In the next 3 weeks, the Puerto Rican electorate will once again decide who will lead the island of four million.  There are many issues confronting the winner of this election.  With the economic situation in the mainland United States being so precarious, the old saying that when the United States gets a cold, Puerto Rico gets pneumonia is proving to be no less true in this century than it was in the last, swift action will be the order of the day.  Polls continue to indicate that Resident Commissioner Luis Fortuño is likely to be the winner of this contest.  To any and all the candidates we say:

· Do not forget that there is one fundamental issue that continues to exercise undue influence over a governor’s ability to tackle the other important issues affecting the population, namely, Puerto Rico’s unresolved political status.
· As governor, you have the opportunity to go down in history as THE governor who finally resolves the 500+ year old political status question…seize the moment!!
· The supporters of the Let Puerto Rico Decide movement expect this to be the top priority of the next administration.  Puerto Ricans cannot continue to wait as this issue continues to be ignored and the island remains one of the oldest colonies on the face of the earth.

Our movement continues to grow and one that will challenge the polity that, in its design, disenfranchises more than four million U.S. citizens from participating in the political institutions that govern their daily lives.

If Puerto Ricans are good enough to fight and die in places like Iraq and Afghanistan in defense of that nation’s freedom and prosperity, well then surely they are also worthy to participate in a process of self-determination that would allow them to choose among valid non-territorial, non-colonial political status options.

THEREFORE, the supporters of the Let Puerto Rico Decide movement demand that within the first 100 days of the new administration, the new governor should have boots on the ground in Washington, D.C. developing and implementing strategies that will begin a congressional process that leads to Congress informing its U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico what political status option are trully available its residents.  Whether it is through statehood, independence or some form of free association, Puerto Ricans need to finally take control of their political destiny.  The time to end what many have described as the unfinished business of American democracy is NOW.  Let’s seize the moment.

Governor Acevedo Vila’s popularity has continued its steady decline. With more than 84% of Puerto Ricans recently stating that they are not happy with the direction the island has been heading for the last few years, it seems that that governor’s political future is in serious doubt. More and more people are seemingly abandoning the Acevedo-Vila bandwagon. Recently, a group of ex-Popular Democratic Party leaders as well as former administration officials announced the formation of “Populares con Fortuño” and have made public their intention to vote for the statehood party candidate.

One reason for the break in ranks with the PDP stems from the party’s continued effort of seeking increased political separation between Puerto Rico and the United States. Ironically, it has no problem with economic assistance. “Populares con Fortuño” represent a sector of the PDP that has become very nervous with the rhetoric coming from the top as to Puerto Rico’s political status. It is important to note that the PDP is essentially composed of three sectors. The first, and perhaps the largest sector is made up of individuals who tend to enjoy Puerto Rico’s current status with the U.S. but if push came to shove, would favor Puerto Rican statehood over any possibility of separation from the United States. Secondly, there are those who would really prefer independence, but acknowledge the inability of the Puerto Rican Independence Party to ever win a general election and therefore cling to the PDP. Finally, there are those who have consumed the cool aid spewed by the party of a permanent union with U.S. citizenship and entitlements, with no taxes or responsibilities. “Populares con Fortuño” have stated that they feel, “threatened and betrayed” by what they consider separatists language in the party’s platform.

As the candidates debate, and the governor prepares to face a multi-count indictment in federal court, Puerto Rico once again finds itself at a crossroad. If it continues in its present course the island is likely to continue to face a never-ending economic crisis with a governor trying to stay out of federal prison and the all-important status issue being given another four years to languish unattended.

On the other hand, if the electorate decides to hand Luis Fortuño the reigns of power, then we must do everything possible to ensure he fulfills his promise to ensure that the Puerto Rico political status quandry is finally resolved. That is the challenge we face. It is one that Let Puerto Rico Decide/Citizens Educational Foundation look forward to engage.

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (CNN) — Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took their campaigns to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico on Saturday in an effort to woo voters before the June 1 primary.

There are 55 Democratic delegates up for grabs, though voters cannot take part in the general election in November.

Obama campaigned early Saturday at the University of Puerto Rico in Bayamon, where he praised the nation’s veterans before Memorial Day.

“It’s fitting to be here today, not just because Memorial Day is around the corner but because Puerto Ricans are such an important part of the United States military. On this island and in Puerto Rican neighborhoods across America, you can go into almost any home and find a veteran living there or a photograph of a loved one in uniform hanging on the wall,” he said. (more…)

Saying that He seeks Puerto Rican soverignty so that Puerto Rico is governed by Puerto Ricans, Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila stated earlier today that he wants to remain his party’s candidate for Governor despite being indicted earlier this month by federal officials.

It also almost seems, by listening to today’s rhetoric, that the Popular Democratic Party has really become the Puerto Rican Independence party.

Democratic presidential hopeful, Hillary Clinton has announced how a Clinton administration would deal with Puerto Rico’s political status. In a recent press release the Clinton campaign stated that “since the United States took Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898, Puerto Rico’s leaders all have wanted a form of government that provides for Puerto Rico’s national laws to be democratically determined and implemented, although they have disagreed on the options. The issue is one of basic democracy and self-determination. All people are entitled to a representative form of government at all levels. Hillary also strongly believes that Puerto Rico should have the status that a majority of its people want from among all of the options. As President, from Day One, she will make it a personal priority to work with all factions — advocates of the present status of the Commonwealth, statehood, independence, and national sovereignty in free association with the United States — and with leaders of Congress — and without any preference among the options — to enable the question of Puerto Rico’s status to finally be resolved.”

Recently, Presidential candidate Barack Obama also released his position on the Puerto Rico status issue. Much like the Obama position, the Clinton campaign has made the age-old mistake of including the problem as a potential solution to the Puerto Rico status dilemma, namely the so-called “Commonwealth” option.

As of yet, the McCain campaign has not stated where it stands with regards to Puerto Rico’s political status. One can hope that at least one candidate seeks to trully resolve the Puerto Rico status impasse…time will tell.