---
At the first gathering of the 20th Legislative Assembly, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón called upon senators on Monday to honor the desires of the electorate, which, according to her, has shown strong support for statehood through multiple referenda.
“The citizens of Puerto Rico have cast their votes, not once, not twice, but on numerous occasions,” the governor stated. “Just as you were elected, respect the people’s choice in favor of statehood. We cannot select what benefits only us. The same citizens who voted for me and for you also supported statehood. We cannot bind our people to the unfairness of lacking equality in federal programs, which leads us to poverty.”
The governor further emphasized the necessity of collaborating across party lines for the welfare of the populace.
“Let us remember our humble citizens, who simply wish to afford their electricity, water, medications, and ensure their children’s education,” she remarked. “I urge you to prioritize God in your decisions. If God is on our side, who could stand against us?”
Rivera Schatz criticizes leftist regimes in his Senate introductory speech
Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz, in his welcoming address in the Senate on Monday, took the opportunity to criticize the Puerto Rican Independence Party and the left-wing governments of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
“Our people, through their votes, have repudiated the hypocrisy of those who claim to be patriots but instead harm and belittle Puerto Rico,” Rivera Schatz asserted. “They [the people] have unequivocally indicated that attempts to conceal the truth from them are futile. We Puerto Ricans are discerning. Deceit can never effectively disguise itself, no matter how finely it is painted or how impressive its appearance. Empty rhetoric will not be enough.”
“What is untrue cannot improve nor transform into something real; it is destined to be unveiled and replaced by the truth,” the pro-statehood Senate president remarked. “This is the purpose of our Senate: to denounce falsehoods and substitute them with genuineness.”
“We had free, fair, and democratic elections,” Rivera Schatz stated. “I hope and believe that our brothers in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua can liberate themselves from the oppressive dictatorships and experience a governance model that truly represents the people.”
He urged the youth of the island to actively participate in political, social, and governmental processes.
“Their input is vital,” he emphasized. “Values such as humility, respect, and the willingness to serve are timeless; they do not fade with each generation or trend. Innovation, modernity, and youth can coexist with morality, faith, and free will. We will create ample opportunities for our youth to share their valuable perspectives.”
Rivera Schatz also called on senior citizens to take part in the political conversation on the island.
“We will focus our attention and efforts towards their welfare,” he asserted. “The realities of their lives often treat them unjustly. The neglect or abandonment they face in hospitals, homes, or hospices must come to an end. We need to eliminate intolerance towards their slower pace or actions. We must protect and honor our elders! They deserve it, and it is our responsibility as a government and as people of faith.”
To his fellow senators, the leader of the upper chamber conveyed: “The roles we hold are meant to serve with integrity, honesty, and ethical conduct. Honor does not arise from titles, riches, positions, accolades, or awards. True honor, values, and principles thrive in the hearts and minds of good individuals; they flourish where righteousness is nurtured and are evident in the actions of those who embody justice. This is our aspiration and commitment.”
Rivera Schatz noted that legislative actions must mirror the issues and concerns he encountered during his travels around Puerto Rico.
“We will champion our principles and values, defend the Puerto Rican family, and protect our children,” he stated. “We will not permit anyone to threaten them. We will uphold our governmental agenda and heighten our efforts to transform Puerto Rico into a state of the union.”
Independent Senator Molina Pérez: We will reclaim our country
Independent Senator Eliezer Molina Pérez, who was elected through a write-in campaign, delivered a message filled with dedication to the Puerto Rican people, underscoring his political independence.
“We are the first senator in history elected via direct nomination, representing the six million Puerto Ricans who have left and the three million who continue to endure on the island,” Molina declared. “We will not stand by as our people’s name is crushed due to the ignorance and lack of character in our leadership.”
The activist-turned-senator also commented on ongoing controversies regarding administrative actions connected to La Parguera, a coastal area of Lajas, urging religious leaders to engage with the governor.
“We are fortunate to have numerous religious leaders here,” he stated. “I earnestly request each of you to converse with the governor and, given that you have the ear of God, talk to Him as well. The governor claims that due to God’s intervention, an administrative order emerged that no one seems to know who crafted it, which will benefit those in La Parguera capable of generating income, including individuals close to the governor. This is against all scientific rationale and logic. We will continue to fight it. So I implore you, pastors, when you converse with God, let Him know that in Puerto Rico, the beaches belong to the people, and be cautious not to let Lajas and La Parguera sink like Venice. Boricua, onward, we will reclaim our country. This is only the beginning.”
Aponte condemns Maduro for suggesting Brazil invade PR
Echoing Rivera Schatz’s sentiments in the Senate, another experienced legislator from the New Progressive Party, Rep. José Aponte Hernández, announced the presentation of a concurrent resolution this week to voice the House of Representatives’ strong denouncement of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro for his remarks about utilizing Brazilian military forces to invade Puerto Rico to enforce independence upon the island.
“In a tyrannical and oppressive manner, on January 11, 2025, Maduro issued statements against the People of Puerto Rico,” Aponte Hernández disclosed in a written statement. “These statements represent an affront to the democratic values that govern our system, where the sovereign, the people, express their will at the ballot box without fear of persecution or retribution.”
Reports indicate that Maduro, during the International Anti-Fascist Festival in Caracas on Saturday, stated, “Just as the north has a colonization agenda, we possess a liberation agenda.”
“And our agenda was outlined by Simón Bolívar,” he continued. “The liberation of Puerto Rico remains pending, and we will achieve it with the assistance of Brazilian troops … leading the effort.”
Maduro was inaugurated for a third term as president of Venezuela last Friday after July elections that the United States and other countries claim were fraudulent. Edmundo González, the contender deemed by the U.S. and others to have won the election, remains in exile in Spain, while the country’s leading opposition figure, María Corina Machado, is reported to be hiding within Venezuela, according to The New York Times and other media sources.
Regardless of the seriousness of Maduro’s remarks to anyone in Puerto Rico, the United States, or Brazil, Aponte was determined not to allow the Venezuelan leader’s comments to go without a response.
“Puerto Rico has been a part of the United States since 1898,” the former speaker of the island House emphasized. “Since 1917, we have been U.S. citizens with rights and responsibilities, and the people express their desires at the ballot box.”
The outcomes of various public referendums since 2012 have favored statehood significantly more than independence, he highlighted.
“In the most recent plebiscite regarding political preferences, over 58% voted in favor of the island’s admission as a state of the union,” Aponte concluded.
