Friday, October 17, 2008

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- October 17, 2008

The National Assembly (AN) has opened an investigation against opposition journalist, Leopoldo Castillo and editor/publisher of El Nuevo Pais tabloid, Rafael Poleo. On Castillo's TV program, Poleo compared President Chavez to Benito Mussolini, warning the President that he could end up like the dictator. The motion was put forward by AN science, technology and media committee president, Manuel Villalba, who also laid into the Catholic bishops and the National College of Journalists (CNP) for not condemning plans discovered to assassinate President Chavez.

The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) says it is concerned about the serious problem of insecurity in Venezuela and demands a government guaranteed to defend the right to life to all citizens. The statement comes as the CTV launches its summer meeting document, "For Life and Democracy". The bishops point out that government and opposition surveys coincide in highlighting the problem of public insecurity as the main concern of citizens. According to a report in the Organisation of American States (OAS) issued in October, the crime rate in Venezuela is said to be 45 deaths for every 100,000 inhabitants and only El Salvador and Jamaica are ahead. The bishops also criticize government spending on arms, especially from Russia, claiming that there is no justification using resources of the nation to buy arms.

President Chavez insists that Venezuela has the capacity to resist the world financial and economic crisis and maintain diverse investment plans. The President made the declaration whilst opening 24 health centers in different parts of Venezuela as well as a small electrical plant. The President states that the government is obliged to make revisions and become more efficient in spending but maintains proudly that Venezuela has a government that knows what it is doing. Chavez insists that the government has been very responsible in using resources, which it has done in different forms to the sum of $100 billion dollars. Citing international accepted calculations, a country with the economic and demographic dimensions of Venezuela has reserves of $25 billion to guarantee its stability. Speaking about the oil boom, President Chavez reminds people that the government did not go mad when prices rose and instead created strategic funds, which will be used in a rational manner.

President Chavez has opened 14 integral diagnosis centers (CDIs) in Venezuela. The program is part of the Barrio Adentro plan stage 2. Chavez says he expects to open 15 more Barrio Adentro clinics bringing the total in Venezuela to 3,005 clinics. One of the latest CD Is to be opened is situated on the eastern coast of Lake Maracaibo in Zulia state. The number of CDIs in Venezuela is 454 and the number of integral rehabilitation rooms 1,010.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.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.

HELP US TO KEEP BRINGING YOU THE TRUTH
http://tinyurl.com/n4fg



No comments:

Post a Comment