Posted on 03/17/2008 7:17:06 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
Taking advantage of the beginning of Holy Week, [Puerto Rico] House of Representatives Speaker José Aponte recommended that Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá evaluate his journey during these days of spirituality and resign his position "for the good of Puerto Rico."
Aponte maintained that the main reason behind this request is that the Chief Executive has not worked on the island's economy, at the same time pointing out that Acevedo "has demonstrated his inability to administer the government of Puerto Rico", since "he has been working on everything based on public relations and political strategies."
[Aponte's] statements come one day after the General Council of the [governing] Popular Democratic Party met behind close doors at party headquarters and amid rumors that the Governor may resign his post as party Chairman and withdraw his candidacy [for reelection], information that Acevedo himself later rejected.
However, the Speaker maintained that his request has nothing to do with the above-mentioned rumors and that the request for resignation is made from a "strictly administrative viewpoint." He also ruled out that it was a partisan matter.
"The incapacity Aníbal Acevedo Vilá has demonstrated to govern, to administer the government of Puerto Rico, his lack of responsibility in following the Constitution and holding himself accountable to the people of Puerto Rico, his daily disrespect for the people of Puerto Rico, his extraordinary spending of resources that don't exist, presenting an unbalanced budget of $1 billion, are more than enough for one to make the call I am making," he pointed out.
The House of Representatives Speaker defended the Legislative Branch's work and placed responsibility on the Executive for the "misgovernment" that the island reportedly finds itself in. According to him, the Legislature has approved budgets and bond issuances for the Governor. However, he said that his problem is not the money but, in his judgement, "there is money, but no will from the Executive."
In the meantime, [Aponte] urged the central government and other public entities to join efforts to improve employment in the island, since the latest unemployment data revealed a loss of 60,000 jobs in the island in one year.
From January 2007 to January of this year, said Aponte, 62,000 jobs were lost, which increased by 5% the negative economic situation the island is experiencing due to the recession. He said he is putting his hopes on the outcome of the New Socioeconomic Development Law, which will be for him the most important piece of legislation of these times.
Aponte pointed out that encouraging the creation and development of pioneering and service industries are among the benefits this law will create, as well as providing incentives for exporting of products made in Puerto Rico.
ping
No doubt about it; there’s no love lost between Aponte and Acevedo.
Closing Roosey Roads is coming back to bite them in the hind end, isn’t it? :P (spent 2+ years there at the end of the 90s—oldest child born on base in 98)
Cliente Ocho?
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