Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round-up of news from Venezuela

Planning Minister, Haiman El Troudi has ruled out any currency devaluation this year and forecasts continued economic growth. The Minister attacks what he calls "pseudo-analysis" by specialists wandering in and out of private media stations attempting to destabilize domestic production. The government, he insists, is countering the rising inflation rate that reached 10% in Q4 2007 and he blames the rise on inertia, which, he argues, should level out in the medium term.

Reflecting on its internal situation, the board of Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV) has issued a statement highlighting the importance of improving the technical side of communications. The group welcomes efforts by Communications & Information ( Minci) and Telecommunication Ministries to train professionals and technicians in order to improve standards and reach the necessary capability to fight " media terrorism" at home and abroad. The improvements are also aimed at improving the station's signal on a national level. Radio Nacional de Venezuela, the communique points out, has had to move its antennae from the current location at La Rinconada to make way for housing solutions. The temporary site of the RNV signal is not appropriate. The proposals are the following: purchase of a new transmitter through public auction and request Conatel (telecommunications council) for frequencies to install FM stations in Caricuao (Caracas) and Los Teques.

New Venezolana de Television (VTV) president, Yuri Pimentel has promised an overhaul of programs on State channel 8. Content quality is a high priority, Pimentel points out, as he promises to continue the process of turning VTV into a 24-hour news channel. The announcement was made during an interview on Ernesto Villegas' morning political talk show, "En Confianza."
The VTV president insists that the decisions are part of a " revisar-rectificar-reimpulsar" (3rs) policy launched by President Chavez at the beginning of the year. Ernesto Villegas caught Pimentel on the hop after the latter said he would cut the length of many programs on VTV and concentrate on quality. Ernesto cheekily shot the question: that goes for President Chavez' Sunday radio show, Alo Presidente? Not necessarily, Pimentel ventured, because it is a quality show, however long it lasts. The 3rs process in the government's media sources will be aided by the fact that Pimentel's personal friend, Andres Izarra is leading a complete review, rectification and re-launching of the government's media effort across the board and VTV is just a part of the whole.

As a matter of interest, VHeadline's Franco Munini appeared on VTV's En Confianza in the middle of January, highlighting the situation of VHeadline off the air owing to lack of funds. Franco presented a vision of how the government could improve its media record both at home and abroad, shaking off the negative image that the international press web has been spinning since failure of the April 11, 2002 coup.

Patrick O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@googlemail.com