Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president, Jose Manuel Gonzalez states that the Venezuelan economy will not be immune to the world financial and economic crisis. Gonzalez calls on the government to review its economic policies that have hit the country's productive apparatus, i.e. the private sector and to take speedy measures that will allow the country to meet the crisis that is affecting all markets. Fedecamaras declares its conviction that oil prices will fall because of the recession and a predicted fall in demand. Communication & Information (Minci) Minister Andres Izarra calls the Inter American Press Association one of the biggest aggressors of freedom of expression. The Minister questions the final declaration of the organisation that has held an annual meeting in Madrid. Speaking on State television, Izarra says that while the opposition media make groundless accusations against the Venezuelan state and its democracy, they are the biggest perpetrators and aggressors of freedom of expression in Venezuela. Izarra points to the threats against Maracaibo-based broadsheet, "Panorama" by what he calls neo-fascist groups. Spain's King Juan Carlos also comes under fire for allowing himself to be photographed with what Izarra dubs "gangsters and their political allies" who are preventing a newspaper from circulating in Zulia State. The Venezuelan government guarantees free circulation of the media, the Minister contends, and rounds off his attack by saying he is waiting to see how the National College of Journalists (CNP) and other phantom NGOs financed by the National Endowment for Democracy and the CIA will respond to the attack on Panorama.
The National College of Journalists (CNP) has condemned the attack by opposition students on Panorama, calling for "consideration and dialogue" because Panorama is fulfilling its role in informing citizens and following up the story behind the death of Julio Soto. El Nacional publisher/editor, Miguel Henrique Otero calls Minister Izarra a lackey and claims Izarra is scared of Chavez.
Zulia Street broadsheet, Panorama was subject to a threatening protest by opposition groups who tried to stop trucks from distributing copies of the newspaper. Two buses from the University of Zulia were used to transport the protesters to the newspaper's building. According to Communication & Information Minister, Andres Izarra, the newspaper has been investigating the death of opposition student leader, Julio Soto and his alleged business relations with mafia groups connected to the sale of student bus discount tickets.
According to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), inflation rose 2 percent last September bringing the accumulated level to 21.8%. September's CPI rose above the August 1 .8%. Three categories went up significantly, namely food and non-alcoholic beverages 2.2%, assets and services 2.5% and educational services 11.2%.
The Attorney General's Office has charged eight workers employed by security companies at the Simon Bolivar international airport at Maiquetia of attempting to send 16.5 kg of cocaine to Portugal on TAP Portugal flight 130. The employees charged are divided between people checking in suitcases and others moving suitcases to the plane once they have been checked by the National Guard. The model used to avoid detection was to replace the suitcase label with another which read " contaminated" but which, unfortunately for the traffickers, was discovered at a last-minute random check.
The Foreign Ministers of Venezuela and Russia, Nicolas Maduro and Sergey Lavrov respectively have agreed to pursue a strategic integral development plan. During a visit to Moscow, Minister Maduro says Venezuela is seeking to set up a geo-political and geo- economic objective aimed at conquering liberty, sovereignty and integration, in other words, helping towards creating a " new pluripolar world." Venezuela, the Minister points out, has made advances by the fomenting integration plans through the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA), PetroCaribe and the Union of South American Nations (Unasur). The two ministers reviewed current cooperation in strategic projects in the following areas, energy, natural gas, mining, food, agriculture, technological transfer, protection of investments, double tax, pacific use of nuclear energy and a bilateral bank.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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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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