Katherine McCaffrey's analysis of Barreto's book on Vieques

[NelsonN]

Originally Posted by Suki

Does anyone think the average Puerto Rican can afford two bedroom homes for $165,000 dollars? In an little island with high unemployment?

Why don't you come to Hatillo and investigate the price of a basic home here. Even with the level of unemployment, they are still buying at these prices, and KEEP IN MIND it's Puerto Ricans selling to Puerto Ricans, not Gringos!

Viegues? I would have given the Island to the Navy. I can tell who you are right off the bat. You are the type of person who lives in a fantasy world. A lot of income has been lost because Vieques was sold a bunch of horse s-h-i-t. Viequences are b-i-t-c-h-i-n-g because they feel betrayed. None of the promises the local government made has come to fruition, and do you really think that the measly amount of money given to clean up Vieques will make a dent after decades of bombings? I own a bridge here in Hatillo I want to sell you.

Originally Posted by Suki

But for the sellouts? They would not care if Puerto Rico never spoke another word of Spanish and most Puerto Ricans could not afford to live anymore in their own ancient land. They are so pro-Gringo they only trust Gringos to run their own nation. Pathetic!

Do I trust the Gringos and their better sense of justice than the Puerto Rican political establishment and their cronies? You bet. It's the reason a lot of them are in prison.

Oh, by the way, don't come back with a rebuttal using nothing but News Paper clippings, it's propaganda and I have heard it all before. Be original and have an informed opinion.

[AnotherRican]

Nelson, I like the way you think. You are reality based and pragmatic. You don't buy into the Utopic and childish idealism of these lefties here that want to take PR into the abyss. Hang in there and give them a fight. These days there are only 2-3 on this forum that dare to tell these wacky folks the truth.

Originally Posted by NelsonN

Why don't you come to Hatillo and investigate the price of a basic home here. Even with the level of unemployment, they are still buying at these prices, and KEEP IN MIND it's Puerto Ricans selling to Puerto Ricans, not Gringos!

Viegues? I would have given the Island to the Navy. I can tell who you are right off the bat. You are the type of person who lives in a fantasy world. A lot of income has been lost because Vieques was sold a bunch of horse s-h-i-t. Viequences are b-i-t-c-h-i-n-g because they feel betrayed. None of the promises the local government made has come to fruition, and do you really think that the measly amount of money given to clean up Vieques will make a dent after decades of bombings? I own a bridge here in Hatillo I want to sell you.



Do I trust the Gringos and their better sense of justice than the Puerto Rican political establishment and their cronies? You bet. It's the reason a lot of them are in prison.

Oh, by the way, don't come back with a rebuttal using nothing but News Paper clippings, it's propaganda and I have heard it all before. Be original and have an informed opinion.

[laplaya]

Guess what.
Damaso( the mayor of Vieques) has kept most if not all of his promises.
He put his money where his mouth is and spent 6 months in jail for his effort to get the navy out.
The only thing I disagree with him is the money that is being spent on moving the ferry dock from Isabela to the Mosquito pier
Most of the people on the Island live closer to the existing ferry dock than the Mosquito pier.
The Mosquito pier is a refuge for many types of wildlife including sea turtles and manatees , I’m sure that the diesel from the ferry isn’t going to make them happy.
The ferry will land at Ceiba which isn’t where people want to go.
I doubt that the doctor from Fajardo will come to Roosevelt Roads to treat the patients , nor will the stores in Fajardo come there either.
The cost of renovating the pier is $13.6 million, about 1/3 of the $40 million the navy “gave” to Vieques.
The new ferry landing area has a sign on it that says
Turn over to Vieques in 2004, now the 04 part is crossed off and it says 05
I’m sure that a better use could for the money could be found
Perhaps spending some of it on education or a helicopter for the hospital or doctors would be a better idea.
What about using it for the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion ?
What about having the navy do a faster and better job on cleaning up what they did here?
In New England when they cleaned up the bombing range in "Nomans Land"
The bombs were exploded in hugh containers, in Vieques they are just blown up and the crap goes over the civilian area.
Is someone in New England worth more than someone here?
I don't think so.