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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Rossello’s Train Proposal Called Unreal… Over 500 Police Agents Are Dismissed…AI Hails U.S. Supreme Court's Decision To Hear Padilla Case…Judge In Russian Child Case Welcomes Investigation…Governor Leaving Tax Reform To Successor…Melicio: Fortuño & Romero’s Row Is No Biggie…Cheney Silent On Puerto Rico, Visit Sparks Demonstrations
Fagundo: Rossello’s Train Proposal Is Unreal February 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — Department of Transportation and Public Works Secretary Fernando Fagundo said Monday that there is not enough money in the world to build the train around the island as proposed by New Progressive Party gubernatorial candidate Pedro Rossello. However he said that before his tenure is over he hopes to leave plans for future developments similar to that of the metropolitan area. "We hope to leave everything organized...the problem is always the money. The train was made with a federal funding assignment of $307 million and will end up costing the people of Puerto Rico close to $2.25 billion," Fagundo said. He said similar projects could be built in Arecibo, Ponce, Fajardo, Humacao, Mayaguez and Lares. "I was not talking about a train around the island because at a cost of $50, $60 to $100 million per kilometer there is not enough money in the world to even begin to build it, much rather less complete it," Fagundo said. More Than 500 Police Agents Are Dismissed February 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) - More than 500 police officers have been dismissed in the past six years for misconduct or corruption, published reports said. Associate Police Superintendent Hector M. Perez Acosta explained that the most common causes for dismissal were civil rights violations, excessive force, corruption, and sexual harassment. "The most sensitive cases are those that have to do with abuse of authority. Those are the cases that will not be tolerated at the agency," said Perez Acosta, an attorney who was a police officer for 20 years. According to government statistics, 58 agents were expelled in 2003, 139 in 2002, 52 in 2001, 51 in 2000, 77 in 1999, and 130 in 1998, for a total of 507. AI Hails U.S. Supreme Court's Decision To Hear Padilla Case February 21, 2004 Washington, Feb 20 (EFE) - The U.S. office of Amnesty International on Friday applauded the Supreme Court's decision to hear the case of a U.S. citizen held in indefinite detention as an "enemy combatant." The Supreme Court said Friday it would decide the case of Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico detained since May 2002 on charges of working for the Al Qaeda terrorist network and planning to set off a "dirty" bomb in the United States. U.S. Amnesty International chief William Schulz said in a press release that his organization was pleased that the Supreme Court had taken the opportunity to defend the basic principles of the Constitution and international human rights legislation. Padilla, a convert to Islam, is being held in a Charleston, South Carolina, military brig as an "enemy combatant," with no charges brought against him and no access to counsel. The Court agreed to hear a Justice Department appeal of a New York federal court ruling ordering Padilla released on the grounds that President George W. Bush had overstepped his authority. Close to 600 prisoners are still being held at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, as "enemy combatants" suspected of belonging to Al Qaeda or Afghanistan's Taliban movement. Those prisoners are also deprived of the right to counsel and have had no charges brought against them. Judge Ramos Welcomes Investigation February 20, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — Judge Maritza Ramos welcomed on Friday the investigation to determine whether her conduct in the custody dispute of a Russian boy was unethical. However she said the Justice and Family Departments should also be investigated. Puerto Rico Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Naveira ordered on Thursday that the Courts Administration Office immediately investigate Ramos. Ramos served as foster parent of the child for almost a year and tried to adopt him. After being kept on the island against the wishes of both his maternal grandmother, Irina Romanova, and his father, Gytis Gaurilcikas, the nine-year-old boy went back to Lithuania on Wednesday night, accompanied by Russian Federation Consul Anastasia Kitsul. The custody dispute is expected to continue between the boy’s father and maternal grandmother in Lithuania. Naveira said she has instructed that the investigation into Ramos conduct be given priority. She added that Judge Ramos could be subjected to a number of sanctions if found in violation of the judicial code of ethics. The sanctions would range from a reprimand to being removed from her post, Naveira said. "I only tried to give him love," Ramos said adding that she still considers the boy her son. Judge Involved In Russian Child Case To Be Investigated By Melissa B. Gonzalez Valentin of WOW News February 20, 2004 Puerto Rico Supreme Court Chief Justice Miriam Naveira ordered on Thursday that the Courts Administration Office immediately investigate whether Superior Judge Maritza Ramos’ conduct in the custody dispute of a Russian boy was unethical. Ramos served as foster parent of the child for almost a year and tried to adopt him. After being kept on the island against the wishes of both his maternal grandmother, Irina Romanova, and his father, Gytis Gaurilcikas, the nine-year-old boy went back to Lithuania on Wednesday night, accompanied by Russian Federation Consul Anastasia Kitsul. The custody dispute is expected to continue between the boy’s father and maternal grandmother in Lithuania. Naveira said she has instructed that the investigation into Ramos conduct be given priority. She added that Judge Ramos could be subjected to a number of sanctions if found in violation of the judicial code of ethics. The sanctions range from a reprimand to being removed from her post, Naveira said. Governor Will Leave Recommendations For The Tax Reform By Istra Pacheco of Associated Press February 20, 2004 SAN JUAN — Although Gov. Sila Calderon believes a tax reform is indispensable, she won’t implement it during her administration. Calderon will leave office in January 2005 and has prepared a document with only a few recommendations for her successor to implement an in-depth tax reform. "My purpose is for our administration to pave the way for the next governor to legislate a comprehensive tax reform," said the governor during a brief press conference on Friday. Although she acknowledged that the new governor wouldn’t be obligated to accept her proposal, she said he would be morally obligated to do so. The Calderon administration has invested more than $3 million to study a possible tax reform. The governor said the goal of the study, which should be completed by summer this year, is to find a way for Puerto Ricans to pay lower taxes. Calderon said she the new reform should reward working people, instead of penalizing them. The governor said she would present her plan for a future tax reform during her State of the Commonwealth Address on Feb. 25. Melecio: Fortuño & Romero’s Row Is No Biggie By Melissa B. Gonzalez Valentin of WOW News February 20, 2004 Two days after the widely publicized dispute between New Progressive Party (NPP) candidate for resident commissioner Luis Fortuño and former Gov. Carlos Romero, two of the party’s main leaders reacted rather confident that the situation will simmer down on its own, without any effect on the party’s chances for election in November. Former State Elections Commission President Juan R. Melecio, who is now the campaign committee chairman of NPP gubernatorial candidate Pedro Rossello, said on Friday that he had not doubt the issue would be settled on its own. "I am a man of faith, and I believe in the good will of human beings. Everything falls into place whenever there are good-willed people," said Melecio, who told the press he has read the letters Fortuño and Romero wrote to each other. "Remember that former Gov. Romero was in Ponce on Sunday as the main speaker of the 100th anniversary of Ferre’s birth and that is something significant. The fact that he was there proves that there aren’t great difficulties," Melecio added during a brief interview prior to the fundraising luncheon of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney at the Condado Plaza. Meanwhile, NPP Electoral Commissioner Thomas Rivera Schatz, who was also at the fundraiser, agreed with Melecio. Schatz said the situation was nothing new in politics and that the unity of purpose of the party wouldn’t be affected by it. "I can assure you that no one loves the NPP like Carlos Romero Barcelo. I guarantee he will join the campaign and defend all NPP candidates," Rivera Schatz stated. On Wednesday, Fortuño urged Romero in a written statement to accept the fact that he lost the primary and asked him to join the party in its effort to win the November general election. The former governor replied that same day calling Fortuño a hypocrite and a liar, accusing him of falsely wanting to make peace, and resenting him for making the letter public without giving him a change to answer it first. As for Rossello, he told Associated Press that he is not the least bit worried about the dispute and that he would stay out it. "There are differences of opinion between two people who are both excellent leaders of our party which should be resolved at a personal level," Rossello said. Cheney Visits The Island; Mentions Nothing Of Puerto Rico By Melissa B. Gonzalez Valentin of WOW News February 20, 2004 After weeks of expectation, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived on the island where he used a fund raising luncheon to defend U.S. President George W. Bush’s military incursion in Iraq, but mentioned nothing about the administration’s policy on Puerto Rico’s political relationship with the mainland. At around 20 past one in the afternoon Cheney, accompanied by San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini and National Committeeman of the Republican Party Luis Fortuño, addressed an anxious crowd at the Condado Plaza ballroom However, except for briefly noting Fortuño’s candidacy for resident commissioner, Cheney left the members of the local press wanting to hear about the Bush administration’s plans for Puerto Rico. "Luis believes in strong families, lower taxes, and quality education. He’ll be a fine representative for the people of Puerto Rico," Cheney said at the beginning of his speech. As for the rest of his message to the nearly 200 local Republicans who had paid $1,000 per plate to support Bush’s and Cheney’s re-election campaign, the vice president limited himself to defending the administration’s policy in Iraq and Afghanistan, the war against terrorism, as well as the government efforts to lower taxes and unemployment and boost the economy. Cheney assured the people present that the military conflicts during this four-year term were justified, because Iraq and Afghanistan were countries who supported anti-American terrorists. The Bush administration has received a lot of heat from the worldwide press for not being able to find the weapons of mass destruction Iraq was allegedly building to use against the U.S. But Cheney said on Friday that the Saddam Hussein regime had the infrastructure to produce those weapons and most of all, had a record of using them against other countries and against his own people. "There is no question that America did the right thing in Iraq," said Cheney, who added that between believing the word of a madman and defending America, President Bush would defend America every time. At the end of the speech the NPP candidate for resident commissioner candidate Fortuño said it was normal for Cheney to deliver a message of the administration, which is the same speech the vice president has delivered in previous fund-raisers throughout the re-election campaign. "The administration won’t make any statement that may be misunderstood regarding the status until after the elections, but the interest is certainly there," Fortuño said. Fortuño said that although Puerto Rico was not specifically mentioned in the speech, it was a message for the American people, and Puerto Ricans are American citizens. "Some people like it, other don’t, but we are part of the nation," Fortuño said. Nevertheless, he said Cheney did have the opportunity to discuss certain issues with him and local Republican Party President Tiody Ferre and which included the status issue, but he gave no specific details. Cheney Visit Sparks Demonstrations February 20, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — Groups in favor of and against the United States, war policy protested on Friday blocks away from a Condado hotel where Vice President Dick Cheney participated in a fund-raising event for the Republican Party. Outside the hotel, hundreds of people gathered Friday morning, waving American flags under a light rain. Some voiced support for the vice president and held signs welcoming him. About 100 others criticized his visit and shouted "We reject you, go home!" "Cheney is a dealer in death and destruction," said Hector Pesquera, spokesman for the demonstrators, and alleged the vice president was profiteering in Iraq through the oil services giant Halliburton, which Cheney once headed. Local politicians downplayed the protest, saying Cheney's visit was significant in drawing attention to Puerto Rico's 4 million people, who hold American passports but can’t vote for president and have no vote in the U.S. Congress. Another 4 million Puerto Ricans live on the U.S. mainland. A visit like Cheney's "always raises attention," Sen. Miriam Ramirez said. The demonstrators "will protest anything that is American in Puerto Rico." Cheney gave his endorsement to Puerto Rico's Republican Party chairman Luis Fortuno’s campaign to become the island's next nonvoting representative to Congress. The position is now occupied by Rep. Anibal Acevedo Vila, who is running for governor in the November elections.
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