Puerto Rican government and the U.S. Interior Department. Nilda Medina, of the Pro Rescue and Development Committee of Vieques , said that the legislation made her "angry." She said that government officials are going to need more than words to keep the U.S. military base in operation because the people of Vieques do not want to endure any more shelling. "While they speak of returning lands in the west, the shelling continues in the east, which is where there is the most damage. Continued shelling creates even more pollution," Carlos Zenon, of the Vieques Fishermen's Association, said. ******* Arguments On Presidential Vote Law Filed Before Supreme Court October 31, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - Detractors of the presidential vote law have already filed their arguments before the Supreme Court, which is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the law meant to enable Puerto Rico residents to vote for U.S. president, according to published reports. Solicitor General Gustavo Gelpi, the State Elections Commission, the Puerto Rican Independence Party, and Popular Democratic Party Sen. Eudaldo Baez Galib presented their arguments in favor and against the presidential vote law before the Supreme Court on Monday. ******* Romero Unveils Radio Spot With Clinton's Support October 30, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero Barcelo on Monday unveiled a radio spot in which President Bill Clinton endorses him for re-election. "For Carlos, Puerto Rico is always first. That's why on Nov. 7 you should vote for Carlos Romero Barcelo for resident commissioner, because we've made a lot of progress," said Clinton in the spot. Romero said this is the first time that a U.S. president endorses a candidate in a Puerto Rican election. ******* White House: Vieques Lands To Be Transferred By Year's End By Ivonne Garcia October 30, 2000 After a meeting between President Bill Clinton and Gov. Pedro Rossello on Monday at the White House, officials agreed that some 7,900 acres in the western side of Vieques now owned by the U.S. Navy will be transferred to the municipality, the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust by year's end. "The president and the Navy are committed to transferring the land that goes to the municipality of Vieques and the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico by Dec. 31," said White House aide Jeffrey Farrow late Monday. . Asked to comment on statements by Popular Democratic Party (PDP) President Sila Calderon that, if elected governor, she would try to renegotiate the directives because they "lacked guarantees," Farrow said the directives have as many guarantees as can be provided in a democratic society because they're included in legislation. "Congress has passed a law that says there's a binding referendum on the future of the Navy's training in Vieques," he said. "There can be no greater guarantee than what a law provides." ******* Resident Commissioner Candidates Debate Sunday Night October 30, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - Popular Democratic Party (PDP) resident commissioner candidate Anibal Acevedo Vila went on the offensive Sunday during the televised debate among those vying for that post, while incumbent Carlos Romero Barcelo highlighted his 24 years of experience as a public official. From the start, Acevedo Vila accused Romero Barcelo, of the New Progressive Party (NPP), of working in Washington to promote statehood. For his part, Romero Barcelo said his years in politics have allowed him to establish important relationships that benefit the island. He said if re-elected in November he would become the commissioner "with the most experience and power," noting that if Democrats win the Congress he would be assigned to chair a subcommittee. ******* San Juan Archbishop: Presidential Vote Is 'One More Distraction' October 30, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - San Juan Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves said the presidential vote was "one more distraction" from the issues that Puerto Ricans should be discussing, and said the priority assigned to status is the "false way" to promote Puerto Rico's political future. In a "pastoral orientation" issued because of the Nov. 7 elections, Gonzalez highlighted a number of principles that those running for elective office should follow, according to published reports. He criticized privatization and birth control policies and said the Vieques issue should be maintained as a "peaceful, non-violent struggle," which should "remain totally free of political considerations." ******* Rossello: Presidential Vote Shouldn't Be Stopped By Proviana Colon Diaz October 28, 2000 Gov. Pedro Rossello said Friday that the most "prudent thing to do" was to allow the presidential vote to take place until an opinion by federal and local courts is issued. "The process [for the presidential vote] is so advanced that the voting should be allowed," Rossello said during an afternoon press conference and the Luis Muñoz Marin international airport. Rossello said the case is not over yet and continues in federal court were the Puerto Rico government will ask for a reconsideration of the decision by the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The governor added that the vote shouldn't be halted for just one court order. Rossello's statements came in the heels of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court order to the State Elections Commission (SEC) to halt all proceedings related to the presidential vote.
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