|
 |
|
|
|
Para ver este documento en español, oprima aquí. Calderon: P.R. Status Should Be Handled By Next AdministrationGore Opposes English As Official Language, Backs Vieques PlanVargas Llosa Novel Depicts P.R.Navy Wants More HispanicsVieques Washington ProtestKing Plans Vieques ShowComptroller Clears CalderonRHC Asks Straight Party Line VoteCorrectional Summit Ends******* Calderon: P.R. Status Should Be Handled By Next Administration September 21, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - Popular Democratic Party President Sila Calderon sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) declining the invitation to participate in hearings by the House Resources Committee on the island's status. In her letter, Calderon tells Young that Puerto Rico's status is a very sensitive topic that can't be discussed in the short time before the U.S. and Puerto Rico elections. "The leadership of the Resources Committee will change in January, when the new Congress begins. Thereby, this sensitive issue should be addressed by the next Congress, the new president and the new governor of Puerto Rico," she said in her letter. ******* Gore Backs Clinton's Plan And Defends Right To Criticize Navy by Jose A. Delgado September 20, 2000 Washington - In an interview with EFE, Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore pledged to reduce unemployment among Hispanics and oppose any legislation to make English the official U.S. language and said that the U.S. Navy "must find another place, as soon as possible" to carry out its military maneuvers other than the Puerto Rican island of Vieques . "The Navy must find another place as soon as possible. Our government has proposed a fair solution to the problem of Vieques , which would give the people of Vieques the right to decide the future of the island at the same time that it allows military training to achieve its purpose," Gore said. Gore said that "patriotic American citizens of Puerto Rico have a right and the responsibility to criticize the military forces when they think that these act in an unacceptable way." ******* Vargas Llosa: Novel Depicts Caribbean Region, Including P.R. By Proviana Colon Diaz September 19, 2000 SAN JUAN — Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa said one of the island's most prominent figures, former Gov. Luis Muñoz Marin, indirectly surfaces in his latest work. Vargas Llosa made his statements to the Puerto Rico media during a press conference to present his latest novel "La fiesta del chivo" (The Feast of the Goat). The novel was to be official presented Monday night at the Luis A. Ferre Fine Arts Center in Santurce. [T]he novel deals with the last days of the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo, who ruled the neighboring Dominican Republic for more than 30 years until his assassination May 31,1961. It is in that period that Puerto Rico and Muñoz Marin played a key role in sheltering Dominican refugees and in the fight for democracy in the nearby country, the writer said. "One of Trujillo's nemeses was Muñoz Marin," said Vargas Llosa, adding that the dictator would have done anything to assassinate the island's first elected Puerto Rican governor. ******* Navy Intensifies Efforts To Attract Hispanics September 19, 2000 SAN JUAN - U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Danzig announced that they've intensified efforts to recruit Hispanics. He said it's important for U.S. democracy that naval forces be representative of the general population. "Hispanics of the caliber of hero and gold medal winner, Sgt. Roy Benavidez, are models to be emulated by all in our armed forces," said Danzig in published reports. ******* Puerto Ricans Head To Washington To Protest Vieques Exercises September 18, 2000 Washington - Puerto Rican activists will stage a protest Friday in front of the White House against continued U.S. Navy training exercises on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques . Event organizers hope the protest, dubbed "The National Day of Solidarity with the People of Vieques ," will be the largest one held in Washington this year against the Navy's use of the island for, among other things, bombing practice. More than 1,000 people from 20 U.S. cities, in particular New York, Philadelphia and Chicago, are expected to turn out Friday at noon. ******* Larry King Plans Vieques Show By Meliza Ayuso September 16, 2000 SAN JUAN - Renowned journalist Larry King said he plans to do a show about the Vieques issue after the November elections. At a press conference held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel & Casino in Isla Verde, he was briefed about what was happening with the U.S. Navy in the island municipality of Vieques and said he will present both sides in his show. "I understand both sides," King said. "It's one of those dilemmas of modern times. You have a strong defense system, and when there's no threat in the world, it's very hard to sell it to people." He did say that he will certainly ask the presidential and vice presidential candidates in the U.S. elections about the Vieques situation. ******* Comptroller's Probe Clears Calderon By Iván Román September 17, 2000 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- After some rough going and a dip in the polls, Popular Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Sila Calderon got some relief last week from the island`s comptroller. Days after the New Progressive Party-controlled Legislature began televised hearings on whether Calderon, mayor of San Juan, gave too sweet a deal to a big campaign contributor, Puerto Rico Comptroller Manuel Diaz Saldana said Wednesday that his probe showed she did nothing illegal. NPP politicians have blasted Calderon for renting a lot in Old San Juan for 30 years to businessman Ruben Velez Lebron for a discounted rate of $1.68 million. Calderon said the terms of the deal were necessary to get it sealed. ******* Hernandez Colon Asks PDP Faithful To Vote Straight Party Line September 16, 2000 SAN JUAN (AP) - Former Popular Democratic Party (PDP) Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon on Friday asked party faithful to vote a straight party ticket for the PDP and its gubernatorial and resident commissioner candidates, Sila Calderon and Anibal Acevedo Vila, respectively. This is the first firm endorsement by Hernandez Colon of Calderon's bid after she nixed his son Jose Alfredo Hernandez Mayoral's bid for the resident commissioner candidacy. ******* Correctional Summit Ends With Las Malvinas Visit By Proviana Colon Diaz September 15, 2000 LAS MALVINAS MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON - With a pledge that the 2nd Americas Correctional Summit will be held again next year in Puerto Rico, and after visits to several island prisons, the first such summit ended Thursday. Although privatization of prison facilities was a key element discussed during the summit, none of the guest countries have engaged in that practice to the extent that Puerto Rico has. Four main prison facilities in Puerto Rico are run by private companies. Overall, members of the 21 countries represented in the summit appeared to agree that privatization is a good alternative for their prison systems. Summit participants visited the Humacao Juvenile Detention Center, the Women's Rio Grande Prison Camp, the privatized Bayamon Wackenhut facility and Las Malvinas Maximum Security Prison.
|
