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SAN JUAN – Joint Senate commissions investigating the current status of the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Ceiba have postponed scheduled public hearings to address potential national security implications related to recent geopolitical developments. The commissions, led by Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos Santiago and Senator Nitza Morán Trinidad, excused the scheduled testimony of Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) Secretary Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi—who previously served as executive director of the Roosevelt Roads Local Redevelopment Authority—and Ceiba Mayor Samuel Rivera Báez. Ríos Santiago, who chairs the Committee on Federal Relations and Viabilization of the People's Mandate for Status Solution, stated that the decision to shift to an executive session and a future site visit was prompted by events outside the Senate’s jurisdiction. He cited concerns regarding national security, specifically referencing an arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and the potential for Puerto Rico to serve as a support base, drawing a comparison to previous operations involving Venezuela. "These events are not under our control nor in our jurisdiction. Once we have a clearer picture, we will immediately resume the site visit," Ríos Santiago said. The inspection of the facility is currently scheduled for November 6. The senator noted that the executive meeting with the DDEC secretary will be used to review information regarding the base that may be forthcoming from the U.S. Department of Defense or the DDEC. He confirmed that he has already been in contact with both the secretary and the mayor of Ceiba. Senator Nitza Morán Trinidad, chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, Banking, Commerce, Insurance, and Cooperatives, emphasized the importance of the ongoing investigation. "It is meritorious to understand what is happening and how that impacts Puerto Rico. This resolution gives us the basis to continue investigating how the Roosevelt Roads base will be used," she said, noting that further public hearings remain a possibility. The investigation is governed by Senate Resolution 286, authored by Morán Trinidad and Ríos Santiago. The measure mandates that the commissions evaluate the feasibility and impact of a potential reuse of Roosevelt Roads for U.S. military national security purposes, while also recommending strategies to maximize federal relations and the resulting economic and social benefits for Puerto Rico. The proceedings were also attended by senators Migdalia Padilla Alvelo and Roxanna Soto Aguilú. Article source: Presencia | Image credit: Presencia
SAN JUAN – Joint Senate commissions investigating the current status of the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Ceiba have postponed scheduled public hearings to address potential national security implications related to recent geopolitical developments. The commissions, led by Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos Santiago and Senator Nitza Morán Trinidad, excused the scheduled testimony of Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) Secretary Carlos J. Ríos Pierluisi—who previously served as executive director of the Roosevelt Roads Local Redevelopment Authority—and Ceiba Mayor Samuel Rivera Báez. Ríos Santiago, who chairs the Committee on Federal Relations and Viabilization of the People’s Mandate for Status Solution, stated that the decision to shift to an executive session and a future site visit was prompted by events outside the Senate’s jurisdiction. He cited concerns regarding national security, specifically referencing an arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and the potential for Puerto Rico to serve as a support base, drawing a comparison to previous operations involving Venezuela. “These events are not under our control nor in our jurisdiction. Once we have a clearer picture, we will immediately resume the site visit,” Ríos Santiago said. The inspection of the facility is currently scheduled for November 6. The senator noted that the executive meeting with the DDEC secretary will be used to review information regarding the base that may be forthcoming from the U.S. Department of Defense or the DDEC. He confirmed that he has already been in contact with both the secretary and the mayor of Ceiba. Senator Nitza Morán Trinidad, chair of the Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, Banking, Commerce, Insurance, and Cooperatives, emphasized the importance of the ongoing investigation. “It is meritorious to understand what is happening and how that impacts Puerto Rico. This resolution gives us the basis to continue investigating how the Roosevelt Roads base will be used,” she said, noting that further public hearings remain a possibility. The investigation is governed by Senate Resolution 286, authored by Morán Trinidad and Ríos Santiago. The measure mandates that the commissions evaluate the feasibility and impact of a potential reuse of Roosevelt Roads for U.S. military national security purposes, while also recommending strategies to maximize federal relations and the resulting economic and social benefits for Puerto Rico. The proceedings were also attended by senators Migdalia Padilla Alvelo and Roxanna Soto Aguilú.
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