One year later: Vieques'new life

By Yolanda Romero
Staff Reporter

This February marks the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Navy leaving the island of Vieques Puerto Rico.

With all its natural beauty, sandy beaches, aquamarine views and it’s national wildlife, this tiny island, 21 miles long and 6 miles wide, became infamous instead of famous by its off-Lander occupants.

Up until 2001, residents were forced to share the island with the U.S. Navy. The Navy stored weapons, ran bombing maneuvers and left behind craters— making the island look more like the surface of the moon instead of a warm vacation resort for the weary traveler seeking refuge from the cold.

Although, due to pressure from environmentalist, politicians and numerous organizations, the U.S. stopped using Vieques for target practice in 2001, the Navy didn’t officially evacuate the island until 2003.

Since then Puerto Rico’s government has taken a look at the effects of the military presence.

Researchers from the University of Puerto Rico have found the island’s environment and health problems bigger then what they expected. They also have detected explosives-related chemicals in the soil, water plants and animals. They have found high levels of lead in the island’s grass that is used for grazing by cattle.

Additional research from the College of Physicians and Surgeon of Puerto Rico show a significant number of men, women and children were tested for exposure to mercury, aluminum, cadmium, and arsenic. The residents of Vieques believe that these chemicals are why they are exhibiting abnormally high incidents of diseases like cancer.

The government of Puerto Rico has consulted with the Navy many times and will continue to work together on these issues. But the Navy has repeatedly told them that there is no links between the practice of bombing and the health/environment issues the residents are having. At this moment according to the Smithsonian January issue, many islanders are filing suit against the United States Navy.

There is no doubt that it will take years to clean up the mess that 60 years of occupation and underdevelopment has caused. The island is on it’s up. However, many of the Viequenses worry the Americans will once again take over the island and turn it into a tourist attraction. Time will tell.