Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT STATEMENT ON THE RESIGNATION OF GOVERNOR ROSSELLO OF PUERTO RICO

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding the resignation of Governor Rossello of Puerto Rico:

“As the Governor of Puerto Rico resigns over numerous allegations of personal misconduct as well as corruption within his government and indeed his appointed cabinet members, I and fellow Virgin Islanders would like the incoming Governor and people of Puerto Rico to know that we continue to be your neighbors and indeed your brothers and sisters next door.  In the last week, Puerto Rican people were inspirational in not only their collective outrage but made all Caribbean people and Americans proud in the Buricuan demonstration of the best of our democracy and desire for a just government.

“I am grateful that the first branch of government in Puerto Rico, the legislature began the process to rectify the crisis with preliminary impeachment preparations and the judiciary issued search warrants of local officials.  All of these, I believe, were key factors in the Governors’ resignation.  Please know that I will continue to carry the message here in Washington, DC that the outrage of Puerto Ricans is related not only to the disgraceful chat scandal of the outgoing Governor Rossello and evidence of massive corruption but is an expression of the frustration of such policies as PROMESA and the insurmountable debt crisis, the mishandling of the  federal response in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria and longstanding inequalities in federal funding and access to living as equal Americans.

“I will continue my work in Congress educating and reminding my colleagues that Congress has been complicit in the economic issues of Puerto Rico and the other territories, including my own islands of the Virgin Islands of the United States.  Without equal access to federal resources for infrastructure, healthcare and other social service needs, along with a vote in Congress and a voice in the election of our president – the vicious cycle of disenfranchisement and its destructive fruits will continue.

“As the Medicaid cliff crisis looms for the end of September and agreement with FEMA and HUD over support to begin rebuilding takes place, I look forward to working with Puerto Rico’s new Governor as well as my good friend and colleagues Representatives Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Darren Soto, Nydia Velazquez and other colleagues here in Washington supporting the idea that prosperity, good government and equity should be available for all Americans.”

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