Posted on 03/11/2003 6:07:54 AM PST by 4Freedom
Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo Vila asked the Navy Monday to look into whether downsizing operations at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads "goes beyond what is necessary and legitimate."
In a letter to Acting Navy Secretary Hansford Johnson, the resident commissioner said he was "deeply concerned about conflicting information regarding the intentions of the Navy over future operations" at the Ceiba base.
Employees at the base, and others, have charged that the downsizing ordered by the Atlantic Fleet chief Adm. Robert Natter is of a broader scope than just shutting down operations related to the training facility at Vieques. The Navy intends to end operations at Vieques by May 1.
"I want your verification that any reduction in operations at the base are directly related to the end of training at Vieques," Acevedo Vila wrote.
He also asked the secretary to clarify how the Navy intends to use Roosevelt Roads in the future. The commonwealth government, which wants the facility to remain open, is concerned that Natter is taking steps that would lead to the closing of the base in 2005, when Congress takes up a new round of base closings.
The resident commissioner asked about the process for the downsizing and said he would like to "explore opportunities for informed review by appropriate civilian authorities."
He added: "We need to agree on ways to foster better communications among interested parties concerning Roosevelt Roads to address future operations and the related civilian employees that will be affected by the reductions."The Puerto Rico government is mostly concerned about the adverse economic effect the closing of the base could have in the Ceiba region.
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