The spokesperson for the organization Madres contra la Guerra (Mothers Against War), Sonia Santiago Hernández, ratified today her absolute repudiation of the United States utilizing Puerto Rico for the purpose of committing military aggression against other Caribbean nations.

“The lands of the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, in Ceiba, continue to represent a grave environmental problem and a symbol of U.S. militarism in Puerto Rico,” the activist asserted.

She indicated that, according to reports from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of the Navy, approximately 82 contaminated areas (Solid Waste Management Units and Areas of Concern) have been identified at Roosevelt Roads. These locations exhibit the presence of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, industrial solvents, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Although some areas have undergone remediation processes, certain zones present potential risks to the ecosystems of the Ensenada Honda bay and nearby communities, Santiago Hernández affirmed while demanding the publication of an updated report regarding the status of soil, groundwater, and coastal sediments.

“We are deeply concerned about the utilization of the nation's water resources in military facilities, while Puerto Rico faces a drinking water crisis that affects numerous communities, yet these facilities receive a continuous supply to sustain their operations,” she stated.

Santiago Hernández detailed that approximately 3,000 military personnel are stationed at Roosevelt Roads, and the available water is used not only to cover the basic needs of the personnel but also for the operation and maintenance of the entire military infrastructure, including aircraft and other equipment.

She deemed it unacceptable that, within a context of scarcity, Puerto Rico's water resources are prioritized for military purposes while thousands of families lack access to the service.

“The water of our municipalities must first serve the communities and not the sustenance of the military apparatus,” ratified the spokesperson for Madres contra la Guerra during a demonstration held in the eastern municipality of Ceiba.

The organization denounces any attempt to expand or strengthen the military utilization of these facilities. “We are deeply concerned that Puerto Rico continues to be used as a strategic platform for United States military operations in the Caribbean and Latin America.”

“We reject the use of Puerto Rico to support an eventual military intervention against Cuba or against any other nation in the region. Puerto Rico must not serve as a springboard for wars, invasions, or actions that threaten peace in the Caribbean,” Santiago Hernández insisted.

She reclaimed that “our archipelago must be a bridge of solidarity among peoples and not a base for military confrontation,” emphasizing the necessity to protect natural resources and demand that Puerto Rico never again be utilized as a platform for war.

For more than a century, Puerto Rico has endured the human, environmental, and social costs of militarism. Consequently, she argued, it is time to transform the area known as Roosevelt Roads into a space dedicated to sustainable development, environmental conservation, education, and scientific research.

Furthermore, this transformation should aim to create employment opportunities that directly benefit the communities of Ceiba, Naguabo, and the entirety of Puerto Rico, reiterated Santiago Hernández. She concluded with a call to the Puerto Rican people, as well as social, environmental, labor, religious, and human rights organizations, “to unite in defense of our territory.”