'There is no need to rush' to get new Puerto Rico birth certificates in July

In the mailbox


Last December the Government of Puerto Rico enacted a new law (Law 191 of 2009) aimed at strengthening the issuance and usage of birth certificates to combat fraud and protect the identity and credit of all people born in Puerto Rico. We are working to ensure that the individuals, communities and institutions that will be impacted by this law have access to complete and accurate information on this topic. Therefore, we kindly request your assistance and collaboration to communicate the facts about this change in law to affected citizens as well as federal, state and local governments.

The new law was the result of cooperation with the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to address the fraudulent use of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates to unlawfully obtain U.S. passports, Social Security benefits, and other federal services. Under the new law, all birth certificates issued by Puerto Rico before July 1, 2010, will be invalidated on that date so that new, more secure certificates can be issued in their place. Until then all current birth certificates will remain valid.

This change will impact all people born in Puerto Rico regardless of whether they reside in the island or the U.S. mainland. Affected individuals living in the states will be able to request and receive their new birth certificates through a simple process by mail. However, it is important to understand that there is no need to rush out and get a new birth certificate on July 1, 2010. Instead it is suggested that only people who have a specific need for their birth certificate for official purposes request a new birth certificate right away.

To better inform the public we are providing several public outreach materials in both English and Spanish. They can be found on the PRFAA website through the following links:


http://www.prfaa.com/birthcertificates/

http://www.prfaa.com/certificadosdenacimiento/

Please share these links and the public outreach materials they contain with all of your pertinent networks. We thank you in advance for your help.


Sincerely,



Luis M. Balzac
Regional Director
Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration

National Puerto Rican Day Parade Gives Captain Morgan The Boot

Rum Co. Gets $2.7B to Leave PR – Money Would Have Funded Education & Health

New York City, NY [CapitalWirePR] March 7, 2010 – The National Puerto Rican Parade, one of America’s largest outdoor events with more than 2 million participants, today announced it is terminating its relationship with the makers of Captain Morgan Rum over the company’s planned abandonment of its Puerto Rican distillery in exchange for taxpayer-funded grants of $2.7 billion that the island needs for health and educational needs.
“The corporate sponsorships of Captain Morgan and its British parent, Diageo, PLC, are no longer welcome,” announced Parade Chairperson Madelyn Lugo. Diageo’s brands, Johnny Walker, Jose Cuervo and Captain Morgan, have had a 30 year relationship with the Parade.
“This Parade is about pride and respect, and Captain Morgan has shown us neither,” she asserted. “They are abandoning us in exchange for $2.7 billion in taxpayer-funded corporate handouts that would otherwise be used to meet the educational and health needs of Puerto Rico, where 16 percent are unemployed and 1 in 3 lives below the poverty line.”
Two years ago, the U.S. Virgin Islands lured Captain Morgan to St. Croix by promising to split $6 billion in anticipated revenues from rebates of federal excise tax it expects to receive on the rum. The rebates are the principal form of federal assistance to both Territories, generating $470 million for Puerto Rico last year.
The deal has been sharply criticized by labor groups, who complain that the new distillery on St. Croix, also being financed by federal excise tax rebates, will employ at least 330 fewer workers.
Florida Republican Senator George LeMieux has announced plans to offer an amendment this week to the proposed jobs bill that will effectively scuttle the deal by tying future excise tax rebates to the respective Territories’ populations, rather than the place of production.
The National Puerto Rican Coalition, which has led the fight against the Captain Morgan deal, said today’s decision by Parade organizers will put “serious pressure” on New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand. “New York represents the greatest concentration of Puerto Ricans living on the mainland,” said NPRC President Rafael Fantauzzi. “They’ll be watching to see whether their Senators stand with us, or with a British liquor company.”

source: press release

Mujeres de El Barrio seeks local Puerto Rican women to honor

Nuestra comunidad

Join Women of El Barrio/Mujeres de El Barrio at our 8th Annual Women's History Month Celebration as we honor Puerto Rican women that are positive role models in the East Harlem community.

Women of El Barrio (WOEB) promotes the leadership of Puerto Rican women regardless of age, sexual orientation, religious preferences, political affiliations or socio-economic status. Through our annual Women’s History Month celebration we have the opportunity to recognize women who have contributed to enhancing the quality of life in El Barrio/East Harlem according to the criteria stated below:

-Must be a woman of Puerto Rican descent
-Must be a resident of El Barrio/East Harlem
-Must be active in cultural, social, political efforts that enhance the quality of life in El Barrio, demonstrating leadership, mentorship and/or creativity that is NOT related to employment.
-If nominating a young woman (16-24 yrs old), the candidate should be aspiring, mature, active, creative and be seen as an emerging leader.

***The deadline for nominations is WEDNESDAY MARCH 3RD! If you know of someone you would like to nominate as an honoree, please send an email to Womenoeb (at) gmail.com for a nomination form to be sent to you. ***

Food, Music, and Entertainment will be provided.
Contribution: $20

source: Women of El Barrio

The Borinqueneers U.S. Stamp Petition Campaign

Activism

Signatures wanted:

The Borinqueneers U.S. Stamp Petition Campaign

Mayra Calvani says 'Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow'

Reading corner

My most recent column at Examiner is an interview with writer Mayra Calvani, a boricua who lives in Belgium. She writes about many different topics and is currently promoting her children's book "Humberto, the Bookworm Hamster."
To read my interview, go to
Mayra Calvani says ‘Writing for Children is like Walking on a Rainbow’ -
http://www.examiner.com/x-11970-NY-Latino-Community-Examiner~y2010m2d7-Mayra-Calvani-says-Writing-for-Children-is-like-Walking-on-a-Rainbow

Her collection of books have now been added to the PRSUN aStore.