National Assembly (AN) deputy, Luis Tascon has launched his candidacy for the Metropolitan Mayor's Office in Caracas. In a direct challenge to President Chavez, Tascon states that he is not a pre-candidate but a candidate and criticizes those surrounding the President for keeping him a captive. Tascon has reiterated his revolutionary credentials and says he wants a Mayor's Office open to technology that allows human resources to reach the community to solve problems. Aporrea-Merida has made an interesting observation that the only official TV channel covering the announcement was ANTV, the National Assembly channel. Tascon has slammed the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) as "undemocratic ... with members that reject Socialist ideology."
Former Defense Minister, Vice Admiral Orlando Maniglia has come out in defense of the reserve force. Throughout the world, the Vice Admiral states, the concept of the reserve is integrated into a country's development. " The social role of the Armed Forces (FAN) is historical and is linked to the concept of the reserve because the spirit of the reserve is the spirit of the people." Maniglia points out that the new content of the reserve in Venezuela is to allow people who have not done military service to contribute towards improving the country and its defense against any eventual situation. The reserve, Maniglia adds, must be used and not just be put on the shelf as a trophy.
The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has announced a timetable of activities during May. PSUV spokeswoman, Maria Cristina Iglesias says the 10 party vice presidents will visit regional state teams dedicated to political work. The teams will be structured in the same way as the national leadership is linked to the national political coordination team. The organisation, ideology, electoral technical, communication, social movements, finance, mobilization, and government liaison committees will also be on the move during this period. The political coordination committee is made up of eight members and headed by a vice president of a region. Activities will begin on April 26 with battalion meetings to start a " communal diagnosis" with the aim of setting up different local programs. On April 29-30, there will be a meeting to discuss the results of the communal diagnosis and on May 11, there will be discussion in the assemblies to set up specific programs. Iglesias states that this is the first step of the electoral campaign but did not give any details of methods or how candidates will be chosen.
Agriculture & Lands (MAT) Minister, Elias Jaua brushes aside charges that the production of sugar in the Turbio Valley of Barquisimeto will be affected by the State's recovery of 2,400 hectares. The Minister says only 300 hectares of the above is made up of sugar cane plantations ... " they are in no danger and producers will not be hindered when they harvest the product." The valley, the Minister states, has been recommended for more than 20 years as a valley of exclusive agricultural use and environmental protection but is not suitable for sugar cane production, a fact he has made clear in round table meetings with producers. One of the big problems of sugar cane production in the valley, the Minister insists, is the effect of contamination when the sugar cane is burnt every year. The legal process will be starting shortly to allow supposed owners to present property rights and demonstrate their intention to continue producing on the lands but the produce will be vegetables.
MAT Minister Jaua maintains that Venezuela is currently producing around 9 million tonnes of food and around 3-4 million tonnes are being imported. He also states that milk is freely available in stores, even though there are zones that are historically difficult regarding distribution. Jaua calls on the private sector to respond and to stop complaining about prices, controls, and other excuses. Highlighting the fact that is the first time that a government that has delivered a series of facilities to agricultural and agri- industry sectors to increase production, he points to tax exonerations and a preferential credit rates as just two of many initiatives.
Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Diaz has called on the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) to open a hearing against Guarico State Governor, Eduardo Manuitt for alleged serious physical aggression against Mayor of Zaraza, David Fares. According to a preliminary investigation, the Attorney General comments, the State governor allegedly cause serious injuries to the Mayor during a heated exchange at the Finance Ministry in Caracas. Ortega Diaz says it is up to the TSJ plenary session to see if there are sufficient merits for starting a legal process against the State Governor. Manuitt has responded calling the measure is " absurd" and " rubbish." First of all, the Governor retorts, the country has so many problems and important things to do and secondly, he believes there is a political motive lurking in the background. The Attorney General's measure, he continues, is unconstitutional because every Venezuelan has a right to due process, which means that every person must be notified of any investigation against him and not learn about it on the TV. This is not the first investigation or charge against Manuitt. A few years back he was accused of allegedly conniving with and backing police murder squads in his state.
Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin says he is in favor of a Supreme Tribunal of Justice decision favoring prisoners seeking legal benefits that will allow their re-insertion into society. Among some of the things ruled on by the T SJ are: the possibility of conditional freedom and work programs. However, the ruling is not open to all prisoners ... some rights will be suspended depending on the kind of crime. Not all the prisoners will benefit and it's not automatic, the Minister states, and announces that prisoners enjoying the reform will be monitored to ensure that the alternatives are complied with. The Minister has criticized opposition non-governmental organizations as riding on the back of the prisoners ... " it was not the NGOs but prisoners themselves that found a valid interlocutor in the authorities."
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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