< Bilinguial Information About The Quest For An Independent Puerto Rico

The Status Assembly: The Most Democratic and Effective Process for the Decolonization of Puerto Rico

The Puerto Rican Independence Party’s (PIP) Governing Plan Proposes the Creation of a Status Assembly to Solve Puerto Rico’s Colonial Problem.

For decades, the Puerto Rico status debate has been in a stalemate. Numerous non-binding referendums have failed to have any effect on Washington D.C.’s indifference towards Puerto Rico’s colonial woes. Now, as part of its governing plan, the PIP is proposing to create “The Puerto Rican Status Assembly” as a new mechanism to end colonialism in Puerto Rico. This proposal will create a legally binding process that allows Puerto Ricans to democratically exercise their right to free-determination and to choose a new political status based on a non-colonial formula (one that is not subject to Congress’s Territorial Clause).

During the process envisioned by the PIP, The Puerto Rico Status Assembly, a political entity elected by the people of Puerto Rico, will create the means to establish negotiations between Puerto Rico and the United States. In these negotiations, each one of the status formulas will be defined in light the specific implementations of its terms, conditions and viability.

Puerto Ricans will elect the members of the Status Assembly, which should have seats that represent the people in an ideologically balanced manner.

Here are 5 basic points necessary to understand the PIP’s Status Assembly proposal:

1. The Puerto Rico legislature will develop, in consultation with the political parties and civic organizations on the Island, the specific governing rules of the Status Assembly. These rules must establish a process for the election of delegates as well as the guidelines for its proceedings.

2. In a special election, voters will select representatives who will represent the different non-colonial status formulas in the Assembly. The delegates who represent the different formulas will constitute the Puerto Rico Status Assembly.

3. The elected Status Assembly will convene and define each one of the non-colonial status options. (The selected options cannot be subject to Congress’s Territorial Clause.)

4. Each one of the status formulas selected by the Status Assembly will be discussed and negotiated with the government of the United States and with the U.S. Congress. These discussions and negotiations must eventually lead the specific definition of each status formula, as well as to a declaration by the U.S. regarding the viability of each formula and, to the creation of an outline regarding the transition period needed for the implementation of each status option.

5. Once the status formulas are negotiated and approved by the Puerto Rico Status Assembly, the U.S. Government and the U.S. Congress, Puerto Ricans will vote in a referendum to select a status formula.

The PIP's proposed Status Assembly mechanism demonstrates the Party's willingness to address Puerto Rico's status problem in a serious and responsible manner, allowing supporters of all non-colonial alternatives, including statehood, free association, and independence, to participate in a free and fair decolonization process.