U.S. Navy Delays Vieques Vote for Two Months

The U.S. Navy postponed until January a referendum allowing Vieques residents to decide if bombing exercises should continue on their island or be halted in 2003.

The referendum, established under an agreement between the governments of former President Clinton and former Gov. Pedro J. Rossello, had been set for Nov. 6.

Gov. Sila Calderon’s office released a letter from Navy Secretary Gordon England in which he ordered the vote to be rescheduled for Jan. 25.

England said the turmoil created by the terror attacks made it “advisable to postpone the currently scheduled referendum to allow time for the U.S. Congress to act.”