Caracas Daily Journal News Briefs -- Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Venezuela's biggest business organization, the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Fedecamaras), said nothing had been done about the "causes of inflation" since business leaders met with President Hugo Chavez. The only change was ending the tax on financial transactions (ITC), it added.

Residents of Palo Verde in east Caracas blocked streets Monday in protest at lack of security after a woman was run over and killed as she tried to escape from criminals committing a crime last week. In El Valle, south Caracas, kiosk owners blocked a highway after being ordered to move by municipal authorities.

Employees of a "popular clinic" in El Paraiso, West Caracas, assembled in the street to demand payment of dues and changes in employment terms including fixed jobs. Spokeswoman Lysquenia Lara, said the clinic had been working for four years and they were tired of "listening to promises" and their demands not being attended.

Oil field workers in Zulia state are demanding that the state oil corporation, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), comply with the terms of a collective bargaining agreement they say was signed last November 1. About 250 started an indefinite protest outside PDVSA local headquarters Sunday morning.

Indigenous communities have sown crops on more than 8,500 hectares of land in what Indigenous Peoples Minister Nicia Maldonado sees a sign of the "advance" the government is making with "socio-productive projects" such as crop-planting schemes. Popular crops include yucca (manioc), other staple foods and coffee.

Over 2,000 officials are to be deployed by the Education Ministry and the national institute of consumer defense (Indecu) to enforce the government's ceiling of 15 percent on increases in fees charged by private sector schools and colleges. Officials say parents claim some institutions are charging above the limit.