Annotations for Places: Puerto Rico--vieques

A delegation from the Puerto Rican island of Vieques, the site of a US naval base, came to Washington to ask Congress to close that base. Robert Rabin, head of the Committee for the Rescue and Development of Vieques says the Navy's presence on the island has had a negative impact on the economy and environment.

The US Navy has been bombing the island of Vieques for the last 50 years, and they also use the Western and the Vieques as giant ammunition depot. So we are asking now that the Vieques Navy bases be included in the base closure program, which is part of the Clinton administration's plan for reducing military expenditures.

A spokesperson for the Navy says moving the personnel station on Vieques could cost the Navy much more than it paid for the base in 1940. You're listening to Latino USA.

Teachers in Puerto Rico are out on strike to protest a school voucher program, which they say jeopardizes the island's public education system. And residents of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques are also protesting the US Navy, which controls two thirds of the tiny island, reportedly dropped several bombs near a residential area. Now residents are asking President Clinton to put the naval bases on Vieques on his list of base closures.

Preferably, if they would just close the bases on this island period, but priority. Stop bombing exercises on this island.

Myrna Pagan of the Committee for the Rescue of Vieques. I'm Maria Martin. You're listening to Latino USA.