Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 6 February 2017

Puerto Rico gov approves referendum in quest for statehood

DANICA COTO in four previous referen-
Associated Press dums that have resulted
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) in no action from U.S. Con-
— Puerto Ricans are getting gress, which has final say
another shot at voting on on any changes in Puerto
statehood after the island’s Rico’s political status. There
governor this weekend ap- was no clear majority in the
proved a non-binding ref- first three referendums. In
erendum to determine the the last one, held in 2012,
U.S. territory’s political fu- 54 percent said they want-
ture. ed a change in status.
The referendum will be held Sixty-one percent who an-
on June 11 and gives vot- swered a second question
ers two options: statehood said they favored state-
or independence/free hood, but nearly 500,000
association. If a majority left that question blank,
chooses the latter, a sec- leading many to dismiss
ond referendum would be the result as illegitimate.
held in October and will ask Concerns are now growing
voters to choose between about the way the fifth ref-
the two. erendum is worded.
“Colonialism is not an op- “It doesn’t leave room for
tion for Puerto Rico,” Gov. any other options, which I
Ricardo Rossello said. “It’s a think is a strong portion of
civil rights issue ... The time the electorate,” said Ed-
will come in which the Unit- win Melendez, director for
ed States has to respond to Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello speaks in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans are getting the Center for Puerto Ri-
the demands of 3.5 million another shot at voting on statehood after governor Rossello on Friday, Feb. 3 2017, approved a can Studies at New York’s
citizens seeking an abso- non-binding referendum to determine the U.S. territory’s political future. Hunter College. “It’s not
lute democracy.” (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) evident that statehood
Backers say the referen- Rico as the 51st state, the it additionally would grant than U.S. states. is the clear majority right
dum could help the island island could receive an ad- the U.S. territory more Roughly half a million peo- now...If something like 2012
overcome a decade-long ditional $10 billion in fed- equality: Puerto Ricans are ple have left Puerto Rico is repeated, it’s not going
economic crisis as it strug- eral funds a year and its U.S. citizens who are not al- for the U.S. mainland in the to have any legitimacy to
gles to restructure nearly government agencies and lowed to vote in presiden- past decade, leaving the move forward.”
$70 billion in public debt municipalities would be tial elections and their rep- government with a shrink- Along with the referen-
and faces a federal con- able to file for bankruptcy, resentative in Congress has ing tax base as it struggles dum, Puerto Rico legisla-
trol board pushing for more something that both local limited voting powers. The to find new sources of rev- tors expect to vote on a bill
austerity measures. and federal laws currently island also pays Social Se- enue despite increasing that would allow Rossello
If U.S. Congress ultimately prohibit. curity and Medicare taxes, taxes and utility bills. to draft a state constitu-
were to approve Puerto Statehood supporters say but receives less benefits Puerto Ricans have voted tion and hold elections to
choose two senators and
Chile President says wildfires now mostly under control five representatives to

Congress and send them
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — dropping of tempera- to Washington to demand
President Michelle Bach- tures in recent hours have statehood, a strategy Ten-
elet says the worst wildfires helped stop the fires from nessee used to join the
that Chile has suffered in spreading. union in the 18th century.
its history are now mostly Aaron Cavieres is director U.S. President Donald
under control. Bachelet of Chile’s National Forestry Trump did not say during
said Saturday that for the Corporation. He says, “we his campaign whether he
moment there are no new are nearing the end of this supports statehood, only
blazes reported “and the mega emergency.” that the will of Puerto Ri-
rest are mostly controlled.” Statistics from the forestry cans “should be consid-
But she says in her daily agency say that across the ered” by Congress.
briefing on the wildfires Alberto Diaz and his son Javier Diaz ride their bikes through a country flames have black- “At the end of the day, it
“that doesn’t mean, how- mountainous landscape scorched by wildfires in Chile’s Cau- ened (over 1 million acres) doesn’t matter how peo-
ever, that we are letting quenes community, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. President Mi- over a half million hectares ple vote in Puerto Rico,”
down our guard.” chelle Bachelet says the worst wildfires that Chile has suffered in during the current fire sea- Melendez said. “Congress
The arrival of rains and its history are now mostly under control. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) son that began on July 1.q needs to approve of it.”q