The administration of her predecessor, Gov. Pedro Rossello, was plagued by allegations of corruption. Rossello, of the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, also originally opposed any bombing on Vieques, but reversed his stance after the Clinton Administration agreed to let Vieques residents hold a referendum on the matter. Vieques residents will vote whether to allow the U.S. Navy to stay on the island later this year. Calderon vowed not to allow the U.S. government to provide economic aid in exchange for the U.S. Navy to stay in Vieques. More Jobs, No More Intimidating Press Economic development and job creation will be her main priority, said Calderon, the island's first female governor.
Unemployment has a face, has a name, has a heart.
Puerto Rico's per capita income is half that of the poorest U.S. state, Mississippi. According to Calderon, the island has lost thousands of jobs in recent years, partly due to changes in U.S. tax law that used to provide economic incentives for manufacturers to locate in Puerto Rico. Many of those jobs, she said, have been lost to overseas facilities in countries like Singapore. Calderon strongly criticized members of the U.S. Congress who justified eliminating the investment incentives as a means to balance the federal budget. The people of Puerto Rico want to work.