Memo to Puerto Rico’s Popular Democratic Party (PPD), champions and defenders of a status colonial arrangement that is 60 years old and is no longer working: stop the politics, stop the whining, and allow the will of the Puerto Rican people to decide on its political future.
Puerto Rican Governor Luis Fortuño
Today, Puerto Rican and pro-statehood Republican Governor Luis Fortuño signed into law a two-part voter referendum to address the island’s political status preference. The process had already experienced a public session where amendments to the vote were made as well as criticism from members of Fortuño’s own party.
(On a sidenote, Fortuño’s actions must have taken Puerto Rican history into account, since the 2012 plebiscite will occur during the 60th year anniversary of the Puerto Rican Constitution, the document that declared the island a Commonwealth of the United States, the country that invaded it in 1898.)
Now, the PPD leadership, which clings to a colonial status quo mentality that has done very little to advance the status question as well as Puerto Rico’s move into the 21st century, is crying foul. Bring on the POLITIQUERÍA, which has become the island’s #1 pastime, even though more and more islanders are done with the pettiness and more worried about getting jobs and staying safe.
As reported by the Associated Press:
The first part of the referendum will ask voters if they want a change in status or prefer to remain a U.S. commonwealth. The second part will ask that voters choose from three options: statehood, independence or sovereign free association.
The original proposal was to hold the first part of the referendum in August 2012 and then, only if the majority sought a change in status, hold the second part during the November 2012 general elections.
But under the new proposal, the two-part referendum will be held on Nov. 6, said Gov. Luis Fortuño, who leads the pro-statehood New Progressive Party.
Regardless of what voters decide, any change requires approval by the U.S. Congress and president.
PPD Senator Eduardo Bhatia
Sen. Eduardo Bhatia said holding both parts on the same day makes no sense because it assumes that the pro-status quo option doesn’t win and the second round will be necessary.
“This law is proof that the leadership of the pro-statehood movement turns to trickery, deceit and the technique of confusion as political weapons,” said Bhatia of the Popular Democratic Party, which supports the current commonwealth status. “What opportunity do voters have to seriously reflect between one vote and the other? None.”
The questions will be on the same ballot and Fortuño has not stated clearly how they will be presented. Critics fear that being forced to choose from the three options could influence how people vote in the first part.
Kenneth McClintock, secretary of state for Puerto Rico, denied accusations that pro-status quo supporters would be ignored, saying that people were free to leave the second part of the ballot blank. He said Bhatia’s party had previously agreed to holding the referendum in one day.
McClintock said the U.S. Congress would interpret the results if the majority chose something other than maintaining the status quo.
Fortuño also discarded criticism of the referendum.
“All processes aimed at resolving Puerto Rico’s political future assumes that the current situation no longer has majority support,” he said.
Fortuño spokeswoman Ana del Valle said his administration chose to hold the two-part referendum on the same day to get a sense of what people prefer for the island’s political future.
The referendum received praise from Luis Delgado, leader of a group that is pushing for Puerto Rico to have a sovereign free association with the U.S. But Delgado urged Fortuño to demand that the U.S. outline terms and conditions for each of the choices before the referendum is held.
Puerto Rico has long debated its political status, with no majority for any particular status emerging in referendums held in 1967, 1993 and 1998.
Rafael Cox Alomar, a PDP member who is seeking the island’s nonvoting Congressional seat, dismissed the referendum as expensive and unnecessary.
“This referendum does not work and does not involve nor compromise in any way the U.S. Congress,” he said. “In a moment of economic crisis… the cost of this referendum is an insult to the people who reject it.”
Alejandro Garcia Padilla, who is running against Fortuño, said the Popular Democratic Party would soon issue its official stance on the referendum.
Critics also noted that if Fortuño’s party loses the election, millions of dollars spent on the referendum will have gone to waste.
The PPD reaction is clearly partisan and short-sighted. The Defenders of the Colonial Commonwealth are making a huge political mistake by trying to defend a system that is becoming less and less viable for the island. Instead, the PPD should seriously consider taking the growing anti-Fortuño sentiment and turn it into a positive. Why won’t it consider other options that go beyond the current system?
If the PPD continues to think it is running a campaign out of 1979—when the political will to maintain the Colonial Commonwealth was stronger— it will lose it all. Fortuño will win his re-election, even with the island’s social and economic problems, and statehood will win out. The time for the PPD to wake up is now, or else everything it has tried to defend since 1952 will vanish. The smart move now is to try and salvage what it can. Voters in Puerto Rico are ready to change and improve the status quo, and there is still a sentiment that statehood is too extreme and the wrong fit for the island.
But if the PPD doesn’t change its course and stop complaining that it doesn’t approve of the rules of the game, they will become irrelevant.
Why doesn’t the PPD lead the charge in forcing the US Congress to make the plebiscite vote binding? This might actually be seen as a proactive and tangible action that goes beyond political whining.
The question is: if your house is on fire, do you work hard to save part of your house or do you stubbornly refuse to save your burning house out of anger that your house is on fire?
Here’s hoping the PPD wants to truly save the burning house. Puerto Rico is definitely worth saving. The people should have a voice. Let the politicians get out of the way.
Franky Benítez 
The status quo does not turns 50 in 2012, but 60…
Oh yeah, good point, do’h! I am so bad in math! Gracias!
PuertoRico Ya es la Hora! get it togerther I am sick of being treated like a SecondClass LatinoSlave Negro in America.We got to get our Nation together.
No more BS please!
Yes, no more BS. Totalmente de acuerdo
I hope some form of sovereignty is granted soon. Can’t stand having la isla del encanto be treated like a doormat any longer and statehood is out of the question period!
The problem is that the vote needs to be binding or else it means nothing, yet again.
“But Delgado urged Fortuño to demand that the U.S. outline terms and conditions for each of the choices before the referendum is held.”
Give me a break! Again, waiting for daddy US to lay out the conditions that would affect Puerto Rico. This should be done by the leadership here in Puerto Rico through input from the people. If you wait for Congress to draw up the terms then you will only be disappointed once again. The terms must be drawn up here in Puerto Rico and presented to Congress in a timely manner so negotiations can take place to come up with terms favorable to both the US and Puerto Rico islanders before the November elections so we will know exactly what we will be voting for. I have been saying here all along that this must get started now for it to be ready by next year. But all I hear is just talk, talk, talk as usual, and apparently no one here getting down to work to get the terms completed. Is it because the parties of the same old, same old will again blame the US congress if nothing changes and again win the support of a blind and ignorant voter base? It’s time we demand more from the leaders here in Puerto Rico and less on the US, for now.
At some point, we need to demand a binding resolution. Or else it means nothing.
If that is all you are demanding Julito, then the referendum is once again being set up to fail.
Very likely because the political parties are still stuck in the 70s
You represent one of the new young voices for Puerto Rico now Julito. But as long as you continue down the same road as those from the past, then you will only continue to perpetuate what they themselves have perpetuated from their past. “Think different”
I think I do, but I will try harder :). Thanks for the challenge.
Looks very much like one of those ancient East-Indian weddings.. Except this bride, Boricua is being drag, kicking to the altar, by a father (the Gov.) who’s motivations (hmm) are not so clear, what is clear, is time and tribulations has corroded the colonial bars that bent Her since Columbus ..”She” wants the right to make Her own choice, not to be again, a pawn in anyone’s political scheme, no matter how rich the dowry. ..
What an amazing metaphor! Bad BOLLYWOOD MOVIE! Can LA COMAY be the priest? 🙂
”She” wants the right to make Her own choice, not to be again, a pawn in anyone’s political scheme, no matter how rich the dowry. ..” Myrna
Nice metaphor Myrna. Here’s another one. The wife does not want complete independence from her husband, rather she wants to keep her allowance, his security blanket and the family name. And be on her own to do what ever she wants. Sounds like a perfect marriage to me; for the woman.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
I was pondering on all the metaphors and ways of describing our Isla Del Encanto up coming plebiscite. So I called my family in Puerto Rico to find out their feelings on this subject. My Mom (92 years, strong and clear) stated that for her the status was decided in 1952, when PL 600 declared the relationship between the island and the federal government. And she pointed out that it was ratified on every plebiscite since then. She feels that the island should not be a state but that more flexibility needs to be part of any new relation’s law allowing Puerto Rico and its constituents to have more saying, representation and mutual responsibilities between both parts. It should be clearly defined by both parties (Puerto Rico and the United States) and be allowed to function without “politiqueria”. I can agree with that, except that we are not so naïve to believe that “politiqueria” will be out. It has become part of our culture and, I am sorry to say, it is here to stay. When I was a Puerto Rican living on the island I participated in the political system. I remember during one of those plebiscites how the mayors and legislators and even the governor made statements that were not true. Like we would loose Social Security checks or this and that entitlement, if the constituent will not vote for this and that option. The truth is that those entitlements can be lost at any time since the US Congress can decide tomorrow that we will not have any more entitlements! End of issue. It does not have anything to with how we vote nor for whom. Yet the pervasive idea (at least with a great many Puerto Ricans) is that we would loose all those things. Are we “pancistas” and “politiqueros”, or not? Some will argue “Such is life!” I agree with some of the comments like those of Bruce R. Harris and WISE LATINA . If we could convince the other Puerto Ricans it will be a different story!
I hope I’m as lucid as your mother if I ever hit that age. Happy New Year!
Wow that is a GREAT observation! Agree! MEGALIKE!
Allowance!! From the same dude that promised another set of people 40 acres and a mule. lol .. All “She” wants is that big black boot off her throat. Free her ports so she can deal in free trade, put her people to work, instead of being dependent on what trickles down from the big table. Whatever the status. Just in case we haven’t notice, this world-wide monetary crisis, has had serious impact on everyone, and it isn’t getting any better. the “security blanket” a fragile/frailed farce.. quoting Mr. Harris: “Sounds like a perfect marriage to me; for the woman.” .. You’re funny. 🙂 .. All respect. 😉
I have a question from a boricua that has lived in the states for way too long, and anyone is more than welcome to answer… If the “commonwealth” is not working for the island, why is it still an option in the plebiscite?
Why not make it either Statehood, or Independence? Why prolong the agony?
In my candid opinion, Puerto Rico would be much better off as a Republic. Why want to continue this sickly co-dependency with the U.S.?
Because the island is ruled by a commonwealth party that is still stuck in 1952.
Because no one has yet to define what an independent Puerto Rico would look like. People in general do not like change, especially change that has really not been tried before. So they stick with what is familiar to them.
Colonial rule or statehood is not beneficial for Puerto Rico whatsoever. What we need is independence from the United States, nothing more, nothing less. It is disgusting that the current political parties in power in Puerto Rico and also due to years of injection of fear towards independence by the United States continue to tell us that we cannot prosper without the presence of another country or basically without being occupied by the United States and having them govern us. It sickens me to the core. Puerto Rico needs it’s independence.
Well basically we actually cannot function with the benefits of the US and I am going to explain why… Puerto Ricans are basically like those woman’s that marry a guy for money. Many many Puerto Ricans depends on the government (like getting welfare and food stamps and living on projects the government paying for they rent) but still they are so selfish that the only thing that US is asking is to become a state and to be honest with you i will like to see how Puerto Ricans will live being independent when most of the Puerto Ricans I will say 75% depends of the government of the United States. With that said is clear that most of us are lazy and how would you expect a island at this time of our lives when economy is so bad everywhere to be successful starting from the bottom with a bunch of lazy ones that loves to depends on a social security check or food stamps?… I am Puerto Rican myself and I am very proud of being so… But come on enough is enough… would you like to marry someone that takes all your money depends on your money for everything but wont give you sex? … take it the way you want… thats my opinion.
To Cesar and the rest. You all are living in a fantasy land, or just in denial. How many of you collect social security, cupones, or any other “benefit” from the Tyran US Govt.? I how many of your kids have used the Pell Grant? How many Hypocrites?!?!?! PR, mi isla, would be nothing more than a copy of the Dominican Republic AT BEST had it not been for the US. You should all take to the streets and be thankful that you are able to enjoy your liberties and freedom thanks to the US. I hope to see the US congress mandate a status choice of Independence or Statehood. Also, can any of you tell me exactly what it is you believe the US gains from “owning” PR? Please…anyone?!
I keep hearing and reading about the same issues every tens years or so. Puerto Rico needs to make a decision. Either you are an American or not. My grandparents and great grandparents were not born under the Puerto Rican Flag. My grandparents and their parents before them were not American citizen. They were all born under the Flag of Spain.
My Uncles who were born, before 1917 were not US Citizens. We are five generations of Puerto Rican serving in the Armed Forces, and died not only for the freedom of Puerto Rico, but the Freedom of all Americans. Come on now, you are either an American or not. This is the 21st Century, not 1952 when times were different, the country was poor and in poverty. The country is still poor, and struggling.Puerto Ricans want their cake and eat it too. I am a Democrat and proud, but I am ashamed of those Puerto Rican who complaint about the status of Puerto Rico. If it was not for the United States of America, we will be a third world country.
Puerto Rico cannot survive as an independent country. It does not have the high edge technology it needs. We lost over 400,000.00 islanders to the United States. We have more Puerto Ricans living in the United states than Puerto Rico. High crime rates, loss of jobs, people relying on government assistance, welfare. Only those who work for the Federal Government pay Federal taxes. Puerto Rico receives a lot of assistance from the United States to survive. Vieques, loss a lot of revenue in the ten millions, when the United States Armed Forces pulled out. If you want Puerto Rico to remain a Colony. Give up your status as a US Citizen.
I bet many of do not know the history of Puerto Rico and its culture. I am not talking the first elected Governor of Puerto Rico in 1948. Between 1898 and 1947 all the Governors of Puerto Rico were appointed by the President of the United States, and not Puerto Rican. I am also of Spaniard Ancestry, my parents, and all of the parents before them. I study Puerto Rican History and Culture in New York City, and how poor we were struggling in the island.
I bet some of you who call yourself Puerto Rican do not know who was the first Governor and was the second Governor of the island. Be proud of who you are, American of Puerto Rican descent whether or not you were born there.
To be Puerto Rican does not mean that you had to be born, educated or raised in the island. It is how you feel and what its in your heart.
If you want to continue your commonwealth status, fine so be it. But, do not reap the benefits from the United States and ask for a free hand out. You will still remain a colony living without the same dignity as all true Americans feel. What will Puerto Rico gain is they became the next 51st State of the Union? Two US Senators and six Congressional elected officials, who have the power to vote in Congress on the Status of the Puerto Rican people on the island. We have a Representative in Congress from Puerto Rico who really is a Resident Commissioner, although they call him a Congressmen, but he cannot vote. He cannot vote in Congress, nor can the People of Puerto Rico vote for the President of the United states other than the Caucus vote for the front runner at the National Convention. My vote if I was living there will be for pro-statehood. I can see the forest beyond the mountains and the light at the end of the tunnel. I served and forth in the Armed Forces for this country, and I am a proud American of Puerto Rican/Spaniard Ancestry. My children are children and grandchildren are fifth generations Americans, but proud of our heritage and history.