Veteran international analyst and journalist, Walter Martinez has appeared on state television VTV once more after a long absence. The reappearance of former Uruguay air force pilot, Martinez was welcomed by President Chavez who phoned in for a chat. Martinez says his famous program "Dossier" will return via the military academy television channel but will be transmitted by other channels as well. Mr. Martinez' program was taken off the air the two years ago by VTV state television board of directors, much to the dismay of many viewers who followed Martinez' analysis of world affairs as they happened or in "pleno desarrollo" as was his catch phrase.
The government has been reviewing its media policies. The revision is part of its overall strategy to review, rectify, and give a new impulse to all aspects of the Bolivarian revolution. The revision process is headed by Communication & Information Minister (Minci) Minister, Andres Izarra and VTV president, Yuri Pimentel. President Chavez has told both men that one of the important aspects of the revision is to turn the Channel 8 into a 24/7 news channel like Telesur, while the other channels will concentrate on sport, culture and general entertainment.
Andres Izarra has announced plans to introduce new news formats aimed at amplifying and improving communication processes in Venezuela itself. Speaking on VTV state channel's "Open Dialogue" program, the Minister insists on the need for an excellent television service and better quality journalism to replace current formats and to give an impulse to information and communication. The plan is within the framework of the 3Rs strategy to review, rectify, and re-impulse policies. According to the Minister, current government channels follow a very generalized profile competing for the same audience and part of the current government review debate centers on specifying the audience each channel wants to reach. "We want to complement the evolution and impact of channels by implementing and monitoring an audiometer that will provide us with means of competing not just with private channels but also for audiences ... the channels must be competitive, have a purpose and be original ... that is the spirit motivating us to propose the changes." The Minister has denied that the radio-electrical space is being dominated by community media, arguing that 80% of the space is in the hands of private companies, according to statistics from communications regulatory body, Conatel.
According to a report in the Notitarde newspaper, US Senator Richard Lugar has called on Congress to investigate concerns he has about Venezuela. As member of the Senate foreign affairs committee, Lugar has asked the General Accountability Office to provide an update on concerns he has about " large quantities of cocaine being transshipped the ports of Puerto Cabello and Maracaibo." Other concerns deal with possible government involvement in the trade and links with narco-trafficking rings and guerrilla groups. Lugar states that he has drawn up a list of 13 concerns.
Delegates attending the second plenary session of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela's (PSUV) fifth assembly have unanimously appointed President Chavez party president. They also decided that the 1,861 delegates make up the General Assembly of Delegates, which will act as the new party's maximum authority. An election system for national authorities on a temporary basis has been approved and next Saturday each of the delegates will tender names of three candidates to the national leadership bureau. Voting will take place on the eighth or ninth of March. PSUV national coordinator, Jorge Rodriguez states that the election process will be automated and has asked the National Elections Council (CNE) to oversee the electoral process.
During his Sunday radio address from Apure State, President Chavez insisted on pushing forward the agrarian reform and the war on landed estates. The President has announced an investment of (Bs.F) 2.8 billion bolivares in credits for agricultural producers to help boost production in some areas. Chavez has expressed the hope that by 2012 national demand for meat will be met by local producers. According to Agricultural & Lands Minister, Elias Jaua, Venezuela produces 2 million heads of cattle and says he hopes to produce 3 million heads of cattle a year by 2012. As regards milk production, Minister Jaua maintains that the plan is to lift production 200% by 2012 from 1.7 million liters to 4.2 million.
The UK Agroflora has once again come under fire when President Chavez was told that the Vestey subsidiary has been restricting the movement of 200 indigenous citizens. National Assembly deputy for Apure, Cristobal Jimenez claims that company had fenced in around 200 Yaruro indians who could only move get in and out of their lands with company permission. Agroflora owns a number of farms and ranches in the State, such as Cana Pistola ( 75,000 hectares), Turagua ( 30,000 hectares), Punta de Mata and Los Cocos ( 105,000 hectares). The company purchased the El Morichito ranch from the State Governor under Juan Vicente Gomez and the indians were included in the sale. Agriculture & Lands Minister, Elias Jaua comments that after meeting the Agroflora president, the latter agreed to free up 4,000 hectares to allow the indians to come and go as they please. Chavez has rejected Agroflora's argument that some lands are not producing because they are part of a nature reserve. Jimenez informed Chavez that Nelson Rockefeller was a shareholder in the Invega company which owned the El Frio ranch. The deceased US Vice president under Gerard Ford visited the ranch several times.
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