UNITED NATIONS- The UN Committee on Decolonization asked the United States on Thursday to promote a process that allows Puerto Ricans to exercise their right to self-determination and independence.
It did so in a resolution approved by consensus, similar to the texts adopted annually by this United Nations body since 1972.
In the document, the decolonization committee insists that Puerto Rico “must make sovereign decisions” to meet its urgent economic and social needs, including problems of unemployment, marginalization, bankruptcy and poverty, and education. Health”. As he points out, they are all “made worse by hurricanes Irma and Maria, the earthquakes that hit the southwestern part of Puerto Rico, and the pandemic.”
The text also states that the “austerity measures” imposed on the island are “attributable to the social and economic situation experienced by the people of Puerto Rico” and “led to the privatization of essential services such as electricity.” An increase in the cost of living in an already precarious economy.
The resolution – sponsored by Bolivia, Cuba, Russia, Nicaragua, Syria and Venezuela – “also notes the broad support for Puerto Rico’s independence shown by personalities, governments and political forces in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
Independence or stability
That support was heard repeatedly during Thursday’s lengthy hearing, however, as voices also rose in favor of Puerto Rico joining the United States as its 51st state.
Among the latter, Puerto Rico’s Secretary of State Omar Marrero stood out, arguing that a “clear majority of voters” on the island had expressed their desire to remain part of the union on several occasions. The US Congress has a solution to the status problem.
Last year the US House of Representatives approved a bill that would have allowed Puerto Rico to hold a binding referendum on its status to decide between independence, “statehood” or free association sovereignty.
However, when Congress was renewed after the last election, the legislative process resumed and was met with opposition among Republicans, who now hold a majority in the House of Representatives.
Marrero, in a speech in English, said it was time for the United States to recognize the proposal and the “aspirations” of Puerto Ricans who want “statehood” recognized.
Meanwhile, the majority of politicians and representatives of various organizations – many of whom are immigrants in the United States – did so to defend freedom and denounce serious economic and social problems.
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