We often write about Puerto Rico’s past and present, but George Laws García, executive director of the Puerto Rico Statehood Council, wrote an article in El Nuevo Dia on “The future we can make a reality in Puerto Rico.” Referring to Governor Gonzalez-Colon’s address on the state of the territory, Laws Garcia described the speech as “a clear and ambitious path focused on tangible results for the people.”
“González Colón’s clearest message is that what matters most is that the government act effectively to improve the opportunities and quality of life for all Puerto Ricans. But that effectiveness depends not only on immediate actions taken by her and her cabinet, but also on how these actions fit into a transformative vision for society that the rest of the government and the people can embrace,” wrote Laws Garcia. “That is exactly what her administration is generating: a vision of a new and better Puerto Rico that we all know in our hearts we can make a reality, backed by concrete actions to achieve it and an open invitation to the people to unite and take the reins of our destiny together.”
Challenges
The State of the Territory address brought up a range of challenges Puerto Rico is currently facing:
- Mistrust of the government
- The PROMESA Fiscal Oversight and Management Board, which holds a colonial level of power which, in a state, would be in the hands of the elected representatives
- The energy crisis which threatens the health and well-being of residents of Puerto Rico as well as the stability of the economy
- The economic crisis, which requires realistic economic development which will bring opportunities to Puerto Ricans
Laws Garcia commended the governor for taking the bull by the horns. “In all of these issues and the others she addressed, there is a common denominator: a clear recognition of the challenges that impact the daily lives of our people and a firm determination to confront them,” he wrote.
Statehood
“Addressing the inequality, uncertainty, and lack of full civil rights resulting from territorial colonialism is an essential part of her vision.” Laws Garcia continued. “The governor is committed to honoring the will of the electoral majority, which has already chosen statehood four times for Puerto Rico’s future. Her concrete proposal is to use a whole-of-government approach to begin the transition to statehood: improving government operations, elevating the quality of life, increasing economic competitiveness, and communicating, educating, and advocating for Congress and the American people to act on our democratic mandate for statehood.”
“With that clear direction,” he concludes, “it is now up to all of us who dream and work for a better Puerto Rico to unite to make that future a reality.” Join us in the national movement to achieve statehood for Puerto Rico.
One response
The question is not how to request statehood for Puerto Rico given recent plebiscite results. The question is what will we, as a state, bring forth to the table of the 50. What can we contribute to the union that will be attractive to the other 50 states? It cannot be an opportunity to spend more federal funds than what the Fed government currently spends with the colony. It cannot be the contribution of the poorest jurisdiction in the US. And it will not be the strategic location in the Caribbean since any buttons can be pressed from virtually anywhere in the US.
So, what is it? How will PR make this attractive to the other 50??