Resident Commissioner Doesn't Back One Official Language in PR

[Ecuajey]

Acevedo Vila Doesn't Back One Official Language

April 13th, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press.
All rights reserved.

PONCE – Resident Commissioner Anibal Acevedo Vila rejected Saturday Senate President Antonio Fas Alzamora’s proposal for a law that establishes Spanish as the island’s only official language.

"I don’t know if that will get to La Fortaleza, but I think we should avoid repeating the mistakes of the past," said Acevedo Vila while explaining that the language issue should not be a priority for the Popular Democratic Party (PDP).

In that way, he backed Gov. Sila Calderon, who has reiterated that the language issue is not a priority in the PDP agenda nor for Puerto Ricans.

"Public discussion on the language, if it needs to be channeled into something, should be on how to improve teaching Spanish and English," Acevedo Vila added in a radio interview.

He said politicians should have a "hands-off" policy on this matter because it has been demonstrated in the past that Puerto Ricans have rejected the idea of excluding English as an official language.

However, Acevedo Vila supports the proposed creation of a Language Institute.

Fas Alzamora has announced his intention of filling a bill this month aimed at creating that entity that will develop learning Spanish and English, as well as other languages.