Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- April 30, 2008

President Chavez has appointed Hector Navarro as the new Education Minister replacing Adan Chavez, who will occupy the leadership of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) in Barinas and Apure States where serious problems have arisen that need sorting out. President Chavez made the announcement during a Council of Ministers meeting. Appearing on television yesterday, the President has challenged opposition claims that he is trying to introduce the rejected constitutional reform by stealth. Chavez has replied that all his policies are based on and in compliance with the Bolivarian Constitution of 1999, in other words, his policies are legal, constitutional and democratic. The President referred to the ban inside the PSUV to launch candidacies without permission. Chavez reiterates the message that anybody who says that he wants to be a state governor and does not accept any party decision is automatically out ... " there is discipline here and no personal projects."

During a Council of Ministers meeting, President Chavez has announced that 3 billion bolivares will be spent on education and distributed in the following manner:

Housing & Habitat Ministry will refurbish 161 schools, extend 199 and
build 57 new schools

The Infrastructure Ministry will refurbish 160 educational buildings, extend
197 and build 50 new ones

The Environment Ministry will build 47 new institutions, extend 197 and
refurbish 160.

In other words, the President concludes, 1225 educational installations will
benefit from the funding.

Yesterday, Chavez opened the Simoncito infant school in El Valle (Caracas) and at the same time, a Bolivarian secondary school in Cumana (Sucre) with 16 classrooms and 21 computers, and schools in Cojedes, Zulia, and Tachira.

As Venezuela gears to celebrate Workers Day, the opposition Confederation of Workers of Venezuela (CTV) is calling for a wage increase 40% to fight the effects of inflation. CTV general secretary, Manuel Cova suggests that workers' salaries should be in accordance with bloated salaries that top public officials are receiving. Cova criticizes the government for applying an anti-inflationary policy. According to the CTV, inflation ended 22% in general in 2007 and food prices suffered 42%. The opposition trade union march on May 1 will be one of protest, Cova announces, as he complains that employers should have been present in salary increase talks and expresses concern that the nationalization of companies does not offer sufficient guarantees to workers.

National Union of Workers (UNT) national coordinator, Marcella Maspero has also questioned the high salaries the government officials are receiving in relation to workers' salaries and highlights what she calls the "need to seek an integral social salary." The proposed integral social salary, Maspero argues, will force a review of health, education, tourism, recreation and job policies. Maspero insists that the inequality of salaries must be reviewed and updated. The central is also demanding the elimination of subcontracting because it exploits workers, avoids collective bargaining and prevents workers from joining trade unions. The UNT will march from La Bandera to Carmelitas tomorrow to support President Chavez' policies.

The Hands Off Venezuela solidarity group in London is supporting Ecuadorian citizens after Home Office officials and British police entered an Ecuadorian business in South London searching for undocumented workers. According to a report on the group's website, police "broke through doors and intimidated all those found in spots known to be frequented by Latin Americans, the majority of them, Ecuadorians." The Latin American Contingent in London will march from Farringdon station to Trafalgar Square on May 1 at 12 o'clock. The march will protest against the treatment of Ecuadorians by the British police, reject the racist campaign of the Santa Cruz province in Bolivia, support trade unionists and social movements in Colombia and express solidarity with the successes of Venezuelan workers on the road to Socialism.

The Interior & Justice (MIJ) Ministry will open a penitentiary community in Coro (Fal con) today. MIJ Minister, Ramon Rodriguez Chacin says it will be part of a new penitentiary socialist system to help prisoners reintegrate into society with their families. The family, he states, will share productive socialist work with inmates organized in cooperatives and families will be able to lodge near the penitentiary centers opening the possibility of establishing real family communication. The Minister adds that the architectural concept of the new penitentiary communities will help personal development and aid reinsertion into society.

National Guard (GN) General (ret.) Felipe Rodriguez has received a prison sentence of 10 years and three months for his involvement in placing explosive devices in front of the Spanish and Colombian consulates in Caracas in 2003. His colleagues, Raul Diaz Pena and Silvio Merida Ortiz received prison sentences of nine years eight months each. Rodriguez was one of the generals who violently opposed President Chavez and occupied the Plaza Altamira in 2002 in an effort to bring down the government.

According to a report on Noticierodigital.com website, PSUV vice president General (ret.) Alberto Muller Rojas has confirmed the expulsion of Barquisimeto Mayor, Henry Falcon, and National Assembly deputies, Wilmer Azuaje and Wilmer Perez for prematurely launching their candidacies to regional elections. Deputy Luis Diaz has also been expelled from the party for using undemocratic methods to criticize the government. Yaracuy State governor, Carlos Gimenez has also received the chop, alleging that the reason is his support for Deputy Luis Tascon's bid to the Metro Mayor's Office in Caracas. Gimenez himself is facing charges of corruption. Falcon retorts that the party is jumping the gun and that anyway he will run as an independent and Chavist.

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