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.