Puerto Rico Senate President Kenneth McClintock, recently appointed Secretary of State by Governor-Elect Luis Fortuno, arrived Nov. 19, 2008, in Washington D.C. to participate in a U.S. Congressional Policy Forum hosted by The Center for Puerto Rico Equality and Advancement (CPREA), caribbeanbusinesspr.com has learned. The forum’s discussion topic will be “Civil Rights and Equality for Puerto Rico: Deconstructing the Insular Cases.”
 

L-R in photo: Luis Balcac (PR and Public Affairs Firm), Hon. Kenneth D. McClintock (President Senate of Puerto Rico), and Richard Romero (Chair of OCHLA) in Washington, D.C on Nov. 19, 2008.

Carlos Chardon former Secretary of Education of Puerto Rico stated in his speech: The Serranno-Fortuno Bill ‘would do away with status conundrum. It is the product of a Republican White House paper on status that went nowhere in the House even though it had a unanimous support in Committee.’

Richard Romero, with the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs, stated: “While it is up to the people of the island of Puerto Rico to determine their status, it is important that mainland Puerto Ricans work with the island Puerto Ricans, in making sure that the benefits that the states receive are also received in Puerto Rico. It looks like the only way that will happen is if there is an organized, strong movement from mainland Puerto Ricans and Island Puerto Ricans to work together.”

According to Rafaél Rodríguez, the President/ Founder of Center for Puerto Rico Equality & Advancement who spoke at the CHIP Hispanic Leadership conference last year in Lorain, Ohio and helped organize the Washington D.C. Forum will help organize several forums across the United States so that mainland Puerto Ricans along with their Congressional Representatives can learn more about the issues facing Puerto Rico and solutions for Statehood.

Jeffrey L. Farrow,Former Co-Chair The President's Interagency Group on Puerto Rico Clinton Administration, Richard Romero.JPG