Puerto Rico's image tarnished throughout the nation - Caribbean Business - 31/07/08
Puerto Rico's image tarnished throughout the nation - Caribbean Business - 31/07/08We were poorer than Cuba, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Puerto Rico not only was very poor, we also lacked public school and health systems. Many families lived in thatched huts built on the ground. Children played naked and their abdomens were inflated, not with food, but with hookworms. They went around barefoot and had insects (niguas) underneath their toenails and lice in their hair. Life expectancy was amongst the lowest in the entire Western Hemisphere. As a U.S. territory, Puerto Rico, with help from Washington, started to build public school and health systems. Little by little, as conditions improved and more Puerto Ricans gained experience in management and graduated from universities, the management and leadership in the public education and health systems passed to us. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, living conditions, education and the health system improved rapidly and continuously.
By the second half of the 20th century, Puerto Rico was no longer called the "Caribbean Poorhouse." On the contrary, by the beginning of the second half of the century, Puerto Rico had achieved much more participation in our local government. We elected our own House of Representatives and Senate and our own governor. Our per capita income was higher than that of all other major Caribbean islands. Our standard of living had improved so much that Puerto Rico became "Democracy's Showcase" instead of "The Caribbean Poorhouse." ......... While I was in Washington, D.C. last month, I met with quite a few members of Congress and senators with whom I worked during my years in there. Not a single one of them could believe Acevedo Vilá had not resigned. They couldn't imagine a governor in their state who would ever attempt to stay in office after being indicted on 19 counts in federal court. Neither the press nor the people would tolerate it. "Is he really still in office?" "Hasn't he resigned yet?" These were the questions everyone asked me. In other words, how can you people tolerate such arrogance and insolence? A corrupt governor will necessarily have a corrupt administration. In the 20th century, no one ever thought Puerto Rico's image would sink to the depths that Acevedo has managed to drag it down to.
By the second half of the 20th century, Puerto Rico was no longer called the "Caribbean Poorhouse." On the contrary, by the beginning of the second half of the century, Puerto Rico had achieved much more participation in our local government. We elected our own House of Representatives and Senate and our own governor. Our per capita income was higher than that of all other major Caribbean islands. Our standard of living had improved so much that Puerto Rico became "Democracy's Showcase" instead of "The Caribbean Poorhouse." ......... While I was in Washington, D.C. last month, I met with quite a few members of Congress and senators with whom I worked during my years in there. Not a single one of them could believe Acevedo Vilá had not resigned. They couldn't imagine a governor in their state who would ever attempt to stay in office after being indicted on 19 counts in federal court. Neither the press nor the people would tolerate it. "Is he really still in office?" "Hasn't he resigned yet?" These were the questions everyone asked me. In other words, how can you people tolerate such arrogance and insolence? A corrupt governor will necessarily have a corrupt administration. In the 20th century, no one ever thought Puerto Rico's image would sink to the depths that Acevedo has managed to drag it down to.
posted by rafael1510 @ 8:32 p. m.
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