Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- April 28, 2008

Speaking during a meeting of United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) propaganda commissioners in Parque Central (Caracas), President Chavez has announced that he will set up a national message center working 24/7 and properly equipped. The idea, the President says, is to confront the media war that is being waged in Venezuela. The centre will be fed by the government and party "to act in time" to counter any situation and the President adds that there should be a centre in every region and every state. Giving an example of how the system will work, Chavez says if something happens in one area, the local centre should communicate immediately with the State centre and the national centre to take the necessary actions. The party, Chavez urges, cannot fall into the trap of copying enemy strategy, which consists in spreading propaganda and then using it as a base to impact reality. "Our strategy should be the contrary ... do real things that make an impact or in other words, the war of ideas."

On Saturday, President Chavez announced the creation of a high command of science and technology to supervise all projects sent in by Venezuelan inventors. The President himself saw some of the inventions during an exposition of inventors in Caracas. Chavez insists that the country should build its own technological style and says he was impressed by some of the exhibits during the Popular Innovators and Inventors Fair in Caracas.

Primero Justicia (PJ) leader, Julio Borges has replied to a commentary by President Chavez that he has been not trying to introduce the constitutional reform by stealth. Borges insists that Chavez has an obsession to present by stealth a constitutional reform that was rejected by the people in December 2007. The President should stop saying it wasn't me, Borges insists, because it doesn't suit him. Primero Justicia is combating popular assemblies because it insists that Venezuelans are very clear in what they want and would never accept Chavez' "febrile ambition to try and control everything." Borges proclaims that PJ want Venezuelans to be protagonists, to decide the education of their children and to be proprietors of what they own, however humble it be. The party disagrees with any "intravenous injection of Socialism because Venezuelan values are completely contrary to a personalist, centralizing and controlling project."

A multitude of believers assembled in Caracas to attend the beatification of Venezuelan nun, Mother Candelaria de San Jose. Cardinal Urosa presided over the ceremony, stating that Mother Candelaria is an example of what the Church does day after day, namely personify the triumph of faith over disbelief, love over hatred and solidarity over egotism and indifference, peace over violence and war. Around 30,000 people, mostly from the provinces, attended the ceremony at the University Stadium in Caracas and another 20,000 watched the ceremony via TV screens at the Olympic Stadium.

During his Sunday radio show from the fishing and cocoa village of Chuao (Aragua), President Chavez asserts that Venezuela will not be affected by the world food crisis. This year, the President recalls, all his Sunday radio talk shows have been dedicated to the topic. Furthermore, the President boasts, Venezuela will be able to help other countries confront the crisis. During the program Chavez did admit that his government was slow to address agricultural problems but the Agriculture & Lands (MAT) Ministry has been financing and providing technical assistance and training to peasants to increase production of products that form the domestic basic diet. During the show, socialist agrarian fund (FAS) president, Ricardo Sanchez reports that more than 1,600 small to medium producers as well as 82 communal projects throughout Venezuela have received funding from his organisation. Sanchez confirms that the FAS will be able to finance 1.3 billion bolivares for work on 400,000 new hectares this year, in conjunction with the agricultural bank. Last week, the President raised the price of corn and sorghum 30% and yesterday was informed that cocoa crops in Chuao had increased 300% in two years.

Commenting on the choice of PSUV candidates to represent the government in elections this year, President Chavez says that he has received a list of candidates to State governors and Mayors. Chavez reminds party members that there can be alternative candidates inside the PSUV and there must be unity around the issue. "We cannot return to commit the same errors as Podemos made using elections to traffic posts." However, unrest has been observed in states such as Yaracuy and Zulia where people have been contesting what they call impositions from party hierarchs who have failed to take into account the votes of locals.

In his weekly column editor/publisher, Miguel Salazar has coined a new phrase to depict a new political phenomenon he calls, "chaverism." The term applies to a growing trend of nepotism among Bolivarian leaders, grooming sons, daughters and other family members for key positions. The examples of budding dynasties provided are centered on Lara, Portuguesa, Nueva Esparta and Falcon States. Miguel also highlights the return of the nefarious practice of freebies on state-owned planes, something that President Chavez criticized and stopped when he came to power in 1999.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com