October 1, 1999
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By Daniel L. Muñoz
It is not difficult to understand the hold that Puerto Rico holds for those of Puerto Rican descent, that live on the mainland, of the United States. It is their Patria Madre. It was where they first saw the vision of life and smelled the tropical pungent smells of what to them must have been heaven on earth. Their Paradise, however, finds itself embroiled in a desperate struggle for its very heart and soul. Shall it seek its' Independence, as Cuba and the Philippines did, who were also a part of the far flung Spanish empire before becoming a possession of the United States, a hundred years ago? Shall it instead ask the Congress to allow it to become the 51st state of the Nation? Or, shall it remain a part of the Commonwealth of the United States as it has been for the past hundred years? These are questions that have ruffled the feathers of the mostly Spanish speaking people living in Puerto Rico and brought heart wrenching dissension between the 2.5 million Puerto Ricans living in the United States and the 3.7 million citizens living in Puerto Rico.
A Glance at Puerto Rico
Capitol San Juan, Puerto Rico
The Island is 1,050 miles Southeast of Miami in the Northern Caribbean. It is a fairly large island encompassing 3,429 square miles. In size it equals the state of Connecticut. Its' population of 3.7 million equals that of Arizona and Kentucky. The Capitol is in San Juan and has nearly 500,000 residents. The metropolitan area of San Juan has a population of 1.6 million. The island is tropical with a mean temperature of 75º in Winter and 81º in Summer. Not withstanding a few tropical storms and hurricanes, its is a beautiful island.
Puerto Ricans have English and Spanish as their official Languages. The public schools teach English from the second through the twelfth grade. All government business, as well as the courts conduct their official business in English. Local governmental affairs are conducted in English and Spanish. Surprisingly, the lingua franca of the streets and commerce are bilingual i.e. they easily switch from one to the other. The main daily newspaper, "El Nuevo Dia", is bilingual with some stories in English others in Spanish. You have no doubt you are in Puerto Rico the language of love, music, and theater es Español with the particular Puerto Rican nuances.
Religion wise, Puerto Ricans, as are most countries conquered by Spain, Catholic. 80% of the Christians claim Catholicism as their religion. 99% of the country claims to be Christian!
Education in Puerto Rico is carried out by both public and private institutions surprisingly 86% of the students are enrolled in public schools with the rest attending private schools. Education is valued in Puerto Rico which has one of the worlds highest post-secondary enrollments. There are 29 private and 6 public institutions of higher learning and 16 vocational and technological training institutes. Unfortunately, there is a brain drain with over 2.5 million Puerto Ricans coming to the U.S.
The Political Roots of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico became a possession of the United States, at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War (1898). Two years later, 1900, military rule ended in Puerto Rico. Under the Foraker Act, it became a territory one in which all provisions of the U.S. Constitution had been extended. The Act established a Federally appointed Civil Government, in which the President of the United States appointed the Governor, the Cabinet, and the Supreme Court Justices. The local legislature consisted of only a House of Representatives and would be elected by popular vote.
In 1917 Puerto Ricans became statutory citizens of the United States under the terms of the Jones Act. However they did not get voting representation in the Congress nor could they vote for the President. The Act also added a popularly elected Senate and allowed the Governor to appoint Cabinet members with the consent of their Senate. Years later, (1947), the Crawford-Butler Act give Puerto Ricans the right to elect their own Governor. The downside: Puerto Ricans could now be drafted into the armed forces of the United States.
It would not be until 1950 that Public Law 600 would be passed by the U.S. Congress that established in the nature of the compact between the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Government and set in motion the drafting of a Constitution. It also established the law that Puerto Rico's fundamental political, social and economic relationship in respect to the U.S would not change... Nor would it in any way preclude a future determination by the Congress of Puerto Rico's ultimate status. Puerto Ricans and Congress approved the Constitution in 1952 and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was proclaimed. The question of "ultimate status" still waits to be resolved.
Wheels for Self-Determination Set in Motion
The Editors of La Prensa San Diego were recently visited by a delegation from Puerto Rico who flew to San Diego to discuss the upcoming plebiscite (perhaps in November 1999) to be held in Puerto Rico to determine their status. In the delegation were Herbert W. Brown III, President `Citizens Educational Foundation Inc.' based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gary A. Heimberg, Attorney at Law. Associated with Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, based in Washington, D.C., Christina D. Burnett, Project Director, Citizens Educational Foundation, INC, based in New York City, and Abelardo L. Valdez, Attorney at Law, Washington D.C.
"The fate of the Puerto Rico has been debated in the Halls of Congress and subjected to the caprice of the major political parties in the U. S.A. since the 1900's. The people of Puerto Rico have also debated over what course they should take in determining the ultimate status of Puerto Rico. We knew that at sometime the United States would have to face the fact that being viewed as a colonial power would eventually go against the concepts and principles of the American people.
The concept of self-determination and the form it would take fell along several lines and where supported at one time or another by the differing segments of the electorate. The working class as well as the lower income groups aligned with the Commonwealth Party (PPD). The /Upper economic groups aligned with the Statehood Party (PNP). The young Upper class radicalized groups tended to align with the Pro-Independence Group (PIP). Democrats and Republicans were split amongst the PPD and the PNP. The Pro-Independence group has within its' ranks larger numbers of Socialist who hold the Cuban revolution as their example of their Independence model.
L/P: What is the purpose of your organization?
"The Citizens Educational Foundation was created to provide information on the situation in Puerto Rico and to make them aware of our deep desires for self-determination of our status. At the last Plebiscite in 1998, which was a locally sponsored non-binding plebiscite. The results were very clear 46.5% of the voters voted for statehood, 2.5% voted for Independence, 0.1% voted for Commonwealth. However the election was questionable One of the political parties in order to sow confusion in the voters minds, place a fourth and fifth option on the ballot. The Plebiscite was not called for by the U.S. Congress therefore the definitions of what status would be acceptable were not known. The definitions of what would be on the ballot were determined by the political parties. One of the definitions placed was "None of the above" which after heavy lobbying convinced 50.2% of the voters to use it as a protest vote against the government. The fifth option was to vote for a `Territorial Commonwealth.' It received 0.1% of the vote," noted the group spokesman Herbert Brown.
L/P: Wasn't there a Plebiscite held in 1967 and 1993?
"Yes, these Plebiscites were also non binding as the U.S. government had not consulted with the government of Puerto Rico on their political status preference.
L/P: How did those turn out?
"Statehood received 38.9% of the vote, Enhanced Commonwealth received 60.4% (An option not recognized by the U.S. Constitution. Puerto Rico would enjoying the best of two worlds Statehood and Commonwealth). Independence received 0.6%. In 1993, Statehood received 46.3%, Enhanced Commonwealth received 48.6% and Independence received 4.4%.
L/P: What does it take to have a binding plebiscite?
"In 1997 the legislature of Puerto Rico adopted a Resolution requesting that the 105th Congress and the President call for a Plebiscite sponsored by the Federal Government. The Bills H.R. 856 and S,472 submitted would have authorized a congressionally sanctioned process, which included that Congress would provide definition of the options -Status quo Territorial Commonwealth, Statehood, AND Independence. Having the Congress determine the options would prevent splinter groups from adding or changing the definitions that would not be acceptable to The U.S. Congress. H.R.856 passed the House but the Senate did not act on S.472. However on September the Senate Passed a resolution expressing support for Puerto Rican self-determination!
On December 13, 1998 the Puerto Rican government decided to conduct yet another plebiscite. This time the legislature would provide the definitions of permissible status options instead of the political parties... All to no avail. They failed to follow those definitions that H.R. 856 had sanctioned. The legislature provided for `statehood, territorial commonwealth, free association, independence' and `none of the above'!
Once again the legislature of Puerto Rico failed to show the political discipline to be able to demonstrate a positive show of `self-determination.' 46.5% opted for Statehood, 2.5% for Independence, 0.3% for Free Association, 0.1 for Territorial Commonwealth and 50.2% for "None of The Above"! The Popular Democratic Party convinced their rank and file that their true status should be Enhanced Commonwealth.
L/P: This is a curious exercise in as much as the U.S. Congress has the authority to determine what the terms will be to determine Puerto Richs' ultimate political status.
"The results of the various plebiscites makes it clear that the U.S. Congress has to define the available options and provide for a federally sponsored plebiscite."
With a clear mandate by the Puerto Rican electorate the United States Congress can then decide if they will give Puerto Rico their self-determined choice. If Statehood is the choice their will be sharp positions taken by the Democrats and Republicans and some shrewd horse trading will probably take place. Eventually, the President and the American people will help determine whether the want the status quo, or give Puerto Rico Independence, or whether they will accept a 51st state into the Union.
A View from The Local People
Seeking the views of some Puerto Ricans, La Prensa San Diego visited Puerto Rico. In an interview with Keith Terpe, former Agent for the Seafarers International Union for the entire Caribbean and now retired in Puerto Rico.
L/P: What is your candid opinion of the plebiscites taken in Puerto Rico to determine their political future?
"The voters were induced to vote for `Enhanced Commonwealth' because they have become used to the idea of Uncle Sam providing them with Welfare, Food Stamps, health care and all the other perks that U.S. citizens get without any cost to them. Other than Medicare, which they contribute to, they pay absolutely no Federal taxes. They enjoy all the rights of Citizenship. Under Commonwealth status, if they chose this option they might not any longer get these benefits. If they select Statehood... they have to pay all those taxes and run the risk of losing their culture and language rights. They would suffer all the indignities and racist legislation that is passed in the U.S. every year. If they select enhanced Commonwealth status they get the best of two worlds. Why pay for the cow when you're getting the milk for free? Somehow `None of the Above' looked like a viable option to them. Independence is not a viable option to them. They see what has happen to the other Caribbean countries that have opted out for Independence. The are neither independent nor are they able to develop the economies to support their citizens," stated Mr. Keith Turpe.
La Prensa San Diego next interviewed Rafael Rodriguez, a Tour Bus Driver and a life time resident of Puerto Rico.
L/P: What are the economic conditions in Puerto Rico?
"Conditions in Puerto Rico are not good but they could get worse. We all speak English and Spanish. It is required but there isn't enough work for all of the people that don't have skills or higher education. We compete for jobs with illegal migrants from Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic. Wages are low. They closed the biggest fish cannery in Puerto Rico (Bumble Bee) because they are going to move it to Asia. Wages are cheaper there than they are here. We don't have any more work. Thank God we have the U.S. to provide us with some welfare and food stamps and now we have credit cards. We charged our cars, clothes and food against our credit cards. Some of our friends are now going to jail because they can't pay the money back. We don't know how we are going to pay it back.
We are happy with the Commonwealth status but some of our people are very prideful of their culture. They would like to have their own country or be a state. Look at the rain forest and the country side. The last hurricane that swept across here destroyed most of the rain forest, the fruits, flowers, animals, roads, houses and people were killed. If it hadn't been for the U.S. Government none of this could be repaired. Our government doesn't have any money for serious things like these."
Señor Rodriguez took me for a private tour of the country side, away from the glitter of Puerto Rico. It was a beehive of activity with work crews busy repairing the storm damaged roads and buildings. Homes that were destroyed still lay on the ground... empty without families within. Signs were still tacked up urging people to vote in last December's plebiscite. Yet.. at a road side restaurant where we stopped to eat... the strains of that beautiful song "En Mi Viejo San Juan" wafted out the doorways and windows reminding one... That whatever happens there will always be a Puerto Rico. All they need is the chance to determine their own fate... Está en las manos de Dios.
(Continued in the next edition)
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