The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has paid off a second part of what it owes the National Electoral Council (CNE) for staging its primary elections several months ago. PSUV finance coordinator, Rodrigo Cabezas and several National Assembly deputies handed over 232 million (old?) bolivares to the CNE on Friday. The total debt is 930 million bolivares and Cabezas confirms that half has now been paid, of which 90% was collected using the system of bond sales. The PSUV leadership has organized a special collection for September 13 called "a day's wages of the revolution." According to a report in the Bolivarian News Agency (ABN), the Barrio Adentro II health plan has become the first health care option for many people in Venezuela. The health programme consists of high technology centers, rehabilitation rooms and integral diagnosis centers (CDIs). Attention in the majority of centers is considered excellent and more and more people are attending the facilities throughout Venezuela. The CDIs are staffed by Cuban doctors and Venezuelan personnel and are free.
PSUV candidate for (Caracas) Sucre municipality, Jesse Chacon has inspected a garbage processing center based in Filas de Mariches. Candidate for the Metropolitan Mayor's Office, Aristobulo Isturiz, along with Environment Ministry officials, accompanied Chacon. During a site visit, Chacon found out that the treatment plant suffers from basic structural problems. In fact it is said to be in a state of collapse, needing urgent anti-contamination measures. According to a Deputy Environment Minister, 32 trucks are freeing the plant of 25 tonnes of garbage a day. It is expected to take two months and more trucks to clean up the plant and get it ready for use again. According to observers, the candidates' concern is one the first results of former London Mayor Ken Livingstone's visit to Caracas and new job as government assessor.
The Venezuelan government has reacted to what it calls "hostile declarations" of US officials regarding Venezuelans anti-drugs policies. An official Foreign Ministry (MRE) statement highlights Venezuela's significant advance over the last few years in fighting narco-trafficking after it rescinded an agreement with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The communique stresses that Venezuela had no choice but to end the agreement because of DEA's "criminal activity on Venezuelan soil" with drug lords by using controlled delivery tactics and openly conspiring against Venezuela's democratic and constitutional order. Criticizing what it calls structural faults of the US government's anti-drugs policy, the Venezuelan government accuses its counterpart of pursuing an aggressive smear campaign against successful Venezuelan institutions. The campaign is based on the current US administration's obsession against the Bolivarian revolution and the legitimate and democratic leadership of President Chavez. The recent jibe of US anti-drugs chief, John Walters is an attempt to attribute his own failure to the supposed lack of co-operation of some countries in the region. The Venezuelan government, therefore, considers "useless" and "inopportune" any visit on the part of Mr. Walters to Venezuela.
During his Sunday radio address, President Chavez has threatened to expel US Ambassador, Patrick Dudley, if he continues to interfere in Venezuela's internal affairs. The warning comes after adverse statements made by the Ambassador in Valencia contending that drug-trafficking between the US and Venezuela had increased significantly over the last two years, and that narco-traffickers are taking advantage of the stand-off between the US and Venezuela. US anti-drugs chief, John Walters was also criticized for fixing a date to visit Venezuela without consultation and wanting to be attended immediately.
President Chavez held his Sunday radio address in Santa Rosa de Barinas where he opened a community liquid gas filling plant. The President says the new plant is part of the country's social property, part of the strategic alliance development plan to consolidate the natural gas and petroleum revolution. To facilitate the distribution of gas, there will be new plastic containers produced in Norway, far superior than the heavy containers, currently in use. Energy & Petroleum Minister, Rafael Ramirez says an agreement has been signed with Norway and Portugal to build a factory of plastic gas containers for domestic distribution in Venezuela.
During his Sunday radio address, President Chavez has announced that he will build new systems of Metrocable and cable cars. Today, Chavez will meet directors of the Austrian Doppelmayr company, experts in building cable cars around the world. Chavez has announced that he would like to create joint ventures with the company to expand the current tourist cable car going to Monte Avila in Caracas. The system will also be used in other hillside barrios in Caracas like the one in San Agustin barrio.
President Chavez has announced that he will continue to strengthen Venezuela's national defense system by purchasing arms from the Russian Federation, which, he reiterates, is a strategic ally in the process. More combat planes from Russia and others from China will soon be purchased. Another addition arriving shortly is an anti- air defense system with missiles with a range of 200 km. During his visit to Beijing in September, the President is expected to sign an agreement to purchase training planes and complains that he waited more than three years to purchase spare parts from Brazil for Tucano training fighters, but they never came because the US opposed the deal.
National Museums director, Zuleiva Vivas has resigned after failing to reach an agreement with employees in wage negotiations. Vivas states that her resignation is an effort to facilitate an understanding between the institute and its workers. The museum system in Venezuela, Vivas proclaims, has opened up completely under the Bolivarian Revolution and points to the recently opened "Children, territory and reality exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Caracas. Another initiative launched by Vivas is the "El metro en movimiento" exhibition, currently in project. The director's resignation will be a loss to the museum system as she was instrumental in launching contacts with the provinces and local communities.
An interesting dialogue took place between an inhabitant of Santa Rosa de Barinas and President Chavez during his Sunday radio address. Addressing the President in public, the lady told him that she was a volunteer at the local school which became a Bolivarian school last year and requested that she and other women be put on the Education Ministry payroll. Chavez started off asking himself how was he to answer the petition. The original idea was to create a volunteer system of mothers of children attending the school to help with school meals and cleaning. The President admits that the government decided to help the volunteers financially as a recognition of their work and commitment. However, those aided are now petitioning for full insertion since they are only "paid" for hours worked. The masterly Chavez replied that he must consult with the Education Minister to review the situation but he did make a effort pedagogically to explain the reasons for proposing a volunteer system in the first place. One of the lady's sons has a job in the newly created liquid gas filling plant.
Patrick J. O'Donoghuepatrick.vheadline@gmail.com
Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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