PR Senate Approves Report On Spanish Language Importance

[Ecuajey]

Senate Approves Report On Spanish Language Importance

April 12th, 2002
Copyright © 2002 The Associated Press.
All rights reserved.

SAN JUAN – After a mostly partisan debate among Senate members, the Legislative body approved a report filed by the Education and Culture Committee that stressed the importance of Spanish as the official language on the island.

After its approval, Senate President Antonio Fas Alzamora intends to initiate a process to file several bills in favor of Spanish being the official language.

The Popular Democratic Party delegation voted in favor of the report with 15 votes. The report also counted with the votes of Puerto Rico Independence Party Sen. Fernando Martin, New Progressive Party (NPP) Sen. Sergio Peña Clos, and the abstention of NPP Sen. Norma Burgos.

Fas Alzamora emphasized that since 89% of the population does not speak English and that approving official documents in that language could constitute an abuse against the majority of the people, the Legislature has to guarantee the people’s right to be informed.