President Chavez does not immediately have a clear and obvious candidate for the finance portfolio; reportedly considering cabinet changes

A scheduled series of much-heralded policy announcements by Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez Frias on measures to be taken to stimulate the nation's production has been suspended at the last moment, according to Information & Communications (MinCI) Minister Andres Izarra.

Izarra had told listeners to his Tuesday morning "Communications in Times of Revolution" radio show on 'La Nuestra' 102.9FM that Venezuela's productive capacity in the majority of its state-owned industries was "at full throttle" but that the Executive was to announce the measures to encourage both public and private producers to raise production capacity as well.

"In general there will be a a series of incentives offered by the State," Izarra said keynoting state funds to be made available for loans, tax incentives, etc. "We are on top of the situation, and the measures to be announced the Head of State (Chavez) are of much significance for the national productive sector."

It appears the announcements have been suspended to a later date due to Finance Minister Rafael Isea's last weekend's win in the government's United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) primaries for the governorship of the center-west state of Aragua. Isea immediately tendered his resignation to campaign ahead of November 23 elections leaving it to the President to name his immediate successor.

According to Izarra, the President does not immediately have a clear and obvious candidate for the finance portfolio and is reportedly considering a series of cabinet changes perhaps to be announced this coming weekend.