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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. Prats: Fortuño Must Take Stand On Weapons Ban… Crusade Against Large Weapons Urged… Mercury Contamination Found In Vieques Women… Acevedo Offers More Efficient Health Card, He Hasn’t Asked Calderon For Support… Police Get Salary Increase…Polls: Rossello Leads Acevedo 43%-34%, 30% Say His Image Has Declined; Gap Closes Between Fortuño & Prats
Prats: Fortuño Must Take Stand On Weapons Ban August 24, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — The Popular Democratic Party resident commissioner candidate, Sen. Roberto Prats, called Tuesday for his New Progressive Party opponent, Luis Fortuño, to return donations higher than $6,000 that he allegedly received from groups that support the manufacture of large weapons. Prats criticized Fortuño for supporting the extension of the ban on the manufacture of 19 large arms and semiautomatic weapons while allegedly receiving money from Congressional political action committees that at one time received donations from the National Rifle Association. "You can’t go to Washington with two faces … on this subject, I ask Luis Fortuño directly to answer where he stands on this matter," he said at a press conference. "Luis Fortuño, before he had received these donations, should have made certain of where he stands," Prats said. The controversy about large weapons is growing on the island because the candidate for mayor of San Juan, Eduardo Bhatia, revealed a letter issued by his New Progressive Party opponent, Mayor Jorge Santini, expressing his opposition to the ban on the manufacture of 19 large arms and semiautomatic weapons, such as the AK-47. The federal law, known as the Assault Weapons Act, in 1994 prohibited for a period of 10 years the manufacture on U.S. ground 19 assault weapons, and this period ends September 14. Now, Congress is studying the possibility of extending the ban for another 10 years. Critics Call For Crusade Against Large Weapons August 24, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — The Caribbean Project for Justice and Peace asked Tuesday that the public be "very critical" of the controversy about the legalization of the manufacture, sale and distribution of weapons. Wanda Colon, spokeswoman for the pacifist organization established in 1973, said that the manufacture of weapons and semiautomatic guns goes against the call for gun control that has been made world wide. The increase in the number of human lives lost to armed violence is clear evidence that firearms are out of control," she stated in a press release. "The global call is for governments to act firmly to control the illegal trafficking of guns and reduce their availability, in order to guarantee the protections of our cities and build safer communities," she added. The pacifist organization reacted to the growing controversy surrounding the PDP candidate for mayor of San Juan, Eduardo Bhatia, who revealed a letter by Mayor Jorge Santini to two of his peers in U.S. cities, five federal senators and to President George W. Bush, expressing his opposition to the ban on the manufacture of 19 large weapons and semiautomatic guns, such as the AK-47. The federal law, known as the Assault Weapons Act of 1994, prohibited for a period of 10 years the manufacture on U.S. ground 19 assault weapons, and this period ends September 14. Now, Congress is studying the possibility of extending the ban for another 10 years. According to Colon, the proposal to eliminate the federal law is part of a pressure campaign on the part of the weapons industry, which invests millions of dollars on lobbying and financing political campaigns in the United States. She emphasized that half a million people are killed each year in the world by shots from small guns. "One person is killed every minute, victims of one of the 500 million weapons that are circulating in the world, including revolvers, rifles, automatic rifles, grenades, machine guns and pistols," she said. In Puerto Rico, an average of two people are killed daily, she added. "Reducing the number of weapons is the most effective way to lower the number of people killed or injured violence," Colon said. The Caribbean Project for Justice and Peace is part of the International Network for Action Against Small Weapons, which developed the international campaign, "Control the Arms." According to Colon, the campaign’s objective is to report on the lack of gun control in the commercial world, to promote reduction in the illegal abuse of weapons and to convince governments to establish a treaty for the control of the international sale of weapons. Mercury Contamination Found In Vieques Women August 24, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — A study of mercury contamination in women of reproductive age on Vieques revealed the during the years 2000 to 2002 those living on Vieques had levels of the toxic metal higher than other women studied in Puerto Rico and the United States. The study, carried out by the nonprofit organization Gineco, found that 26.8 percent of 41 Vieques women had consumed seafood with sufficient mercury to cause neurological damage in their future children, said Dr. Carmen Ortiz Roque at a news conference. "This contrasts with 6.6 percent on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico and 7 percent in the United States," said Ortiz Roque, a spokeswoman for the group based in San Juan, which is dedicated to studying female reproduction. Forty-five women who live between San Juan and Ceiba took part in the study, and of those only 6.6 percent were contaminated with mercury at levels "dangerous for a fetus." In the United States, of 702 women evaluated, only 7 percent were faced with the danger of contamination for their future children. Mercury, a toxic metal dangerous for humans — in particular for fetuses and infants — is found mostly in fish and shellfish. Acevedo Vila Proposes More Efficient Health Card August 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) - Anibal Acevedo Vila said that if elected he would modify the healthcare reform card to be more accessible to senior citizens by reducing or eliminating premiums and by increasing the number of participating healthcare providers. The Popular Democratic Party’s (PDP) gubernatorial candidate said that "Platinum Medicare" would complement already existing benefits for qualifying elderly citizens. "We plan to create the Platinum plan, a complimentary plan to already existing Medicare benefits, it would provide access to more doctors and would offer all the benefits of Medicare without deductibles," said Acevedo Vila. The now Resident Commissioner also said that if elected he would implement his proposal within the first year of his term. He also promised to keep emergency rooms through the island open 24 hours to lessen the load of patients at the Rio Piedras Medical Center. Acevedo Vila maintained that under his healthcare reform the 300,000 citizens who do not qualify for the healthcare reform card, yet cannot afford private coverage, would be given options. Acevedo Vila Has Not Asked Calderon For Her Support August 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — Gov. Sila Calderon said Monday that Popular Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Anibal Acevedo Vila, has not asked her to join his political campaign. But said she is more than willing to join his campaign. "I have not been asked to actively join his campaign or to join the groups that work in his campaign," said Calderon adding that she will join her resident’s commissioner campaign when he wants me to. Relations between Calderon and Acevedo, became strained when she announced that she would not seek reelection and supported Jose Alfredo Hernandez Mayoral instead of him. Acevedo Vila, her running mate in the gubernatorial slate of 2000, found out thru the media of both her retirement and her decision to back Hernandez Mayoral. When Hernandez Mayoral, announced his retirement, Calderon again failed to publicly back Hernandez Mayoral and it has been said that she tried to convince Sen. Roberto Prats to run for the gubernatorial post but the rookie senator decided to stay in the ballot as the resident commissioner candidate. Since then Calderon and Acevedo Vila have been rarely seen together. Calderon however argued on Monday that she has cooperated with Acevedo Vila and denied that she left him alone in the gubernatorial race. Calderon Signs Bill That Increases Police Salaries August 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — Gov. Sila M. Calderon announced on Monday that come October the starting salary of a police agent would be $2,100 monthly, an increase of $400. Calderon announcement, who said her administration has done more that any other administration in favor of the island workers, comes at a time when union leaders have described her administration as anti-worker "This much deserved increase completes al our efforts aimed at correctly equipping police with the patrol cars, radio, uniform, weapons and latest technology to end crime and violence," said Calderon during a press conference where she was joined by Police Superintendent Agusitn Cartagena. The governor has been severely criticized for vetoing a bill aimed at increasing the nurses salaries and for he attitude with her personnel in negotiating with the Ports Authority and the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority. Poll: Rossello 43%, Acevedo Vila 34%, Berrios 5% August 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — If elections were held today, New Progressive Party (NPP) gubernatorial candidate, Pedro Rossello, would win by a 9% margin over his Popular Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Anibal Acevedo Vila, according to a poll published on Monday. 43% of those polled said they favored former governor Pedro Rossello; 34% stood behind Resident Commissioner Acevedo Vila, and 5% favored Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) candidate Ruben Berrios. The poll, with a 3% margin of error, was designed and conducted by New York based Kaagan Research Associates for a local newspaper. Pollsters used a sample of 1,000 island residents, interviewed between August 4 and August 16. According to the poll, Rossello has increased his lead over Acevedo Vila by two percentage points since the last newspaper poll in May. While both candidates have increased in numbers, Rossello shows stronger growth by gaining a 5% increase over Acevedo Vila’s 3% gain. Nearly two month from the November 2 elections, 9% of voters polled said they were undecided as for whom they would support; 7% indicated the would abstain and 2% refused to reveal their intentions. In May’s poll the numbers abstentions held at 16%. Among those not affiliated to any political party, 22% said they would vote for Rossello; 18% said they would vote Acevedo Vila, and 7% said they would vote for Berrios. Within that same group 22% said they would abstain, 28% were undecided and 3% refused to say whom they would vote for. Poll: 30% Say Rossello’s Image Has Getting Worse August 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — A poll made public on Monday revealed that for 30% of Puerto Rican voters think the image of New Progressive Party (NPP) gubernatorial candidate, Pedro Rossello, has gotten worse during the last year, 17% believe the same of his Popular Democratic Party contender, Anibal Acevedo Vila. 57% of those interviewed from the PDP and 52% of the Puerto Rican Independence Party said their opinion with regard to Rossello has gotten worse in the last 12 months. While, 45% of those from the NPP said their opinion regarding Rossello has changed positively during the last year. The poll, with a 3% margin of error, was designed and conducted by New York based Kaagan Research Associates for a local newspaper. Pollsters used a sample of 1,000 island residents, interviewed between August 4 and August 16. Gap Closes Between Fortuño And Prats August 23, 2004 SAN JUAN (AP) — Contrary to trends in the gubernatorial race, the fight for the post of resident commissioner stands at 43% behind New Progressive Party (NPP) candidate, Luis Fortuño, and 38% in support of the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Roberto Prats, according to poll published on Monday. 3% of those polled said they backed Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) candidate, Edwin Irizarry Mora, in November’s elections. 11% said they would abstain, 3% said they were undecided, and 1% refused to say who they would vote for. The poll, with a 3% margin of error, was designed and conducted by New York based Kaagan Research Associates for a local newspaper. Pollsters used a sample of 1,000 island residents, interviewed between August 4 and August 16. Among eligible voters not affiliated to any party, Prats seems to be more popular with 32% of the vote while Fortuño gets 26%. In the gubernatorial race, 43% of those polled said they favored former governor Pedro Rossello; 34% stood behind Resident Commissioner Acevedo Vila, and 5% favored Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) candidate Ruben Berrios.
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