Saturday, May 31, 2008
Venezuela says troops kill Colombian "subversive"
Venezuelan troops killed a Colombian 'subversive' in a border gun battle, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday, an incident that could fuel new tensions between the two countries. The South American neighbors have maintained a war of words in recent months, with Venezuela accusing Colombia of trying to spark war and sending troops into its territory. Chavez said the Venezuelan army exchanged gunfire with armed 'subversives' near the border, but did not offer details on where the incident took place or which group was involved. 'They fired at each other and one (member) of the subversive group died,' Chavez said during a televised speech.
Chavez says 1 dead in clash with unknown group along Colombia border
President Hugo Chavez says one person has died in an armed encounter between Venezuelan soldiers and an unidentified subversive group along the Venezuelan-Colombian border. Chavez says Venezuela's interior minister told him of Friday clash but did not know who the subversives were or what they were doing. It wasn't clear if the encounter took place in Venezuela or Colombia. Relations between the neighbors have been strained since Colombia raided a rebel camp in Ecuador last March, claiming to find evidence there that Chavez had financed Colombian guerrillas.
Venezuela's legislature will consider next week whether to nationalize gasoline stations
Venezuela's legislature will consider next week whether to nationalize gasoline stations that were sold to investors a decade ago, because of complaints by a labor union, Correo del Caroni reported. Angel Marcano, a deputy in the National Assembly, said he supported a takeover and that workers and customers would be better served if the state ran the stations, said the newspaper based in Ciudad Guyana, Venezuela. Marcano blamed a labor dispute on ``the capitalist system of exploitation,'' the newspaper said. Earlier this year, Venezuela took over the Sidor steel mill after a protracted labor dispute, Correo del Caroni said.
Hugo Chavez cold-shoulders disciple claiming to be his son
The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has encountered an intriguing complication as he attempts to restore his popularity after a series of embarrassing political setbacks. A 30-year-old man claiming to be his illegitimate son has come forward with political ambitions of his own. Salomon Fernandez bears a striking physical resemblance to Chavez and has provided evidence of his identity to Venezuelan intelligence officials. He has met Chavez’s parents – who he claims are his grandparents – and has become friendly with one of the president’s aunts. Yet Chavez has declined either to acknowledge or to repudiate his would-be son, who has upset officials in the ruling Socialist party by seeking to enter politics in his home state of Carabobo.
FINANCIAL TIMES: Venezuela’s road to serfdom
Today’s FT reports on the ongoing traffic chaos in Caracas. Some Venezuelans are upset at the failure of a plan whereby Venezuela would provide subsidized fuel to the city of London, in exchange for transport and planning advice. How does one even begin to analyze the levels of stupidity involved here? Let’s start with what Ken Livingstone, the former London mayor who signed the deal, should have said to Chavez as his first piece of advice: DON’T SUBSIDIZE FUEL. Boris Johnson, to his credit, has cancelled the agreement, but Caracas remains a disaster."
VIDEO: Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) Minister Rodolfo Sanz
Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) Minister Rodolfo Sanz interviewed by Globovision on April 15, 2008 regarding the take-over of Hecla's gold mining interests in El Callao, southeastern Bolivar State, says "we are going to intervene in the (gold mining) sector ... I have instructions from President Chavez to undertake a revision of some concessions."
Pressure on gold mine developers grows as Venezuela says No
Funeral bells may have sounded for two of Latin America's top gold projects after mineral-rich Venezuela warned it will not issue permits in a forest reserve, part of a slow campaign grinding away at private miners. Left-wing President Hugo Chavez is on a nationalizing spree that has swallowed energy, steel and cement companies. For months he has toyed with the idea of taking a chunk of miners without ever fully revealing his intentions for the sector. But in April the environment ministry ruled that no new gold mines would be allowed in a reserve that houses the country's main projects, owned by Canada's Crystallex and Gold Reserve, the strongest steps yet taken against miners. Citing environmental concerns in the ecologically rich but degraded Imataca Forest Reserve, Minister Yuviri Ortega later said open-pit mining would be banned and all concessions were under review, prompting speculation the government is preparing to take over companies.
Noses held as pressure builds to shut down the Caracas city morgue at Bello Monte
Hot dog stallholders in west Caracas are complaining that they're constantly hassled by the Libertador municipal police. They claim the cops took away their equipment and are keeping it under lock and key at a police station in Cota 905, refusing to return it for reasons unexplained.
Nine new jails are to be built this year, according to Interior and Justice Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin. Time was when one of his predecessors, Jesse Chacón, put the number at two. As it turns out, most of the projects will consist of additions to existing prisons including the Coro, Yare and El Rodeo complexes.
Investigators working on the murder of Prosecutor Carlos Lugo in Falcon state reckon the killer was a former officer with the state police hired under a "hit contract" for persons yet unknown. Scientific and investigative police (Cicpc) chief Marco Chavez claims the case is "80 percent" solved.
Neighbors in Carmen, a slum in far from salubrious Antimano, southwest Caracas, are up in arms claiming the authorities failed to stop waste water from flooding their homes. They say neither the Metropolitan Mayor's Office nor its Infrastructure Ministry even answered their pleas for help.
Pressure is building to shut down the city morgue at Bello Monte because it's no longer in a condition to handle all the bodies that turn up and the refrigeration's on the blink. Noses were held as officials from the National Guard (GN), fire brigade, prosecutors' office and health agencies inspected the morgue earlier this week.
Two very elderly ladies are living a lonely life on the eleventh floor of a tower block in El Recreo. Candelaria Mantill, who's chalked up a century, and her neighbor, Ana Flores, a relatively youthful 90, haven't been able to get out for over a year because none of the lifts are working.
Nine new jails are to be built this year, according to Interior and Justice Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin. Time was when one of his predecessors, Jesse Chacón, put the number at two. As it turns out, most of the projects will consist of additions to existing prisons including the Coro, Yare and El Rodeo complexes.
Investigators working on the murder of Prosecutor Carlos Lugo in Falcon state reckon the killer was a former officer with the state police hired under a "hit contract" for persons yet unknown. Scientific and investigative police (Cicpc) chief Marco Chavez claims the case is "80 percent" solved.
Neighbors in Carmen, a slum in far from salubrious Antimano, southwest Caracas, are up in arms claiming the authorities failed to stop waste water from flooding their homes. They say neither the Metropolitan Mayor's Office nor its Infrastructure Ministry even answered their pleas for help.
Pressure is building to shut down the city morgue at Bello Monte because it's no longer in a condition to handle all the bodies that turn up and the refrigeration's on the blink. Noses were held as officials from the National Guard (GN), fire brigade, prosecutors' office and health agencies inspected the morgue earlier this week.
Two very elderly ladies are living a lonely life on the eleventh floor of a tower block in El Recreo. Candelaria Mantill, who's chalked up a century, and her neighbor, Ana Flores, a relatively youthful 90, haven't been able to get out for over a year because none of the lifts are working.
United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Francisco Arias Milla says Venezuela is NOT under threat of crisis in food supply
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Venezuela is not under the threat of a crisis in food supply, according to Francisco Arias Milla, the head of the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in this country. His remarks came in sharp contrast with the continuing stream of warnings that shortages of key food items are lurking just around the corner. Reports on Friday said butchers had stopped selling some cuts of beef.
Milla pointed to the low cost of producing fertilizers and transporting products, both of them direct benefits of the country's wealth in oil. However, he emphasized that the country's relatively comfortable position was by no means certain.
Measures should be introduced to avert a crisis similar to that seen in countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere in Latin America, he warned. In particular, he pointed to what was happening in the outside world. Corn was the most important cereal in terms of what people in Venezuela consume, Milla continued. But, he noted, corn was also being used to produce ethanol as a substitute for gasoline and other oil products in energy-short economies, above all the United States, the biggest energy market in the world.
"The Agriculture and Land Ministry has initiated a program to augment the production of corn and the supply of white corn," Milla said. "It's vulnerable but it's not a problem at present," he added, taking note of some of measures taken by the government such as the formation of social organizations aimed at ensuring that people had access to food supplies.
Milla then turned to what the people were actually eating, and he was upbeat on this note, too. Venezuelans in the main eat corn, dairy products, meat and beans. These foodstuffs met the people's needs in terms of energy and protein, including the most vulnerable sectors of the population, he added. As to minerals intake, he argued that the threefold increase in the world price of phosphate didn't signify a problem for Venezuela, either, because the country fortunately had sufficient domestic output to meet demand.
Milla pointed to the low cost of producing fertilizers and transporting products, both of them direct benefits of the country's wealth in oil. However, he emphasized that the country's relatively comfortable position was by no means certain.
Measures should be introduced to avert a crisis similar to that seen in countries in Africa, Asia and elsewhere in Latin America, he warned. In particular, he pointed to what was happening in the outside world. Corn was the most important cereal in terms of what people in Venezuela consume, Milla continued. But, he noted, corn was also being used to produce ethanol as a substitute for gasoline and other oil products in energy-short economies, above all the United States, the biggest energy market in the world.
"The Agriculture and Land Ministry has initiated a program to augment the production of corn and the supply of white corn," Milla said. "It's vulnerable but it's not a problem at present," he added, taking note of some of measures taken by the government such as the formation of social organizations aimed at ensuring that people had access to food supplies.
Milla then turned to what the people were actually eating, and he was upbeat on this note, too. Venezuelans in the main eat corn, dairy products, meat and beans. These foodstuffs met the people's needs in terms of energy and protein, including the most vulnerable sectors of the population, he added. As to minerals intake, he argued that the threefold increase in the world price of phosphate didn't signify a problem for Venezuela, either, because the country fortunately had sufficient domestic output to meet demand.
Devaluation absolutely denied: Planning & Development minister sees no slowdown in economy after BCV figures
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Planning & Development Minister Haiman El Troudi said the Bolívar Fuerte would "absolutely" not be devalued and that the government's system of price controls would remain in force to ensure sustained economic growth. The motives behind El Troudi's insistent devaluation denial remain unclear. Cynical observers tend to greet such denials as a sign that devaluation may be just around the corner. They say the chances of devaluation rise in line with the vehemence of denial.
Devaluation is a long-accepted recipe that's doled out when economies are deemed to be slowing down.
The problem with this is that devaluation can also fuel inflation since it boosts the local currency cost of imports -- and imports into Venezuela are steadily rising, not least to meet gaps in food supply. El Troudi's statements were the first detailed response from the government to the findings of the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) on the economy's performance during the first quarter of this year.
The report prompted pause for thought by revealing a slowdown in the rapid growth that had sparked warnings that the economy was in danger of over-heating. The upshot of this was that the economy might spiral into inflation and crash into the buffers.
Orthodox economists say most of the basics are there with one glaring exception -- the government's inability to throttle inflation. Inflation flattened last year's official target of 11 percent by hitting 22.5 percent -- and El Troudi's revised 2008 target of 19.5 percent is already deemed to be in danger. Consumer prices rose at an annual rate of almost 30 percent during the first four months of this year.
Skeptics suggest the figure would have been higher had it not been for the BCV tinkering with how it calculates the official index.
It was not just with devaluation that El Troudi was in denial. The BCV's estimate of 4.8 percent first quarter growth compared with 8.8 percent in the same period a year before was not a sign of deceleration in the economy, he claimed. Instead, he insisted that the figures showed that gross domestic product (GDP) had been in ascent for 18 quarters running. "The Venezuelan economy is well on the road of growth and development," he said.
Even economists critical of the government concede the economy still seems to be doing well. "At the end of the day, 4.8 percent GDP growth would be considered very good going anywhere else," said one analyst off the record. "The question is what happens next quarter and the one after that ... then we'll know whether the economy is heading back into recession, although there's no real reason why it should."
El Troudi has forecast GDP growth at between six and eight percent this year.
Devaluation is a long-accepted recipe that's doled out when economies are deemed to be slowing down.
The problem with this is that devaluation can also fuel inflation since it boosts the local currency cost of imports -- and imports into Venezuela are steadily rising, not least to meet gaps in food supply. El Troudi's statements were the first detailed response from the government to the findings of the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) on the economy's performance during the first quarter of this year.
The report prompted pause for thought by revealing a slowdown in the rapid growth that had sparked warnings that the economy was in danger of over-heating. The upshot of this was that the economy might spiral into inflation and crash into the buffers.
Orthodox economists say most of the basics are there with one glaring exception -- the government's inability to throttle inflation. Inflation flattened last year's official target of 11 percent by hitting 22.5 percent -- and El Troudi's revised 2008 target of 19.5 percent is already deemed to be in danger. Consumer prices rose at an annual rate of almost 30 percent during the first four months of this year.
Skeptics suggest the figure would have been higher had it not been for the BCV tinkering with how it calculates the official index.
It was not just with devaluation that El Troudi was in denial. The BCV's estimate of 4.8 percent first quarter growth compared with 8.8 percent in the same period a year before was not a sign of deceleration in the economy, he claimed. Instead, he insisted that the figures showed that gross domestic product (GDP) had been in ascent for 18 quarters running. "The Venezuelan economy is well on the road of growth and development," he said.
Even economists critical of the government concede the economy still seems to be doing well. "At the end of the day, 4.8 percent GDP growth would be considered very good going anywhere else," said one analyst off the record. "The question is what happens next quarter and the one after that ... then we'll know whether the economy is heading back into recession, although there's no real reason why it should."
El Troudi has forecast GDP growth at between six and eight percent this year.
Opposition trying to stir up turmoil, encourage Chavez' assassination, look for pro-coup military and generate lack of supplies
Prensa Latina: Followers of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are reinforcing the campaign towards the regional elections in November, amid warnings that the opposition has activated anti-democratic plans.
Addressing candidates of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on Thursday, Chavez alerted the opposition "is trying to stir up turmoil, encourage his assassination, look for pro-coup military, and generate lack of supplies."
Addressing candidates of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on Thursday, Chavez alerted the opposition "is trying to stir up turmoil, encourage his assassination, look for pro-coup military, and generate lack of supplies."
- Over 600 posts for governors, mayors, and regional deputies are at stake in the November 23 vote, and the president believes it is actually a tactical event with strategic impact for the country.
State Prosecutors Office calls Giovanny Vasquezas as 'imputado' in Danilo Anderson 2004 murder investigation
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The State Prosecutors Office issued summonses for Giovanny Vasquez, the one-time "star witness" in the investigation of the murder of prosecutor Danilo Anderson, as an 'imputado' -- implying he may have a case to answer. The summons accused him of being involved in forging documents related to the case.
Anderson was killed by a car bomb in November 2004, as he was investigating about 400 people allegedly linked to the April 2002 crisis
which briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez from power.
- Also summonsed were former judge Gumer Quinata and former prosecutor Gilberto Landaeta.
Anderson was killed by a car bomb in November 2004, as he was investigating about 400 people allegedly linked to the April 2002 crisis
which briefly ousted President Hugo Chavez from power.
Rosales' Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) accused of rushing the fences by naming contenders for November regional elections
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Zulia State Governor Manuel Rosales' opposition party, Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), is accused of rushing the fences by naming contenders for November's regional elections, but Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) followed suit on Friday. Furthermore, the nominations included prominent figures identified with the Rosales camp, rather than MAS, most notably Mayor Leopoldo Lopez of the Chacao municipality in central Caracas as candidate for Metropolitan Mayor.
Talk is that while Lopez secured widespread opposition backing for this from the mainstream opposition including UNT, he and Rosales may not be keeping political company for much longer.
The problem is who follows Lopez in comfortable Chacao, arguably the cream of mayor's jobs in the country. UNT plumped for Lilian Hernandez without much ado, but not to Lopez' liking. He's backing Emilio Grateron, who's sworn to run on his own if UNT doesn't desist. There are whispers about Lopez moving across to Primero Justicia, to which he belonged before UNT.
Whether Primero Justicia, which has its own candidate for Chacao, Sonny Rosenthal, would welcome Lopez back is an open question. Local opposition activists mutter Lopez should put Chacao behind him and get on with pitching for the capital job.
Less controversially, MAS put its weight behind former Miranda State Governor Enrique Mendoza in his bid to try for his old job. Once from the Social Christian party, Copei, he's backed by UNT, too.
Talk is that while Lopez secured widespread opposition backing for this from the mainstream opposition including UNT, he and Rosales may not be keeping political company for much longer.
The problem is who follows Lopez in comfortable Chacao, arguably the cream of mayor's jobs in the country. UNT plumped for Lilian Hernandez without much ado, but not to Lopez' liking. He's backing Emilio Grateron, who's sworn to run on his own if UNT doesn't desist. There are whispers about Lopez moving across to Primero Justicia, to which he belonged before UNT.
Whether Primero Justicia, which has its own candidate for Chacao, Sonny Rosenthal, would welcome Lopez back is an open question. Local opposition activists mutter Lopez should put Chacao behind him and get on with pitching for the capital job.
Less controversially, MAS put its weight behind former Miranda State Governor Enrique Mendoza in his bid to try for his old job. Once from the Social Christian party, Copei, he's backed by UNT, too.
President Chavez says he would have liked to meet rebel leader Marulanda; hope death of FARC leader will lead to dialogue
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): President Hugo Chavez said no one should be celebrating the death of Colombian rebel leader Manuel Marulanda -- and that he regrets they never met. Chavez referred to the rebel commander's death for the first time during a televised speech on Thursday, four days after it was confirmed in a video by a senior rebel leader. "It's lamentable to see some people happy about someone's death. We aren't happy about the death of Manuel Marulanda ... I'm sorry that I couldn't meet with Manuel Marulanda to talk about peace.''
The President said he would have liked to talk with Marulanda about a proposed swap of rebel-held hostages for imprisoned guerrillas. He hoped that "dialogue, conversations, are reactivated in this new situation created by Manuel Marulanda's death.
Chavez expressed his willingness to cooperate with Colombia and try to help free more hostages. The rebels have an ideological affinity for Chavez and freed six hostages to Venezuelan officials earlier this year. But relations between Venezuela and Colombia have grown tense in recent months due to a Colombian military strike on the rebel group in Ecuadorean territory and Colombia's accusations that Chávez has sought to arm and fund the guerrillas.
Chavez insists he has not been aiding the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and has been in contact only while seeking to broker hostage releases. That said, Chávez has long been under suspicion of sympathizing with the FARC. That relations between Chavez and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe are prickly is a secret to no one. Uribe's a conservative with free market instincts and Washington's closest ally in South America, none of which is in the least to Chavez' liking.
Uribe is in an alliance with the United States in his battle against drug trafficking. The FARC and other guerrilla groups are believed to be using the drug trade and common crimes such as kidnapping and extortion to finance their operations. For his part, Chávez has labeled the FARC as a legitimate "belligerent" in a civil conflict.
Skepticism about Chavez' links with the FARC was heightened by Colombian claims to have found files in a computer that supposedly belonged to the FARC's "foreign minister" and second in command, Raul Reyes, when he was killed on March 1. Whether the tapes actually demonstrate sustained links between Chavez and the FARC, as some of the President's opposers have claimed, remains a matter of debate. So, too, does the authenticity of the files and the claims made about their content. Marulanda's death of a heart attack in March was confirmed by senior rebel leader Timoleon Jimenez in a video broadcast last Sunday. Marulanda was believed to be 78.
The President said he would have liked to talk with Marulanda about a proposed swap of rebel-held hostages for imprisoned guerrillas. He hoped that "dialogue, conversations, are reactivated in this new situation created by Manuel Marulanda's death.
Chavez expressed his willingness to cooperate with Colombia and try to help free more hostages. The rebels have an ideological affinity for Chavez and freed six hostages to Venezuelan officials earlier this year. But relations between Venezuela and Colombia have grown tense in recent months due to a Colombian military strike on the rebel group in Ecuadorean territory and Colombia's accusations that Chávez has sought to arm and fund the guerrillas.
Chavez insists he has not been aiding the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and has been in contact only while seeking to broker hostage releases. That said, Chávez has long been under suspicion of sympathizing with the FARC. That relations between Chavez and Colombian president Alvaro Uribe are prickly is a secret to no one. Uribe's a conservative with free market instincts and Washington's closest ally in South America, none of which is in the least to Chavez' liking.
Uribe is in an alliance with the United States in his battle against drug trafficking. The FARC and other guerrilla groups are believed to be using the drug trade and common crimes such as kidnapping and extortion to finance their operations. For his part, Chávez has labeled the FARC as a legitimate "belligerent" in a civil conflict.
Skepticism about Chavez' links with the FARC was heightened by Colombian claims to have found files in a computer that supposedly belonged to the FARC's "foreign minister" and second in command, Raul Reyes, when he was killed on March 1. Whether the tapes actually demonstrate sustained links between Chavez and the FARC, as some of the President's opposers have claimed, remains a matter of debate. So, too, does the authenticity of the files and the claims made about their content. Marulanda's death of a heart attack in March was confirmed by senior rebel leader Timoleon Jimenez in a video broadcast last Sunday. Marulanda was believed to be 78.
Nokia Venezuela unveils Beta version of its locator application for trademark’s devices, Nokia 2.0.
Caracas Daily Journal (Jonathan Leo): Don't worry if you ever go astray in your own city again, whereas Nokia is willing to guide you through. How so? Because the local arm of the world's largest cell phone maker just cut loose last week in Venezuela the 2.0 version of its popular place track-down application Nokia Maps, containing a bundle of features, services and downloadable maps that will help users find the right spot at all times. http://www.nokia.com/betalabs
With this new Beta edition release, Nokia makes available to some Nokia phone users with GPS capabilities novel tools like that of "Drive", a high-quality navigation system meant for vehicles hitting the road, and a Nokia-assisted GPS orientation indicator.
Nokia Maps 2.0 also comes with "Walk", a pedestrian-dedicated component that accurately takes them from one spot to another helped by visual instructions given step by step. Among other highlights, it offers satellite and hybrid-type maps that blend in satellite and normal views of the main cities on the planet. These images display detailed views where specific avenues, streets and buildings around you can be easily spotted. Plus, switching between traditional, hybrid and satellite maps can be done in a jiffy.
On top of the Nokia Maps rollout, the company also introduced two new handsets: The Nokia N82 Black and Nokia N95 8GB. The first is a 5 mega-pixel cam, xenon flash-equipped phone with GPS, WiFi and HSDPA functionalities, while the latter is an enhanced version of the best-selling Nokia N95. Among the improvements, it highlights an onboard memory of 8 GB, a 2.8-inch display and an innovative rotating-action 3D user interface. Up until now, Nokia Maps relyon maps of over 200 countries, out of which more than 70 are fully navigable.
With this new Beta edition release, Nokia makes available to some Nokia phone users with GPS capabilities novel tools like that of "Drive", a high-quality navigation system meant for vehicles hitting the road, and a Nokia-assisted GPS orientation indicator.
Nokia Maps 2.0 also comes with "Walk", a pedestrian-dedicated component that accurately takes them from one spot to another helped by visual instructions given step by step. Among other highlights, it offers satellite and hybrid-type maps that blend in satellite and normal views of the main cities on the planet. These images display detailed views where specific avenues, streets and buildings around you can be easily spotted. Plus, switching between traditional, hybrid and satellite maps can be done in a jiffy.
On top of the Nokia Maps rollout, the company also introduced two new handsets: The Nokia N82 Black and Nokia N95 8GB. The first is a 5 mega-pixel cam, xenon flash-equipped phone with GPS, WiFi and HSDPA functionalities, while the latter is an enhanced version of the best-selling Nokia N95. Among the improvements, it highlights an onboard memory of 8 GB, a 2.8-inch display and an innovative rotating-action 3D user interface. Up until now, Nokia Maps relyon maps of over 200 countries, out of which more than 70 are fully navigable.
VENEZUELA: Carrying coals to Newcastle ... Gasoline IMPORTS almost double
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): It's a sign of shortcomings in Venezuela's downstream capacity in the oil sector that underpins everything else in the country. Venezuela is the biggest exporter of crude oil in Latin America, but it also imports fuel oil, gasoline and additives simply because it doesn't produce enough of these at home.
With the economy improving and living standards rising -- for which, in this context, read prosperous upper income people buying another new four-wheel drive status symbol and going for a gas-guzzling ride -- demand for gasoline is on the rise, too. Fuel oil is mainly used for electricity generation or industrial purposes, and additives enhance the quality of gasoline.
The Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) says the value of imports of the three petroleum products all but doubled during the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2007.
The cost of importing these products jumped 98 percent to $1.595 billion in the first quarter, while the increase in the volume of shipments was more modest. Such is the reality of relaying on imports in the midst of booming world oil prices. A year before, first quarter imports of these products cost $802 million. By the final quarter of last year, the three-month bill had reached $1.3 billion.
The BCV attributed the increase to rising demand in an improving economy ... but it was also noted that until an unexpected increase of 3.3 percent in the first quarter of this year, domestic oil output had dropped during four consecutive quarters.
While production rates rose in the first quarter, crude oil exports fell by 2.1 percent on a year before to 2.79 million barrels a day (b/d). This implied there was an extra 162,000 b/d to fill in gaps in the domestic market, but this obviously wasn't sufficient to cope with rising consumption. The central bank dryly commented that a 20 percent rise in overall imports in the first quarter wasn't solely due to shipping in key food items such as milk, meat, fish and cooking oil.
With the economy improving and living standards rising -- for which, in this context, read prosperous upper income people buying another new four-wheel drive status symbol and going for a gas-guzzling ride -- demand for gasoline is on the rise, too. Fuel oil is mainly used for electricity generation or industrial purposes, and additives enhance the quality of gasoline.
The Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) says the value of imports of the three petroleum products all but doubled during the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2007.
The cost of importing these products jumped 98 percent to $1.595 billion in the first quarter, while the increase in the volume of shipments was more modest. Such is the reality of relaying on imports in the midst of booming world oil prices. A year before, first quarter imports of these products cost $802 million. By the final quarter of last year, the three-month bill had reached $1.3 billion.
The BCV attributed the increase to rising demand in an improving economy ... but it was also noted that until an unexpected increase of 3.3 percent in the first quarter of this year, domestic oil output had dropped during four consecutive quarters.
While production rates rose in the first quarter, crude oil exports fell by 2.1 percent on a year before to 2.79 million barrels a day (b/d). This implied there was an extra 162,000 b/d to fill in gaps in the domestic market, but this obviously wasn't sufficient to cope with rising consumption. The central bank dryly commented that a 20 percent rise in overall imports in the first quarter wasn't solely due to shipping in key food items such as milk, meat, fish and cooking oil.
Odeen Ishmael: UNASUR constituent treaty propels South American integration
Guyana's ambassador to Venezuela, Dr. Odeen Ishmael writes: At a special summit in Brasilia on May 23, leaders of the 12 South American nations signed the constituent treaty setting out the legal framework of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). The treaty also establishes juridical mechanisms to propel active political coordination within the continental bloc.
Signing the constituent treaty were Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina; Evo Morales of Bolivia; Lula da Silva of Brazil; Michelle Bachelet of Chile; Alvaro Uribe from Colombia; Rafael Correa of Ecuador; Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana; Nicanor Duarte Frutos of Paraguay; Alan Garcia from Peru; Ronald Venetiaan of Suriname; and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Vice-President Rodolfo Nin Novoa signed for Uruguay.
The special summit was originally scheduled for Colombia in March, but had to be postponed in the light of the Colombian cross-border raid on Ecuadorian territory on March 1, which killed a top guerrilla leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and 26 other persons.
Accession to the treaty is, according to the preamble of the document, "a decisive step towards the strengthening of multilateralism and the rule of law in international relations to achieve a diversified, balanced and fair world."
The draft of the treaty was finalised at meetings of the UNASUR Council of Delegates in Cartagena (Colombia), Rio de Janeiro and Caracas earlier this year. It defines the organisation's administrative bodies as the Council of Heads of State and Government (the highest organ) to convene annually; the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to meet twice a year; the Council of Delegates, (representatives of ambassadorial rank, to meet more frequently throughout the year); a rotating presidency; and a general secretariat manned by international civil servants drawn from the member nations, and headed by a Secretary-General elected for not more than two biennial terms. The official working languages of the body will be Dutch, English, Portuguese and Spanish.
The document also stipulates the setting up of a South American parliament based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, but a special protocol will have to be promulgated to enable its establishment.
The constituent treaty, which will come into force after it is ratified by nine states, emphasises the general objective of UNASUR as "building, in a participative and consensual manner, an integration and union process among its peoples in the cultural, social, economic and political dimensions, prioritising political dialogue, social policies, education, energy, infrastructure, financing and the environment, among others, with a view of eliminating socio-economic inequality, to achieving social inclusion and citizen participation, to strengthening democracy, and reducing the asymmetries in the background of strengthening the sovereignty of States."
But since all the member states may not be ready to accede to all the commitments of the Union immediately, the treaty gives consideration to the principle of "gradualism", proposed by Suriname and Guyana, among others, during the negotiations. Thus, the preamble specifies that since South American integration is "flexible and gradual in its implementation . . . . each State may assume the commitments according to their reality."
The treaty also notes that after the fifth year of its entry into force, other Latin American and Caribbean states can apply to be admitted as Associated States of UNASUR.
The genesis of UNASUR goes back to December 2004 when the 12 South American Presidents met in Cuzco, Peru, to establish the South American Community of Nations. But even before Cuzco, the Presidents held summits (from 2000) and set up various mechanisms aimed at continental integration. One significant mechanism is the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) which has already formulated an ambitious project list to boost infrastructural integration throughout the continent.
Then in April 2007, at the South American Energy Summit held in Margarita, Venezuela, the leaders decided to change the Community's name to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and to establish a general secretariat based in Ecuador. Rodrigo Borja, a former Ecuadorian president, was also named as the first Secretary General.
The organization's institutional framework expanded in 2007 with the setting up of the South American Energy Council and a major financial mechanism, the Banco del Sur (Bank of the South), even though the latter is still not yet fully on-stream.
But the momentum suffered a setback with the resignation on the eve of the special summit of Rodrigo Borja, the appointed secretary-general. Media reports claimed he had earlier complained that some leaders did not support his vision of putting other regional trade blocs, including Mercosur and the Andean Community, under the UNASUR umbrella. But his resignation might have resulted because the constituent treaty did not provide the post with as much autonomy and power as he wanted. In addition, he was unhappy with the "gradualistic" approach to the integration process as stipulated in the treaty.
UNASUR brings together the 12 nations with a joint population of about 390 million and an annual GDP nearing 2 trillion dollars. The continent's intra-regional trade amounted to more than US$72 billion in 2006, while its economy grew by 5.7 percent in 2007, mainly due to foreign direct investment which reached a record US$106 billion. And according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the bloc's economy will grow a further 4.7 percent this year.
After the signing ceremony, Chile took over the pro-tempore presidency of UNASUR from Bolivia, since first-choice Colombia, citing differences with Ecuador and Venezuela, refused the position.
In assuming the position, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was firm on the unifying role of the organisation. "We want to show that Latin America is capable of speaking with a firm and strong voice and of building effective integration," she said during the discussions.
Odeen Ishmael
embguy@cantv.net
(The writer is the Ambassador of Guyana to Venezuela. The views expressed are solely those of the writer.)
Signing the constituent treaty were Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina; Evo Morales of Bolivia; Lula da Silva of Brazil; Michelle Bachelet of Chile; Alvaro Uribe from Colombia; Rafael Correa of Ecuador; Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana; Nicanor Duarte Frutos of Paraguay; Alan Garcia from Peru; Ronald Venetiaan of Suriname; and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. Vice-President Rodolfo Nin Novoa signed for Uruguay.
The special summit was originally scheduled for Colombia in March, but had to be postponed in the light of the Colombian cross-border raid on Ecuadorian territory on March 1, which killed a top guerrilla leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and 26 other persons.
Accession to the treaty is, according to the preamble of the document, "a decisive step towards the strengthening of multilateralism and the rule of law in international relations to achieve a diversified, balanced and fair world."
The draft of the treaty was finalised at meetings of the UNASUR Council of Delegates in Cartagena (Colombia), Rio de Janeiro and Caracas earlier this year. It defines the organisation's administrative bodies as the Council of Heads of State and Government (the highest organ) to convene annually; the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to meet twice a year; the Council of Delegates, (representatives of ambassadorial rank, to meet more frequently throughout the year); a rotating presidency; and a general secretariat manned by international civil servants drawn from the member nations, and headed by a Secretary-General elected for not more than two biennial terms. The official working languages of the body will be Dutch, English, Portuguese and Spanish.
The document also stipulates the setting up of a South American parliament based in Cochabamba, Bolivia, but a special protocol will have to be promulgated to enable its establishment.
The constituent treaty, which will come into force after it is ratified by nine states, emphasises the general objective of UNASUR as "building, in a participative and consensual manner, an integration and union process among its peoples in the cultural, social, economic and political dimensions, prioritising political dialogue, social policies, education, energy, infrastructure, financing and the environment, among others, with a view of eliminating socio-economic inequality, to achieving social inclusion and citizen participation, to strengthening democracy, and reducing the asymmetries in the background of strengthening the sovereignty of States."
But since all the member states may not be ready to accede to all the commitments of the Union immediately, the treaty gives consideration to the principle of "gradualism", proposed by Suriname and Guyana, among others, during the negotiations. Thus, the preamble specifies that since South American integration is "flexible and gradual in its implementation . . . . each State may assume the commitments according to their reality."
The treaty also notes that after the fifth year of its entry into force, other Latin American and Caribbean states can apply to be admitted as Associated States of UNASUR.
The genesis of UNASUR goes back to December 2004 when the 12 South American Presidents met in Cuzco, Peru, to establish the South American Community of Nations. But even before Cuzco, the Presidents held summits (from 2000) and set up various mechanisms aimed at continental integration. One significant mechanism is the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) which has already formulated an ambitious project list to boost infrastructural integration throughout the continent.
Then in April 2007, at the South American Energy Summit held in Margarita, Venezuela, the leaders decided to change the Community's name to the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and to establish a general secretariat based in Ecuador. Rodrigo Borja, a former Ecuadorian president, was also named as the first Secretary General.
The organization's institutional framework expanded in 2007 with the setting up of the South American Energy Council and a major financial mechanism, the Banco del Sur (Bank of the South), even though the latter is still not yet fully on-stream.
But the momentum suffered a setback with the resignation on the eve of the special summit of Rodrigo Borja, the appointed secretary-general. Media reports claimed he had earlier complained that some leaders did not support his vision of putting other regional trade blocs, including Mercosur and the Andean Community, under the UNASUR umbrella. But his resignation might have resulted because the constituent treaty did not provide the post with as much autonomy and power as he wanted. In addition, he was unhappy with the "gradualistic" approach to the integration process as stipulated in the treaty.
UNASUR brings together the 12 nations with a joint population of about 390 million and an annual GDP nearing 2 trillion dollars. The continent's intra-regional trade amounted to more than US$72 billion in 2006, while its economy grew by 5.7 percent in 2007, mainly due to foreign direct investment which reached a record US$106 billion. And according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the bloc's economy will grow a further 4.7 percent this year.
After the signing ceremony, Chile took over the pro-tempore presidency of UNASUR from Bolivia, since first-choice Colombia, citing differences with Ecuador and Venezuela, refused the position.
In assuming the position, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was firm on the unifying role of the organisation. "We want to show that Latin America is capable of speaking with a firm and strong voice and of building effective integration," she said during the discussions.
She stressed the importance of concrete integration measures, especially in infrastructure, and reaffirmed the commitment of Presidents Lula da Silva and Morales to complete by the end of 2009 the highway linking the Brazilian port of Santos on the Atlantic with Arica and Iquique on the Pacific coast of northern Chile after crossing Bolivia.Bachelet added that UNASUR must quickly embark into social programmes for poverty reduction which could see the enhancement of financial and energy integration, the improvement of regional infrastructure, and cooperation in social policies, especially in the area of education.
Another matter discussed at the special summit was the Brazilian proposal for a South American Defence Council aimed at resolving conflicts and promoting military cooperation. While the proposal won wide support from the others, Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe expressed his opposition and emphasised his trust on the existing OAS defence mechanism. He said the "terrorist threat" facing his country did not allow for military cooperation at present, and explained that his opposition to such a Defence Council was due to the resistance of some South American countries to define the leftist FARC as a terrorist organisation.
Nevertheless, a Colombian government statement shortly after declared that "Colombia does not oppose the creation of a working group to study the theme." The meeting subsequently established a commission to examine the proposal and to issue a report within three months.
The current tensions among some South American nations pose the main challenge for UNASUR. Ideological differences exist: on the one hand, there is the strong left leaning pro-socialist group comprising Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and, to a lesser extent, Brazil and Argentina. On the other hand, Colombia is closely allied to the United States. In between, there are Chile, Guyana, Peru, Uruguay, Paraguay and Suriname. There are also long-existing border issues, but political optimists see these being pushed on the back burner with the advance of political and economic integration, which can also act to ease future political tensions.
In addition, quarrels between Ecuador and Colombia and Venezuela and Colombia continue to bubble over despite the peace agreement reached during the Rio Group summit in the Dominican Republic earlier this year. In an effort to ease the diplomatic tensions, Lula met with Uribe, Chavez and Correa before the summit commenced to help resolve their differences.
But right now, its immediate task is to find a new secretary-general to manage the day-to-day affairs of the Union. President Bachelet will be consulting on this matter with her South American colleagues over the next three months, and at the end of this period it is expected they will reach agreement on a likely candidate for this position.On the economic front, UNASUR will be faced with the challenge of attempting to unite two large existing regional free trade schemes, Mercosur and the Andean Community, and at the same time integrate Chile, Guyana and Suriname in this process.
Odeen Ishmael
embguy@cantv.net
(The writer is the Ambassador of Guyana to Venezuela. The views expressed are solely those of the writer.)
Poll: Spaniards dislike Venezuela's Chavez
Spaniards dislike Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez most among world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush, a poll indicated. The survey of 2,500 Spaniards in 2007 found the leftist Chavez ranks first among major world leaders the Spanish do not care for, ahead of the U.S. president and Cuba's former leader Fidel Castro. Bush was the most disliked world leader among Spaniards in the 2006 version of the poll, El Pais reported Friday. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was among the leaders most admired in Spain.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Chavez's party gears up for primary vote in Venezuela
The party led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is holding a primary vote to choose candidates for upcoming state and elections. Members of the Venezuelan United Socialist Party will be selecting candidates for 23 state governor posts and 337 municipal seats. The National Electoral Council is setting up 8,000 voting machines for the primary this weekend. Sunday's vote will choose a slate of candidates that Chavez hopes will let his ruling party hold on to its dominant majority. Opposition leaders hope to hand Chavez another electoral setback after voters rejected a December referendum that would have scrapped term limits and let the president run for re-election indefinitely.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is keeping his information minister despite offer to resign
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is keeping his information minister in his post despite an offer by the top aide to resign. Information Minister Andres Izarra had offered to step down after deciding to make private TV channels pay to broadcast the president's speeches without consulting Chavez. The state television channel has since announced it will toss out the plan to charge private channels about US$200,000 an hour for the right to broadcast Chavez's speeches. The president's office said in a statement Friday that Chavez has decided not to accept Izarra's resignation offer. The statement praised the information minister's work overall.
One dead and 50 hurt in Venezuela ticket crush
One person was killed and 50 others injured on Friday in a crush to buy tickets for a league final at a soccer stadium in western Venezuela, a rescue official said. Victims were trampled underfoot when fans in the state of Tachira pushed over a security fence, trapping a group beneath the railings, emergency worker Esteban Fajardo said. 'Those at the front were the ones who suffered most,' he said. 'The fence fell, knocking down several people and the others walked over them.' The accident happened in Pueblo Nuevo de San Cristobal, about 480 miles (770 km) from the capital, where teams from Caracas and Tachira are due to play the second leg of the final on Saturday.
Crystallex Updates Shareholders on Las Cristinas
CRYSTALLEX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION advised shareholders today that it has received a communication from the Director General in the Administrative Office of Permits at the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Venezuela ('MinAmb') that the legal rebuttal filed by Crystallex on May 12, 2008 has been denied. The communication expressly advises that Crystallex has the right to appeal to the Minister of MinAmb within fifteen business days from the date of the Director General's communication. Crystallex has instructed its legal counsel to prepare an appeal to the Minister. Crystallex has a number of legal avenues to pursue both in and out of Venezuela in order to protect its Shareholders' rights.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- May 30, 2008
National Anti-Drugs Office (ONA) director, Nestor Reverol says 10 illegal planes transporting drugs have been seized this year. However, he adds, not all illegal flights are transporting drugs. Speaking at the first meeting to discuss the transshipment of drugs, the Colonel points out that drug transshipment planes are included in the list of "non-registered, secret and illegal" flights. Reverol has argued at the meeting that while at least 137 illegal flights took place in Venezuela in 2006, US attempts to count them all as drug planes are irresponsible. According to the Colonel, the ROTHR radar system the US uses to assess illegal flights from other parts of the world has been judged inefficient, which makes Washington's accusations against Venezuela all the more suspicious. "We are always ready to exchange information with all countries of the world in real-time and that has been reflected in the last agreements we have signed with Portugal and Germany ... we have other agreements pending signature." In a meeting to review political consultation mechanisms, Cuba and Venezuela have agreed to continue strengthening strategic bilateral agreements. According to Cuban Foreign Minister, Felipe Perez Roque, the mechanism has become an efficient reference point for strengthening and deepening bilateral strategic relations. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro has called the mechanism used "useful" and "relevant" as a means of synchronizing answers to intense situations that crop up at any moment. Both sides agree that the relation the two countries enjoy goes beyond a simple context of international policy and has turned into a historic and strategic brotherhood.
State VTV Channel director, Yuri Pimentel is once again the centre of controversy after implementing and retracting a measure to make private media sources pay for transmitting VTV news items. The majority of media sources in Venezuela have reacted angrily to the price proposal and the measure has forced the resignation of Pimentel's mentor, Communication & Information (Minci) Minister, Andres Izarra. The reason given for the resignation is that the measure had been taken and approved without the approbation of President Chavez. Yesterday, Pimentel, who got himself in a mess as deputy minister of prisons last year, has announced that the measure was being dropped. At a press conference, lame duck Pimentel maintains that VTV ratifies its "commitment to truthful and opportune information" and calls on all other media sources to "make responsible and legal use of the signal which belong to all Venezuelans," namely VTV.
The resignation of Minci Minister Izarra has shook public opinion inside and outside the Bolivarian movement since he has been considered an effective and efficient Minister. The general opinion as of yesterday evening is that there is more in the resignation than what meets the eye. Opposition sources, such as Nelson Bocaranda allege that he is taking the rap for mistakes made by President Chavez, especially regarding recent international gaffes with Germany and Chile and for reactions to the situation in Colombia. Left-wing sources in the government suggest that ambivalence shown by the government to the death of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader, Manuel Marulanda and its dilly-dallying with Colombia's Alvaro Uribe has damaged its standing. Other observers, such as editor/publisher Miguel Salazar, claim that Pimentel landed the Minister in a quagmire.
The government is not the only side that has encountered difficulties in deciding on pre-candidates to the regional elections in November. Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) and Zulia State Governor, Manuel Rosales has accused some opposition leaders of breaking ranks and meeting with the government. Rosales also says he has proof that they are receiving financing from the government. The declaration comes after strong rumors of divisions between the two leading opposition parties, UNT and Primero Justicia (PJ), especially regarding the unitary candidate for Maracaibo Mayor.
Rosales criticized the VTV director, Yuri Pimentel's attempt to make private TV channels pay 432,000 bolivares an hour to transmit from the State Channel signal. The idea, he says, was to prevent private channels from showing the government's political events but he welcomes the resignation of Andres Izarra, quipping that at least someone the government has a bit of dignity.
President Chavez has offered a first statement on the death of FARC leader, Manuel Marulanda, stating that nobody should show happiness about the death of another person. Speaking at a United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) meeting in Puerto La Cruz, the President laments the fact that he was not able to meet Marulanda personally to talk about peace, the humanitarian agreement but says he hopes that the new situation generated by Marulanda's death will reactivate dialogue, conversations and that both the government and the guerrillas will reconsider their positions. The Venezuelan government for its part, the President insists, is ready to take up negotiations to secure a humanitarian agreement and cooperate in any agreement that leads to peace in Colombia.
Chavez rejects insistent speculations regarding the location where the video issued by the FARC and officially announcing the death of Marulanda was shot. Chavez points out that the same tactic has been employed by Colombia to hammer its version about the content of supposed computers belonging to Raul Reyes. "They're inventing anything and repeat it so many times that many people end up believing that Chavez sent Marulanda $300 million and I don't know how many rifles and uniforms and that here in Venezuela we protect terrorism and guerrillas."
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
Unwelcome attention for Venezuela's foreign miners
Funeral bells may have sounded for two of Latin America's top gold projects after mineral-rich Venezuela warned it will not issue permits in a forest reserve, part of a slow campaign grinding away at private miners. Left-wing President Hugo Chavez is on a nationalizing spree that has swallowed energy, steel and cement companies. For months he has toyed with the idea of taking a chunk of miners without ever fully revealing his intentions for the sector. But in April the environment ministry ruled that no new gold mines would be allowed in a reserve that houses the country's main projects, owned by Canada's Crystallex and Gold Reserve, the strongest steps yet taken against miners. Citing environmental concerns in the ecologically rich but degraded Imataca Forest Reserve, Minister Yuviri Ortega later said open-pit mining would be banned and all concessions were under review, prompting speculation the government is preparing to take over companies. It was the latest volley in a steady campaign to limit the activity of foreign investors, which has already made the Caribbean nation an unnerving place to do business and hammered foreign investment. Ortega's comments were a shock to the two companies, which have both invested hundreds of millions of dollars in their projects and had waited for months for final permits to start pulling gold from the ground. If the decision to ban new pits in Imataca sticks, it will put an end to the projects.
Colombia paramilitary bosses' laptops cause stir
Revelations that several laptop computers owned by paramilitary bosses extradited to the United States this month were not kept secure by Colombian officials have raised concerns about government carelessness with potential evidence. Colombia's Interior Ministry said it was investigating what happened to six of 11 laptops used by militia bosses in prison before they were extradited May 13 to face drug and terrorism charges in the United States. Chief prosecutor Mario Iguaran said an investigation could determine whether anyone tampered with the laptops. The computer used by paramilitary leader Salvatore Mancuso has not been recovered, but the hard drive of a laptop owned by Ramiro 'Cuco' Vanoy was returned by his attorney a week after Vanoy was sent with 13 others to the United States. Four other laptops belonging to paramilitary leaders were out of the possession of government officials for up to two days after the leaders were extradited. Some computers had been turned over to family members or attorneys by prison officials before being recovered by the government.
Learn about Commerical Banking in Venezuela
Venezuela’s CBBER is 52.0. In the context of Latin America, this means it is no more than a moderately attractive country; the CBBERs are higher in Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia. The major problems are low bankassurance potential, underdeveloped financial infrastructure and a complex bureaucracy. The ratings score for the market structure - the most important component of the assessment of the limits to potential returns - is a very middle of the road 56.3. By Latin American standards, the ratings score for the economy - at 34.4 - is the lowest in the region.
Food crisis: World Bank offers $1.2bn food aid
The World Bank is to offer immediate financial help to countries worst hit by sharp rises in food prices as part of a $1.2bn (£608m) assistance package. Grants worth a total of $200m are being set aside for 'high priority' countries most at risk from acute hunger. Haiti and Liberia will get $10m each to feed their most vulnerable people while Djibouti will receive $5m. The World Bank says 100 million people could be impoverished by the rising cost and scarcer availability of food. It has also identified Togo, Yemen and Tajikistan as being in need of immediate assistance following recent needs assessments. On Friday, representatives from 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries will also meet in Caracas, Venezuela, to discuss concerns over the rising cost of food.
Venezuelan National System of Youth & Children’s Orchestras honored ... founder says challenged by prize
Venezuela's National System of Youth and Children's Orchestras is "a school of social life," according to founder Jose Antonio Abreu, who says being honored with this year's Asturias Prize for the arts will spur the organization to be worthy of the distinction. In an interview with EFE, Abreu spoke about the recent award ... bestowed on behalf of Prince Felipe of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne, each prize is accompanied by 50,000 euros ($77,500) and a reproduction of a statuette designed by Joan Miro. The Asturias honors have come to be regarded on a par with the Nobel prizes.
In his small office at the organization's headquarters in Caracas, Abreu spoke about the concept of the network of orchestras that he founded in 1975 so that other children could have "the same opportunity" he had had and which -- over the years -- has become a model known around the world. "The System (as the network of orchestras is known) has penetrated more and more sectors of society," he said, recalling that handicapped children have joined the network, as well as street kids in communities where poverty is at critical levels. "It serves as a horizon of hope, of happiness, of family integration."
"A school of social life, and also of community development, of community integration" is his definition of the System, which is made up of some 170 orchestras in which some 265,000 youths and children have participated. The access to artistic education contributes, Abreu said, to "the social and moral rescue" of the kids with the least resources and to preventing "art from being confined to the elites."
For the Venezuelan composer and economist, "the democratization of artistic education must constitute one of the urgent goals of the educational system in the world." In commenting on the Asturias Prize the System received last week, Abreu emphasized his "two feelings" on the matter.
The jubilation of the orchestras "in the face of that news that rewards their effort, the sacrifice of the children, the almost heroic denial of our teachers ... is a reward," he said. "But on the other hand, at the same time, for those of us who have responsibilities in leading the System ... it is a very serious responsibility, an additional burden. It's the responsibility every day of confirming and perfecting our effort," he said. "We can't slack off in our effort ... (or think that) a prize, no matter how great, can be the end of our road ... On the contrary, it puts us before a broader and challenging horizon," emphasized Abreu, who will go to the northern Spanish city of Oviedo in October to receive the prize from Crown Prince Felipe. "But not only ... will a delegation of the children, of the teachers go ... Everyone deserves to be there."
He defined himself as "a social worker with a profound faith in his art as an instrument to stimulate and promote human development in his country, a modest musician who contributes his portion of effort and work to that idea."
Abreu was born in 1939 in the western Venezuelan state of Trujillo. His mother was the daughter of Italian immigrants and his maternal grandfather was the director of a musical band who came from Italy at the end of the 19th Century. "He, along with other emigrant companions, founded a philharmonic band in Montecarmelo (Trujillo state) ... that was the first seed of this process. They had brought in the boat 46 musical instruments," he said.
Abreu added that "this vocation of my grandfather and this effort of so many years always inspired my vocation."
In his small office at the organization's headquarters in Caracas, Abreu spoke about the concept of the network of orchestras that he founded in 1975 so that other children could have "the same opportunity" he had had and which -- over the years -- has become a model known around the world. "The System (as the network of orchestras is known) has penetrated more and more sectors of society," he said, recalling that handicapped children have joined the network, as well as street kids in communities where poverty is at critical levels. "It serves as a horizon of hope, of happiness, of family integration."
"A school of social life, and also of community development, of community integration" is his definition of the System, which is made up of some 170 orchestras in which some 265,000 youths and children have participated. The access to artistic education contributes, Abreu said, to "the social and moral rescue" of the kids with the least resources and to preventing "art from being confined to the elites."
For the Venezuelan composer and economist, "the democratization of artistic education must constitute one of the urgent goals of the educational system in the world." In commenting on the Asturias Prize the System received last week, Abreu emphasized his "two feelings" on the matter.
The jubilation of the orchestras "in the face of that news that rewards their effort, the sacrifice of the children, the almost heroic denial of our teachers ... is a reward," he said. "But on the other hand, at the same time, for those of us who have responsibilities in leading the System ... it is a very serious responsibility, an additional burden. It's the responsibility every day of confirming and perfecting our effort," he said. "We can't slack off in our effort ... (or think that) a prize, no matter how great, can be the end of our road ... On the contrary, it puts us before a broader and challenging horizon," emphasized Abreu, who will go to the northern Spanish city of Oviedo in October to receive the prize from Crown Prince Felipe. "But not only ... will a delegation of the children, of the teachers go ... Everyone deserves to be there."
- A month ago, the System State Foundation signed an agreement with Spain's Albeniz Foundation to permit Venezuelan youths to have access to virtual classes with music teachers. Abreu called that agreement "momentous."
He defined himself as "a social worker with a profound faith in his art as an instrument to stimulate and promote human development in his country, a modest musician who contributes his portion of effort and work to that idea."
Abreu was born in 1939 in the western Venezuelan state of Trujillo. His mother was the daughter of Italian immigrants and his maternal grandfather was the director of a musical band who came from Italy at the end of the 19th Century. "He, along with other emigrant companions, founded a philharmonic band in Montecarmelo (Trujillo state) ... that was the first seed of this process. They had brought in the boat 46 musical instruments," he said.
Abreu added that "this vocation of my grandfather and this effort of so many years always inspired my vocation."
Fourteen traffic wardens robbed; 22 crimes of violence against women defined by law; Bad debts more than double at Venezuelan banks
Fourteen traffic wardens have been robbed in the last three months, most by bandits on motor bikes, according to the national terrestrial traffic institute (Inttt). This was announced at the official launch of a crackdown on road offences, particularly bad bikers. The first step was to enforce the law, Inttt said.
The Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ) swore in judges to on new special courts that will try cases involving violence against women. No less than 22 such crimes are defined by law, but the trouble until now has been bringing cases to court and securing convictions, officials say.
Yaracuay Governor Carlos Gimenez can only be removed from his post if he is convicted of a crime in a court, according to Alberto Arteaga Sanchez, a lawyer and specialist in penal law. Similar arguments have been put forward on behalf of aspirant candidates included in Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian's controversial ban.
Bad debts more than doubled at Venezuelan banks, leaping by 109.46 percent to a little over Bs.Fs.1.73 billion in the year up to and including April, from Bs.Fs.827 million in the same period 12 months before, said the Banking Superintendent's Office (Sudeban). Growth in credit card use slowed slightly at the same time, but was still up 41.8 percent. Officials at the Light Industries and Commerce Ministry (Milco) say they're being "saturated" by requests for certificates of Venezuelan origin. This is a new requirement for exporting food under government efforts to prevent shortages.
Officials have declared 22 cultural institutions including the Teatro Teresa Carreño and the national dance and music companies as being of a "socialist" character. The measure is seen as part of the government's policy of ensuring greater "popular participation" in the arts. All together, now.
The Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ) swore in judges to on new special courts that will try cases involving violence against women. No less than 22 such crimes are defined by law, but the trouble until now has been bringing cases to court and securing convictions, officials say.
Yaracuay Governor Carlos Gimenez can only be removed from his post if he is convicted of a crime in a court, according to Alberto Arteaga Sanchez, a lawyer and specialist in penal law. Similar arguments have been put forward on behalf of aspirant candidates included in Comptroller General Clodosbaldo Russian's controversial ban.
Bad debts more than doubled at Venezuelan banks, leaping by 109.46 percent to a little over Bs.Fs.1.73 billion in the year up to and including April, from Bs.Fs.827 million in the same period 12 months before, said the Banking Superintendent's Office (Sudeban). Growth in credit card use slowed slightly at the same time, but was still up 41.8 percent. Officials at the Light Industries and Commerce Ministry (Milco) say they're being "saturated" by requests for certificates of Venezuelan origin. This is a new requirement for exporting food under government efforts to prevent shortages.
Officials have declared 22 cultural institutions including the Teatro Teresa Carreño and the national dance and music companies as being of a "socialist" character. The measure is seen as part of the government's policy of ensuring greater "popular participation" in the arts. All together, now.
National Assembly (AN) ratifies bilateral agreements with Portugal in economics, energy and tourism
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The National Assembly (AN) has ratified two bilateral agreements with Portugal in the economic, energy and tourism spheres. The accords are intended to develop economic and cultural links between the two countries.
The first agreement sets out the terms of an interchange of technicians, producers and students. It also contemplates consultation mechanisms for evaluating the possibilities for investment in "mixed companies" formed by partners from both countries. The governments of Venezuelan and Portugal are particularly interested in joint deals in the energy sector.
The first agreement sets out the terms of an interchange of technicians, producers and students. It also contemplates consultation mechanisms for evaluating the possibilities for investment in "mixed companies" formed by partners from both countries. The governments of Venezuelan and Portugal are particularly interested in joint deals in the energy sector.
- Portugal has scant energy resources of its own, but has considerable experience in developing and exploiting oil and natural resources around the world.
Venezuela and France in military cooperation talks ... Caracas interested in high-tech arms
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Senior military officers from France and Venezuela have been meeting in Caracas this week to discuss cooperation in the Caribbean and to sign a plan for 2009, the Globovisión website reported, citing unidentified military sources from both sides.
The meeting was headed by Brig. Gen. Bruno Pinget of France and the head of the Venezuelan chiefs of staff, Gen. Julio Ramon Fernandez. They visited military bases and discussed operational aspects in the Caribbean.
France still has a presence in the Caribbean, including the national territory of Martinique. (Please don't call it a colony if you want to be popular in Paris).
The territories are considered an integral part of the republic and are still ruled directly from the French capital.
Fernandez said regular contacts would allow Venezuela access to advanced military technology.
Venezuelan officers also received "high level" training in France, he added. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Paris during the first half of next year.
The meeting was headed by Brig. Gen. Bruno Pinget of France and the head of the Venezuelan chiefs of staff, Gen. Julio Ramon Fernandez. They visited military bases and discussed operational aspects in the Caribbean.
France still has a presence in the Caribbean, including the national territory of Martinique. (Please don't call it a colony if you want to be popular in Paris).
The territories are considered an integral part of the republic and are still ruled directly from the French capital.
Fernandez said regular contacts would allow Venezuela access to advanced military technology.
Venezuelan officers also received "high level" training in France, he added. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in Paris during the first half of next year.
Rumblings at the National Assembly (AN): government deputy and 60 colleagues worried about corruption
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Discontent about corruption broke to the surface in the corridors of the National Assembly (AN), where all but a handful of legislators are seen as fully committed supporters of President Hugo Chavez' government.
AN Deputy Luis Diaz said that "more than 60 parliamentarians will go out to combat corruption." He said he'd spoken to that number of fellow deputies about misuse of state funds -- and he claimed they'd all walk out of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) if things got worse. Diaz said he and his colleagues would take that "personal decision" because "we've reached the end" and all had crashed, in some cases, into fascism. He claimed many of the legislators he'd spoken with shared his thoughts about leaving the PSUV.
Recrimination was in the air in the wake of Wednesday's student march to the Assembly to hand in a list of demands.
AN first vice president Saul Ortega, who'd had formally to receive the document, complained there were deputies who'd promised student leaders to take up their points in the legislature. They would claim time for debate which would have to be met at all levels, starting with universities, he warned. "These deputies should bring these demands," he declared, "so that you know who they are."
The quite obvious target of this attack was deputy Ismael Garcia, head of Podemos, the social democratic party that's now in opposition. He had made a point of greeting the students and accompanied them as they left.
Out on the sidelines, Lina Ron, who tends to see herself as the very soul of chavismo - to the point of forming her own little party, Unidad Popular Venezolano, because she thought mainstream parties were letting the revolution down -- predicted lots of infighting in the contest to pick pro-Chavez candidates for the state and municipal elections scheduled for November 23. "Losers always shriek," she said with characteristic pith.
AN Deputy Luis Diaz said that "more than 60 parliamentarians will go out to combat corruption." He said he'd spoken to that number of fellow deputies about misuse of state funds -- and he claimed they'd all walk out of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) if things got worse. Diaz said he and his colleagues would take that "personal decision" because "we've reached the end" and all had crashed, in some cases, into fascism. He claimed many of the legislators he'd spoken with shared his thoughts about leaving the PSUV.
Recrimination was in the air in the wake of Wednesday's student march to the Assembly to hand in a list of demands.
AN first vice president Saul Ortega, who'd had formally to receive the document, complained there were deputies who'd promised student leaders to take up their points in the legislature. They would claim time for debate which would have to be met at all levels, starting with universities, he warned. "These deputies should bring these demands," he declared, "so that you know who they are."
The quite obvious target of this attack was deputy Ismael Garcia, head of Podemos, the social democratic party that's now in opposition. He had made a point of greeting the students and accompanied them as they left.
Out on the sidelines, Lina Ron, who tends to see herself as the very soul of chavismo - to the point of forming her own little party, Unidad Popular Venezolano, because she thought mainstream parties were letting the revolution down -- predicted lots of infighting in the contest to pick pro-Chavez candidates for the state and municipal elections scheduled for November 23. "Losers always shriek," she said with characteristic pith.
Millones de contralores necesita la radio y televisión Venezolana
Los Comités de Usuarios y Usuarios no tienen limitaciones geográficas para ejercer su derecho de controlar la actuación de los medios de radio y televisión, dijo el sociólogo Jonathan Carpio, jefe de la División de Participación Ciudadana de CONATEL, en la presentación del taller Organización de Usuarias y Usuarios a estudiantes y docentes de la Universidad Bolivariana de Venezuela, UBV, Núcleo Monay del municipio Pampan, estado Trujillo, 780 kilómetros al oeste de Caracas. 'La responsabilidad de fiscalización y regulación sobre los horarios y los contenidos de los mismos es una tarea de todos, porque a todos nos importa un modelo de comunicación incluyente que profundice una educación que fomente principios y valores sociales, y que además defienda nuestra soberanía nacional', afirmó Carpio. También se acercaron a la aldea bolivariana voceros y voceras de diferentes colectivos sociales y de fundaciones de radio y televisión que cumplen actualmente con los requisitos exigidos por Conatel para la debida habilitación de sus futuros medios de comunicación comunitarios.
NS Power considers legal action against Venezuela company
Nova Scotia Power is poised to take legal action against Venezuela's state-owned coal company after it abruptly cancelled a coal contract with the electric utility, says NSP president Ralph Tedesco. Tedesco told a Halifax newspaper editorial board yesterday his utility, a subsidiary of Emera Inc., received a brief letter from the company last year saying that it was no longer honouring its coal deliveries to NSP for 2008. 'The letter we received from the coal company is quite concise -- about three lines,' Tedesco said. 'The first one begins, 'The contract is no longer in our interest.'' The deal with Carbozulia was for 750,000 tonnes of coal, which represents about eight per cent of NSP's coal requirements, he said. The company made public the cancellation of the contract last month when it released its first-quarter results, which also revealed record-breaking profits of $57.9 million.
Chavez revokes charges for retransmission of state-run TV signal
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday ordered the annulment of a measure that would introduce charges for the retransmission of the state-run channel's signals by private TV stations. The order came two days after Information and Communication Minister Andres Izarra tendered his resignation over the planned charges for the use of footage from the Venezolana de Television (VTV) channel. On Tuesday, Izarra told a news conference that he was stepping down from his post over the 'unilateral' move by VTV, which was criticized by private TV channels. Izarra said he would submit his resignation to Chavez because the decision to charge private TV stations was made without consulting with the president. There have been no reports so far on whether Chavez accepted Izarra's resignation.
Venezuela increases petroleum imports despite vast deposits at home
Statistics released by Venezuela's Central Bank show the oil-rich country has increased petroleum imports by nearly 150 percent between the first quarter of 2007 and the same period this year.
The bank figures demonstrate that petroleum imports reached US$1.5 billion (¤964 million) during the first quarter of 2008 _ their highest level for more than a decade _ and include diesel oil, gasoline and chemical additives to improve gasoline products. Economist Gustavo Garcia said Thursday that the growth in importations «demonstrates production has fallen. Venezuela's state oil company says they produced 3.15 million barrels per day last year. Analysts including the Paris-based International Energy Administration put Venezuela's production at around 2.4 million bpd.
The bank figures demonstrate that petroleum imports reached US$1.5 billion (¤964 million) during the first quarter of 2008 _ their highest level for more than a decade _ and include diesel oil, gasoline and chemical additives to improve gasoline products. Economist Gustavo Garcia said Thursday that the growth in importations «demonstrates production has fallen. Venezuela's state oil company says they produced 3.15 million barrels per day last year. Analysts including the Paris-based International Energy Administration put Venezuela's production at around 2.4 million bpd.
Will the Bolivarian Revolution End Coal Mining in Venezuela?
Plans for new coal mining in the Sierra de Perijá, the northwestern region of the state of Zulia, Venezuela, were suspended by President Hugo Chávez last year following anti-coal declarations by Chávez and several ministers. The Wayúu, Yukpa, and Barí indigenous communities who would have been displaced by the projects cautiously interpreted the suspension as a temporary sign of relief. But their struggle against coal mining has lasted a quarter of a century and will not conclude until mining concessions are repealed for good.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Venezuela says arrests suspected U.S. drugs agent
Venezuela said on Thursday it arrested a man who identified himself as a U.S. anti-drugs agent, which if confirmed could inflame tensions between the United States and one of its biggest oil suppliers. President Hugo Chavez in 2005 ended cooperation with the the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), saying the agency was spying on him. The United States denied the charge and says Chavez does too little to stop trafficking from neighboring Colombia, the world's largest cocaine exporter. Gen. Gabriel Oviedo said the man was acting suspicious when he was detained close to the border with Colombia while bearing Canadian and French passports and a Venezuelan identity card. 'The official at the scene proceeded to interrogate him and he said he was a DEA agent,' Oviedo told state television.
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas said it had no knowledge of the arrest.
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas said it had no knowledge of the arrest.
Chilean filmmaker to film a documentary about President Chávez
The Chilean filmmaker and deputy Marco Enríquez-Ominami announced Wednesday that he will film a documentary about President Hugo Chávez and the Latin American left wing in order to show the nuances of the socialist model in the region. According to Prensa Latina news agency, when asked by the Chilean media, Enríquez-Ominami said that he would like to incorporate to the project carried out by the presidents of Ecuador, Rafael Correa; Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Bolivia, Evo Morales and Chile, Michelle Bachelet. 'I would to incorporate to the project in order to show the nuances of the Latin American left-wings, this new figures that embody new and old dreams,' the deputy for the Socialist Party said.
Foreign debt surges 48.5 percent despite the hike in oil prices
Amidst a dramatic increase of oil prices that has pushed the average price of the Venezuelan oil up from USD 49.63 ending the first quarter of 2007 to USD 89.21 the same period this year, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) reported that Venezuela's foreign debt does not stop growing. The consolidated numbers of the public sector, an indicator that includes state-run oil holding Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) and other state-owned businesses, show that the foreign debt rose 48.55 percent from USD 29.8 billion to USD 44.3 billion from March 2007 to March 2008. Indeed, between December 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, the burden heightened by USD 4.48 billion. The BCV attributed this result to 'foreign credits contracted by the oil sector and due to a renewed classification by sectors of the liabilities of recently nationalized businesses.' Last year, the government resorted continuously to the issue of bonds to keep under control the parallel exchange rate. This strategy explains most of the foreign debt growth.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- May 29, 2008
Interior & Justice Minister, Ramon Rodriguez Chacin has announced the signing by President Chavez of the intelligence & counter-intelligence law. Rodriguez Chacin says the new law means that the current State Political & Security (DISIP) Police and the Military Intelligence Directorate (DIM) will be transformed. The new law, the Minister states, has guidelines on how the new organs will function and he argue that Venezuela of the 21st century now has the tools and the capacity to produce intelligence and counterintelligence that will enable the State to take strategic decisions in its road to Socialism. The Minister adds that the transformation will be undertaken in several stages. According to a Center of International Policy analyst on Colombia, the announcement of Manuel Marulanda's death was not official but came from a few chance answers Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos "tossed off" in an interview with Colombia's Semana magazine. The analyst claims that Santos received a rebuke from President Alvaro Uribe and suggests that it is no secret that Santos, who comes from Colombia's most prominent newspaper family, wants to be President in 2010. His unorthodox announcement of Marulanda's death must be viewed in that context.
The Colombian government, it would appear, is desperate to get hold of the body of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader, Manuel Marulanda as a major war trophy. Colombian army chief, General Mario Montoya says the government will pay a ransom to anybody who can tell them where the body has been buried. Engaging on a damage control exercise, Montoya claims that he was misinterpreted when the sum of $2.7 million was put forward. The army, the General points out, uses two forms of reward, the first for specific information, such as the location of an FARC leader or arms dump and the second, for information needed at a specific moment in time, in this case the recovery of the body of Marulanda. Payments in the first category range from $55 to 2.7 million and in the case of Marulanda, the amount is being studied. The government, he defends, is interested in finding out how the rebel chief died, whether it was from a heart attack, which he doubts, or whether it was from a government attack on his camp.
President Chavez has attended the ceremony in which new integral general medicine doctors have received their job positions. The act took place in the Teresa Carreno Theatre in Caracas. President Chavez has announced the opening of 203 new basic clinics throughout Venezuela. 960 integral medicine doctors and 2,000 nurses have joined the health program, which includes 2,700 primary attention clinics throughout the country. President Chavez says that the Barrio Adentro health scheme has 3,681 primary and second stage clinics in Venezuela.
Colombian Senator, Piedad Cordoba says she is certain that under the new FARC leadership the humanitarian agreement, which has been put on ice, will be taken up again with the freedom of more hostages. The Senator maintains that she knows the new FARC commander and comments that he has a serious political structure. Cordova forecasts a political and negotiated solution to the current civil war in Colombia. The Venezuelan government has reacted cautiously to news of FARC leader, Manuel Marulanda's death.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
Despliegan más de dos mil efectivos en el Plan Caracas Segura 2008
Más de dos mil efectivos de seguridad ciudadana, 300 motos y 100 vehículos están dispuestos para llevar a cabo la rutina pautada para todos los jueves dentro del Plan Caracas Segura 2008. La información la dio a conocer a un avance de La Noticia, de Venezolana de Televisión, el comandante del Comando Regional número 5 de la Guardia Nacional, general de brigada (GN) Alirio Rodríguez, desde Plaza Venezuela, informó ABN. En este punto de la ciudad capital se encuentran concentrados efectivos de la Policía Metropolitana, de Miranda, de Sucre, de la Guardia Nacional, del Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas, Penales y Criminalísticas (Cicpc), de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre dispuestos a llevar a cabo la rutina de todos los jueves.
MineCore's assets include 520 hectares of gold bearing property in Venezuela
MineCore is an exploration company, as defined under SEC Industry Guide 7. The Company's mission is to successfully identify, acquire and develop mineral properties with a program to commence mining operations and develop solid growth with profitable operations. MineCore is planning to bring its sapphire operations in Madagascar into production through a strip mining operation in 2009 upon successful financing to sustain operations and administration costs. MineCore's assets include 15,000 square hectares of sapphire bearing property in Madagascar, 1,000 hectares of ammolite bearing property in Canada and 520 hectares of gold bearing property in Venezuela. MineCore also has revenue-producing subsidiaries in the construction and professional service sectors.
Medoro Resources Announces 2008 First Quarter Results, AIM De-Listing
The company also announces that at the Annual and Special Meeting held on May 27, 2008 all resolutions were passed, including the motion to de-list from the AIM market. As a result, the last day of dealings of the company's shares on AIM will be June 5, 2008. Cancellation of the admission to trading on AIM will occur on June 6, 2008 and will be effected by a dealing notice being issued at 7.00am. The company is continuing its diamond drilling program at its Lo Increible gold property in Venezuela. The program is intended to increase and enhance existing resources at La Cruz, La Sofia and Tapon. The company expects to prepare an updated resource estimate in the fourth quarter of this year. A drilling program has commenced at its Sindo property in Mali, with three holes completed to date.
Venezuela's Chavez creates new intelligence agencies
President Hugo Chavez is revamping his intelligence agencies to counter what he calls U.S. attempts to undermine his government. Four new spy agencies will replace the current DISIP secret police and DIM military intelligence agency, Interior Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin said Thursday.
A new law has established the General Intelligence Office and the General Counterintelligence Office, both overseen by the Interior Ministry, plus similar military intelligence and counterintelligence components, Rodriguez Chacin told reporters. He did not say how they will differ from the current spy agencies or whether any top officials will be replaced. Rodriquez Chacin announced the change the previous night, saying the new agencies are meant to confront U.S. attempts to meddle in Venezuela's internal affairs.
A new law has established the General Intelligence Office and the General Counterintelligence Office, both overseen by the Interior Ministry, plus similar military intelligence and counterintelligence components, Rodriguez Chacin told reporters. He did not say how they will differ from the current spy agencies or whether any top officials will be replaced. Rodriquez Chacin announced the change the previous night, saying the new agencies are meant to confront U.S. attempts to meddle in Venezuela's internal affairs.
Dan Russo: Crystallex ... doing business in Venezuela for sixteen years without incident!
VHeadline guest commentarist Dan Russo writes: They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The pictures of what illegal mining has done to the Imataca region are a clear example of what a failed environmental policy, political in-fighting, and lack of social programs for extreme poverty have created.Most people don't know that Crystallex has been operating without incident in Venezuela for 16 years.
Contrary to what has been reported, Crystallex has a plan in place to environmentally mine the area and build a new reservoir and eco-system that will benefit the area for years to come. The trees that were destroyed in the area have absolutely nothing to with Crystallex, in fact, there are no more trees in the areas where Crystallex will be mining ... and this was due to illegal activities as well.
All requirements have been fulfilled .. so where is the permit?
Open-pit mining also known as open-cast mining and open-cut mining is a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow ... the procedure is used when rock or minerals are near the surface. Ortega de Carrizales is (or should be!) fully aware of this as her office, the Ministry the of Environment approved the EIS (Environmental Impact Study) in June, 2007.
Also, in June 2007, Crystallex posted bond, paid taxes and the government confirmed that ALL permit requirements fulfilled.
Certainly, Ortega de Carrizales wasn't sleeping during all this ... or was she?
Open-pit mining also known as open-cast mining and open-cut mining is a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow ... the procedure is used when rock or minerals are near the surface. Ortega de Carrizales is (or should be!) fully aware of this as her office, the Ministry the of Environment approved the EIS (Environmental Impact Study) in June, 2007.
Also, in June 2007, Crystallex posted bond, paid taxes and the government confirmed that ALL permit requirements fulfilled.Certainly, Ortega de Carrizales wasn't sleeping during all this ... or was she?
- Ortega de Carrizales' throw-away statement of not allowing open-pit mining in at this juncture is INSANE.
Right now Ortega de Carrizales is probably in violation of the current law and she should resign immediately, face termination or at the very least retract her statement.
Something tells me she is too pompous and callous to do any of these...
Chavez ... it's YOUR legacy ... NOT Ms. Ortega de Carrizales'
The bigger picture is employment, ceasing degradation from illegal mining, new infrastructure and showing the world that Venezuela is a place when foreign investment is welcome.
Right now,Venezuela has extreme poverty 27% (first half of 2007), high inflation (approximately 22%) and unemployment rate of approximately 9%. Believe it or not, these numbers are an improvement from a few years ago.
My point here is that the entire Venezuelan economy is built on, and depends on oil revenues which at the present time are favorable!
What happens if there is a "collapse" or a "bust" in this market ... Venezuela would see a depression like never before.
Why wait? Show the world that you can invest in Venezuela! Make it a place where not only mining finds it attractive, but hundreds of other industries as well.
Something tells me Ortega de Carrizales is not looking at the bigger picture.
Dan Russo
dtr1029@aol.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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Capricious personal decisions on environment and mining go against the economic and social development of Venezuela
Mining union representatives Antonio Rivas and Pablo Zambrano are insisting on a Referendum to decide which model of develop-ment shall be used to exploit mining resources in the south of Bolivar State. Quoted in today's issue of El Diario de Guayana they say a proposed referendum should be convoked by the National Elections Council (CNE) with the participation of both the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) and the Ministry of the Environment (MinAmb) as well as small-scale mining organiz-ations. They insist that a referendum is "more democratic than capricious personal decisions handed down by individuals who allege environ-mental damage and negate the possibility that several companies can begin work taking into account technologies that can ensure environmental protection ... those decisions go against the economic and social development of the country, negatively affecting the people of southern Bolivar, including many indigenous communities."
Planning and Development Minister Haiman El-Troudi: Venezuela's economy needs investment from the private sector to keep expanding
Venezuela's economy, which grew at its slowest pace in more than four years in the first quarter, needs investment from the private sector to keep expanding, Planning and Development Minister Haiman El-Troudi said. Arguments that companies are afraid to invest because of government takeovers are ``political,'' El-Troudi said today in comments broadcast by state television. President Hugo Chavez is only interested in nationalizing ``strategic sectors'' of the economy, he said. ``The productive sector of the economy should be confident that economic policies are encouraging them to try to improve output,'' El-Troudi said. Venezuela's economy expanded 4.8 percent in the first quarter, the slowest pace since 2003, as investment fell 1.8 percent, the central bank said May 27. The deceleration came even as prices for oil, Venezuela's top export, surged to a record. El-Troudi said the government won't modify its 6 percent forecast for growth included in this year's budget. Since he was re-elected in 2006, Chavez has tapped surging revenue from sales of crude oil to increase state control of the economy, announcing nationalizations in the telecommunications, electricity, steel, coal and cement industries.
Attorney General: Over 6,000 complaints of alleged extrajudicial executions carried out by the police between 2000 and 2007
According to Amnesty International (AI) political violence and insecurity continued in Venezuela in 2007 despite the coming into force of an organic law to protect women from violence. AI says "several demonstrations ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and between them and the police."AI recalls that President Hugo Chavez Frias began his third term in office January and that the National Assembly granted him the power to enact by decree for 18 months laws on matters such as public security and institutional reform, and that Venezuelans rejected controversial constitutional changes in a national referendum.
As regards political violence, Amnesty International claims that "authorities failed to take effective measures to halt the escalation of violence in the context of demonstrations promoted by supporters and opponents of the Government." Dozens of demonstrators, mainly students -- including those under 18 -- were arrested or wounded during demonstrations protesting the government's decision not to renew Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) public broadcast license last May (2007).
As regards public security, AI says that, according to the Attorney General, over 6,000 complaints of alleged extrajudicial executions carried out by the police had been filed between 2000 and 2007 and of 2,000 officers reportedly involved in these acts, fewer than 400 had been arrested by the end of that year.
- "The use of firearms to commit homicide and other violent crimes continued to be widespread, even in prisons," says AI presenting official figures which show between January and September 2007 there were 9,568 homicides ... 852 more than in the same period in the previous year."
Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) issues appeal to Venezuelans to take their "old bolivar" banknotes to the bank!
The Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) has issued an appeal to Venezuelan citizens to take their "old bolivar" banknotes to the local branches of state-owned and private banks to exchange them for the new Bolivar Fuerte (Strong Bolivar) which came into force earlier this year.
Seven coins and six banknotes make up the new "family" of strong bolivares currently in circulation. Their face value is precisely one thousandth that of "old bolivares" which will soon be withdrawn completely from circulation and no longer be used as legal tender.
The government has guaranteed to exchange "old" currencies in 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 500 bolivar denominations even if they are damaged but have not lost their serial numbers or signatures of the issuing authorities.
Central Bank officials reccomend businesses and services to only issue change in the new "strong" denominations to allow for a progressive withdrawal of the old.
National Guard (GN) officers seize 277 kilograms of mercury used principally for the manufacture of cocaine and in illegal mining
National Guard (GN) officers at Regional Command 1 at Paracal in Tachira state have seized 277 kilograms of mercury as it was being smuggled into Venezuela by a Colombian national who has been detained awaiting a court appearance.Commanding officer, General Gabriel Oviedo said the mercury -- used principally for the manufacture of cocaine and in mining -- was transported in a vehicle owned by the as yet un-named detainee, who was stopped by the National Guard at a border control.
During preliminary investigation the detainee has admitted that he was heading for southeastern Bolivar State where the issue of environmental damage caused by contaminants like mercury in illegal mining is very high on the political agenda.
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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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USA subversion by the White House provides economic financing, psychological manipulation and efforts to destabilize strategic sectors
Venezuelan Popular Unity (UPV) party leader Lina Ron has again denounced "the intentions of counter-revolutionaries" backed by the United States government to bring about a coup d'etat in a subversive plan code-named "Choquinaque." She says the plan is led by the White House which provides economic financing, psychological manipulation and efforts to destabilize strategic sectors of the Venezuelan economy in a clear attempt to influence the November 23 election results, seeking to bring democratic mandate of the Head of State, Hugo Chavez Frias to an abrupt end.Lina Ron has told a Caracas press conference that the plan includes attempts to manipulate and bribe senior military commanders, the go-slow operations, promoting candidates who are politically disqualified, and pressures on the National Electoral Council (CNE) ... already part of a plan orchestrated by opposition groups.
Although she has not yet named names, the UPV leader has denounced links to the privately-owned media which is already seeking to turn the June 1 primaries for the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) into a fiasco.
Italian Festival 2008 reflects excellent cooperation with Venezuela
The excellent cooperation between the Republic of Italy and the Republic of Venezuela in several fields will be reflected during the fifth edition of the Italian Festival to be held from next June 2, according to the Italian Minister in Venezuela, Luigi Macotta, who said that the cooperation will be the special feature of this new edition, which is organized in Venezuela by the Italian diplomatic mission since 2004. 'The special feature of this edition is a extend and varied program in activities, which will cover not only the fashion and gastronomy, but also other fields of great importance such as technology and health, sectors where both governments have good cooperation,' Macotta said during a press conference. Furthermore, the ambassador also said that both countries have reinforced the cooperation in the cultural, educative and trade fields, ' the nest way to act is stressing the cooperation in each sector.'
Venezuela exchange team enjoys visit
Raquel Brito expected a difficult adjustment to American culture when arriving in Pittsburgh, but never the warm welcome extended to her and the rest of her Venezuelan exchange team. 'This has been such a good experience,' she said during a Wednesday visit to the Alle-Kiski Valley. 'I have had a lot of fun and learned a lot.' Brito is one of four professional adults participating in Rotary International's Group Study Exchange program. Brito, along with Diego Brito, the group's team leader and a Venezuelan Rotarian who is not related to Raquel, and Katia Rivas and Silvia Gil visited the Valley to learn about the region's history and enjoy a paddle down the Kiski River.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Student Activist Yon Goicoechea on Venezuela's Political Future
Yon Goicoechea, Venezuelan law student, activist, and founder of the Futuro Presente Foundation spoke with AS/COA Online Managing Editor Carin Zissis about his country's student activist movement, widely credited with playing a pivotal role in the defeat of a December 2007 constitutional referendum. Goicoechea was recently awarded the 2008 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty from the Cato Institute.“There are hundreds of thousands of young Venezuelans with a firm commitment to making good policy practices and that’s why I believe that in 10 years we will have renewed institutions in Venezuela and new opportunities for improvement,” says Goicoechea.
Oscar Heck: The "Great Fall of the USA - From the Inside" ... coming soon to a theater near you!
VHeadline commentarist Oscar Heck writes: If the US government dares to attack Iran, it will drag its people into the biggest hell-world that Americans have ever seen. I for one, will feel obligated to write against Americans in an ever more forceful fashion, against their murderous crimes, exposing their lies, their arrogance, their exploitive and criminal business and political practices abroad.
Since the Gulf War, which I experienced first hand for about 5 months, I lost all respect for the US government, and since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, I have lost all but the minimal respect for Americans.
If they dare attack Iran, which is a healthy and peaceful country, I will lose all respect for all Americans and all people who in any avoidable fashion collaborate with Americans. Brits, Australians and Canadians (myself included) are on a similar list of despicable, ruthless, conscienceless people who elect psychopaths to rule their stolen countries, create their mindless jurisprudence-excused laws, multiply their soulless repressive policing forces and increase the number of paid murderers to be sent away to "weaker" countries to assassinate innocent men, women and children.
Since the Gulf War, which I experienced first hand for about 5 months, I lost all respect for the US government, and since the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, I have lost all but the minimal respect for Americans.
If they dare attack Iran, which is a healthy and peaceful country, I will lose all respect for all Americans and all people who in any avoidable fashion collaborate with Americans. Brits, Australians and Canadians (myself included) are on a similar list of despicable, ruthless, conscienceless people who elect psychopaths to rule their stolen countries, create their mindless jurisprudence-excused laws, multiply their soulless repressive policing forces and increase the number of paid murderers to be sent away to "weaker" countries to assassinate innocent men, women and children.
A recent article in The Asia Times, entitled, "Bush 'plans Iran air strike by August,'" states:
"NEW YORK - The George W Bush administration plans to launch an air strike against Iran within the next two months, an informed source tells Asia Times Online, echoing other reports that have surfaced in the media in the United States recently. Two key US senators briefed on the attack planned to go public with their opposition to the move, according to the source, but their projected New York Times op-ed piece has yet to appear. The source, a retired US career diplomat and former assistant secretary of state still active in the foreign affairs community, speaking anonymously, said last week that the US plans an air strike against the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The air strike would target the headquarters of the IRGC's elite Quds force. With an estimated strength of up to 90,000 fighters, the Quds' stated mission is to spread Iran's revolution of 1979 throughout the region."
Why would the USA attack Iran?
Iran is no threat to the USA, none whatsoever. All that garbage about Iran supporting or training "terrorists" is basically poppycock, it is manipulated information taken out of context and shoved at high pressure into the feeble minds of millions of Americans, Brits, Aussies, Canadians, and others, like most members of the violent, pro-USA, paranoid, anti-Chavez mid-to-upper classes in Venezuela and around the world ... those people who are members of the exploitive ruling classes who have no qualm about attacking and sacking a weaker peoples.
Even if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, what is the problem?
The USA has nuclear weapons, so does India, and so does Pakistan, where some of the most "dangerous" "terrorists" are purported to live, according to the US government.
They have nuclear weapons.Why not attack Pakistan?
Why not attack Israel?
They also have nuclear weapons.Why not France or the UK?
China? No, too big. France and the UK? Not worth it, they have no natural resources to plunder.Why not attack China? They have some too.
Israel? No way! Friends in arms! How about North Korea? They have nuclear weapons. No, too far away and not enough stuff to plunder. No oil. That leaves Pakistan and India. Nah, Pakistan does not have massive oil reserves, neither does India ... but Iran does ... so the story is invented that Iran is developing nuclear weapons ... and promoting "terrorism."
The USA is doing everything to distort reality so that they can steal the largest oil reserves in the world (apart from Saudi Arabia).
Venezuela is probably on the list as well.
We already have inside information that Chavez is in the greatest danger he has been in since the short-lived US-financed cup against him in 2002. Things in Venezuela are getting hot ... but so are things in the USA.
I bet that most people who would support or say nothing against a US attack on Iran think that Iranians are Arabs. Wrong. Completely wrong. The vast majority of Iranians are not Arabs, they are descendents of the Aryans and they speak Persian (Farsi), the main official language of Iran.
Just this fact tells you how ignorance exists in parallel fashion.
The most ignorant people will believe the biggest lies ... and the US government knows that ... and that is why they make great efforts to keep their citizenry ignorant. The more ignorant Americans are (and believe me, compared to most people in the world, they are very ignorant), the more they can be manipulated, the more they will obey and the more they will allow themselves to be taken advantage of and abused by the liars, the murderers and the thieves who run the US government, their churches, their schools and their corporations.
If the USA attacks Iran, Americans will get the surprise of their lives ... simply because the entire world will be forced to react against further US criminality and genocide (Afghanistan and Iraq). The world's population will not allow more innocent-people-for-oil to be massacred, slaughtered and maimed by the USA.
A US attack on Iran will be the last straw.
The USA is so accustomed to embargoing other nations, usually completely innocent ones, such as Cuba ... but what will happen if the USA attacks Iran?
First, some of the countries supplying the USA with oil will stop oil supplies to the USA and sell the same oil at a discount to countries such as China and India. This will cause a massive economic catastrophe within the USA (with waves hitting countries such as Canada, Europe and Japan).
Then, the USA will be embargoed by a massive world people's movement (soon to be organized, I suspect) ... embargoes against Walmart, McDonald's, any fast-food or restaurant chain, all US manufacturers and commerce abroad, all US-owned mass-exploitation operations such as sweat-shops and cheap-labor farms ... and US-based religious, diplomatic, political and scientific missions abroad.
All Americans and their collaborators traveling or living abroad will be at great risk for their lives. This will not happen overnight, but it will happen ... the time it takes to create a highly organized worldwide movement against US interests and against US citizens. However, there will be more problems, closer to home. Mutiny.
If the captain and "officers" of our ship are leading us, the crew and passengers directly into the hands of imminent mortal danger, and if they are lying to us in the process, will we, as crew members and passengers permit them to go ahead?
Unfortunately, most of us will say nothing because we are too far brainwashed and repressed and scared to say anything ... so we will allow ourselves to be led into the hands of useless death.
However, a few of us will have the courage to stand up and say something, even at the risk of being slain or jailed or tortured by the captain and his "officers" ... and that is precisely what is happening now.
I suspect that as we speak, those who have the balls to say something are getting organized in quiet, to later speak out ... but not necessarily only with words ... and that will be the beginning of the "Great Fall of the USA - From the Inside" ... coming soon to a theater near you.
This is not a reality show ... this is reality.
Oscar Heck
oscarheck111@yahoo.com
Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- May 28, 2008
The Venezuelan Communist Party (PCV) is the first in Venezuela to react to the death of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia's (FARC) maximum leader, Manuel Marulanda. On hearing confirmation of Marulanda's death, the party's central committee held a minute of applause in his memory and all those who have died fighting the Colombian oligarchy. PCV leader, Oscar Figueras says his party has programmatic and ideological coincidences with the FARC and the fact that the PCV supports the FARC does not compromise the Venezuelan State or indeed, President Chavez. "Chavez has not vindicated himself as a Marxist Leninist." Figueras clarifies that there is no link between the FARC and the PCV regarding a political plan or military aid, just a coincidence in political aims. The PCV leader also rejects charges that the FARC has become a narco-trafficking cartel or a terrorist group ... "all organizations of military and ideological resistance are targets of the imperialist media." The PCV does not condemn armed struggle because it is one of the forms of struggle against the State that has closed democratic paths. The daughter of sixties Venezuelan guerrilla commander, Argimiro Gabaldon accuses the police in Lara State of assassinating Engels Alexander and Douglas Fabricio Perez Heredia. The two youngsters are sons of Ivan Perez, a member of the PRV-Ruptura organization started in the 70s after the end of the main guerrilla period in Venezuela. Tatiana Gabaldon claims that both youngsters were arrested, kidnapped, tortured and finally assassinated by the police on March, April 29 in Barquisimeto. A large number of signatories supporting the family reject the usual police report that the deaths were the result of a shootout. Gabaldon calls on what she calls the "old revolutionaries, the authentic moral reserves of the people" to start organizational forms and activities to defend the conduct and good standing of the young men who have been permanent militants in the revolution.
The Colombian government is already playing more games in an effort to confuse the FARC and gain PR brownie points. Armed Forces of Colombia commander, General Freddy Padilla claims that Manuel Marulanda's family is reclaiming the body. The General casts doubts on the cause of Marulanda's death on March 26, suggesting he could have died in an attack on an FARC camp. Padilla reveals that a total 626 mortar grenades were used by the army against FARC camps where they thought Marulanda was stationed. "189 grenades were directed against 160 objectives based on intelligence reports and planes released 114 bombs against 50 objectives, 20 of which were attacked between March 20-29 using 48 bombs. The General claims the FARC is riddled with division and suffering a physical vacuum and serious communication problems. Cynically, Padilla questions the authority of those who appointed Alfonso Cano as the new FARC general commander. The FARC founder, he concludes, will "go into history as the most despicable man in society and a symbol of kidnapping and narco trafficking."
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
Venezuela GDP growth slowest since 2004
Venezuela’s economic growth has cooled off to its lowest level in almost five years, despite an oil boom and with inflation continuing to spiral. Economists say that government measures taken to control one of the highest inflation rates in the world have dampened demand, causing annualized growth to fall well below expectations to 4.8 per cent in the first quarter, compared to 8.8 per cent last year, according to figures released by the country’s central bank late on Tuesday. Guillermo Ortega, the head of economic research in the finance ministry until early this year, says previous growth levels were not sustainable in the long term. “Obviously an economy can’t keep growing at 8 or 9 per cent forever,” he said. He argues that powerful growth in recent years is mainly due to a rebound as the economy recovered lost ground after coming to a virtual standstill during to an oil strike in 2002-03. “This level of growth is nothing to worry about. On the other hand inflation of around 30 per cent most certainly is a concern, and a danger,” he said.
Venezuela headed to USA to face Honduras in warm-up game for Qualifiers: Soccer,
Cesar Farias' side traveled to face Honduras on Friday, without the defender, a notable absentee, who quitted the National Team. Watch the South American Qualifiers on JumpTV. The Venezuelan federation confirmed the list of players traveling to USA without Alejandro Cichero, who plays for Chinese Shandong Lumeng. The defender told the local media on Sunday his resignation to the team due to disagreements with some money owed. Midfielder Juan Arango, at Spain's Real Mallorca, and Atlante's Mexican player, Giancarlo Maldonado, stand out from the squad named by Cesar Farias. Spain’s Pontevedra Jonay Hernandez is included in the squad, though he will miss the tour but he will play the official clashes. These three matches will be a warm-up for the forthcoming South American Qualifiers for a place in South Africa 2010. Venezuela will face Uruguay, in Montevideo on June 14, and five days later, they face Chile in Puerto La Cruz.
Political violence and insecurity continued in 2007 according to annual report by Amnesty International (AI)
Political violence and insecurity continued in 2007, the same year where an organic law on the right of women to live free from violence entered into force, according to its annual report submitted on Tuesday by Amnesty International (AI). In 2007 'a number of demonstrations ended in violent clashes between different groups of protesters and between protesters and the police,' said AI in the chapter on Venezuela as part of its annual report on the state of the world's human rights, Efe quoted. AI recalled that President Hugo Chávez took office for a third term in January and the National Assembly granted him powers to pass legislation by decree for 18 months on a wide range of issues including public security and institutional reform. It noted also that Venezuelans rejected controversial constitutional changes in a referendum.As for political violence, Amnesty International claimed, 'the authorities did not take effective action to stop an escalation of violence in the context of demonstrations by supporters and opponents of government policies.'
The possibility of a US military incursion into Venezuela 'is nearby,' according to German political expert Heinz Dieterich
The possibility of a US military incursion into Venezuela 'is nearby,' according to German political expert Heinz Dieterich. 'Washington is not prepared to lose Latin America in the competition with India, China and Europe,' said Dieterich on Tuesday night during a debate in Montevideo, DPA quoted. He thinks it is a 'live-or-die' situation for the US government. Therefore, they would be ready to implement a military plan, which could include an invasion or an attack from Colombia. 'For that reason, they brought the Fourth Fleet back, wiped out the Colombian guerrillas and will make Colombia play the same role that Honduras played against Nicaragua' in 1979. In the opinion of the German expert, a PhD in Social Sciences of Bremen University who holds a Master degree from Frankfurt's Goethe University, 'conventional military pressure will increase' on Venezuela.
Argentina: Bahia Blanca LNG terminal would source Venezuelan gas
The proposed construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in Argentina would allow the country to import natural gas sourced from Venezuela, reported the Argentine newspaper La Nacion.
The original plan for the Bahia Blanca terminal was revealed by Argentina's ex-President Nestor Kirchner in September 2007 and called for an investment of nearly $442 million.
The terminal would have a capacity to process 10 million cubic meters per day (MMcm/d), informed Argentine officials and would take about 12 to 18 months to complete and would allow Argentina to increase its supply of natural gas by 8 percent, according to the newspaper.
Although the terminal project may move forward, LatinPetroleum does not believe that Venezuela will finish the construction of its LNG gasification terminal in Güiria, Venezuela during this 12 to 18 month timeframe. As such, it believes it is highly unlikely that the terminal will source Venezuela natural gas, at least not over the short-term.
The original plan for the Bahia Blanca terminal was revealed by Argentina's ex-President Nestor Kirchner in September 2007 and called for an investment of nearly $442 million.
The terminal would have a capacity to process 10 million cubic meters per day (MMcm/d), informed Argentine officials and would take about 12 to 18 months to complete and would allow Argentina to increase its supply of natural gas by 8 percent, according to the newspaper.
Although the terminal project may move forward, LatinPetroleum does not believe that Venezuela will finish the construction of its LNG gasification terminal in Güiria, Venezuela during this 12 to 18 month timeframe. As such, it believes it is highly unlikely that the terminal will source Venezuela natural gas, at least not over the short-term.
New new extraordinary 50 percent "windfall" oil tax will take effect in Venezuela when crude oil prices rise above $70 per barrel
According to Angel Rodriguez, president of the Energy & Mines Commission of Venezuela's National Assembly, a new extraordinary gains tax or "windfall" oil tax of 50 percent will take effect in Venezuela when crude oil prices rise above $70 per barrel but do not exceed $100 per barrel. The tax will increase to 60 percent when crude oil prices exceed $100 per barrel.
Venezuela will use a monthly average of the daily highs and lows of the "Dated Brent" crude oil price in determining the price it will use to apply the new "windfall" oil tax.
The tax will be applied to conventional crude oil, upgraded crude oil or petroleum derivatives for export or transport outside of Venezuela's borders and must be paid in Venezuelan bolivars and within five days following the receipt by the companies of the corresponding tax forms from the Venezuelan government.
Upside Potential Capped At 40%-50% -- With the implantation of the this new "windfall" oil tax, the upside potential for multinationals when crude oil prices are between $70-$100 per barrel is capped at 50 percent, while the upside potential when crude oil prices exceed $100 per barrel is capped at 40 percent.
Venezuela will use a monthly average of the daily highs and lows of the "Dated Brent" crude oil price in determining the price it will use to apply the new "windfall" oil tax.
The tax will be applied to conventional crude oil, upgraded crude oil or petroleum derivatives for export or transport outside of Venezuela's borders and must be paid in Venezuelan bolivars and within five days following the receipt by the companies of the corresponding tax forms from the Venezuelan government.
Upside Potential Capped At 40%-50% -- With the implantation of the this new "windfall" oil tax, the upside potential for multinationals when crude oil prices are between $70-$100 per barrel is capped at 50 percent, while the upside potential when crude oil prices exceed $100 per barrel is capped at 40 percent.
President Chavez to visit Ecuador for refinery foundation stone-laying ceremony
The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, will visit Ecuador during the first week of July to participate in a stone-laying ceremony with his Ecuadorian counterpart, Rafael Correa.
The ceremony will mark the commencement of activities at a refinery to be jointly constructed by the governments' of both South American countries.
In 2007, the governments of Venezuela and Ecuador agreed to jointly construct a refinery to be located in the southwestern Province of Manabi on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The refinery would require an estimated investment of $5 billion and would consist of a high conversion system capable of processing 300,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil.
"In early July, President Chavez will come to Ecuador to participate in the stone laying ceremony for the refinery," reported El Universal, citing Correa. The construction of the refinery could incorporate other state oil companies from the Latin American region; however, Ecuador's state oil company, PetroEcuador, will have a minimum 51 percent interest in the refinery.
The ceremony will mark the commencement of activities at a refinery to be jointly constructed by the governments' of both South American countries.
In 2007, the governments of Venezuela and Ecuador agreed to jointly construct a refinery to be located in the southwestern Province of Manabi on the Pacific coast of Ecuador. The refinery would require an estimated investment of $5 billion and would consist of a high conversion system capable of processing 300,000 barrels per day (b/d) of crude oil.
"In early July, President Chavez will come to Ecuador to participate in the stone laying ceremony for the refinery," reported El Universal, citing Correa. The construction of the refinery could incorporate other state oil companies from the Latin American region; however, Ecuador's state oil company, PetroEcuador, will have a minimum 51 percent interest in the refinery.
National Assembly (AN) discusses accord rejecting Interpol's report about computers allegedly seized from the FARC
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The national media reported on Tuesday that the National Assembly, AN, is discussing an accord rejecting Interpol's report about computers allegedly seized from the FARC No2, Raul Reyes, in Ecuador last month.
Deputy Luis Tascon was reported to have proposed that Interpol's Secretary-General, Richard Kenneth, be invited to Venezuela in order for him to present the investigation carried out to technical personnel.
Deputy Luis Tascon was reported to have proposed that Interpol's Secretary-General, Richard Kenneth, be invited to Venezuela in order for him to present the investigation carried out to technical personnel.
- Tascon claims he needs explanations of the method used for the analysis of the computers Colombia claims that belonged to the guerrilla leader.
Yaracuy State Governor Carlos Gimenez was a no-show ... Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ) goes ahead with hearing
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Yaracuy State Governor Carlos Gimenez was due to appear before the Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ) on Tuesday but neither he nor his defense team turned up. The judges sitting in the full chamber decided to go ahead anyway.
Gimenez faces "pre-trial" proceedings on whether he has a case to answer after allegations linking him and seven officials in his government to corruption in his administration. The hearing was originally set to start earlier this month but had been delayed.
The TSJ ruled that the absence of Gimenez and his lawyers would not impede the proceedings this time. That meant his case would be considered, in this instance at least, without him there.
Before the hearing, his lawyers told the TSJ in writing of the "technical impossibility" of attending because there hadn't been enough time to prepare a defense. Evidently, this didn't wash with the judges, who appointed attorney Carolina Segura as Gimenez' defense. Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz launched the prosecution's case.
Gimenez faces "pre-trial" proceedings on whether he has a case to answer after allegations linking him and seven officials in his government to corruption in his administration. The hearing was originally set to start earlier this month but had been delayed.
The TSJ ruled that the absence of Gimenez and his lawyers would not impede the proceedings this time. That meant his case would be considered, in this instance at least, without him there.
Before the hearing, his lawyers told the TSJ in writing of the "technical impossibility" of attending because there hadn't been enough time to prepare a defense. Evidently, this didn't wash with the judges, who appointed attorney Carolina Segura as Gimenez' defense. Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz launched the prosecution's case.
Dissent jolts PSUV in vote run-up ... front-runners for candidate under question as President’s party heads towards internal elections
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Leaders of President Hugo Chavez' United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) tried to get out the vote for Sunday's internal elections, but attention focused on outbreaks of dissent. There was speculation about a split in Zulia State Governor Manuel Rosales' opposition party, Un Nuevo Tiempo.
On Monday, the national directive of the PSUV rejected 11 aspirants to stand as PSUV candidates at the state and municipal elections on November 23. Among them was Lt.Col. Luis Yoyotte, who'd been eyeing governor of Cojedes state but was disqualified for being on active service. Chávez has allowed 14 officers to stand down to pursue political ambitions.
In Zulia, Jose Oviedo claimed he'd been "excluded" in his bid for mayor of a town ... about 40 indigenous people protested in his support Monday at PSUV headquarters in Caracas.
In Tachira, Otto Parada, a state legislator, complained that Jose Gregorio Vielma Mora -- previously head of the tax collection agency, Seniat -- was pushing his candidacy with help from the state government. Leonardo Salcedo, another contender, called for Vielma Mora to be disciplined. National Assembly (AN) Deputy Wilmer Azuaje continued being awkward about the President's family in their home state of Barinas. He said they were divided among themselves, and did so in the Brazilian newspaper, O Estado de Sao Paulo.
In Lara, town Mayor Henri Falcon claimed the party was in the grip of the state governor and a mayor called Julio Chavez. Whether the mayor's related to the President is unclear. Grumbles were also heard in Anzoategui, Bolivar, Cojedes, Guarico and Monagas states.
As for UNT, reports said Rosales and Chacao Municipal Mayor Leopoldo Lopez were set to part ways over the choice of Lilian Hernandez to succeed Lopez ... the dispute is said to have worsened after Rosales urged William Ojeda to stand aside for Carlos Ocariz in Sucre, a key target for an opposition takeover in east Caracas.
On Monday, the national directive of the PSUV rejected 11 aspirants to stand as PSUV candidates at the state and municipal elections on November 23. Among them was Lt.Col. Luis Yoyotte, who'd been eyeing governor of Cojedes state but was disqualified for being on active service. Chávez has allowed 14 officers to stand down to pursue political ambitions.
In Zulia, Jose Oviedo claimed he'd been "excluded" in his bid for mayor of a town ... about 40 indigenous people protested in his support Monday at PSUV headquarters in Caracas.
In Tachira, Otto Parada, a state legislator, complained that Jose Gregorio Vielma Mora -- previously head of the tax collection agency, Seniat -- was pushing his candidacy with help from the state government. Leonardo Salcedo, another contender, called for Vielma Mora to be disciplined. National Assembly (AN) Deputy Wilmer Azuaje continued being awkward about the President's family in their home state of Barinas. He said they were divided among themselves, and did so in the Brazilian newspaper, O Estado de Sao Paulo.
In Lara, town Mayor Henri Falcon claimed the party was in the grip of the state governor and a mayor called Julio Chavez. Whether the mayor's related to the President is unclear. Grumbles were also heard in Anzoategui, Bolivar, Cojedes, Guarico and Monagas states.
As for UNT, reports said Rosales and Chacao Municipal Mayor Leopoldo Lopez were set to part ways over the choice of Lilian Hernandez to succeed Lopez ... the dispute is said to have worsened after Rosales urged William Ojeda to stand aside for Carlos Ocariz in Sucre, a key target for an opposition takeover in east Caracas.
Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) files appeal to Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ)
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), the private channel that went off the air a year ago at President Hugo Chavez' behest and turned itself into a cable station, evidently hasn't given up hope it can recover its broadcasting license.
Oswaldo Quintana, RCTV's resident legal adviser, said he was seeking a new ruling from the Supreme Justice Tribunal on a petitition asking the judges to rule there had been a misuse of power when Chavez decided not to renew RCTV's license last year.
With the opposition rallying to RCTV's cause, Quintana said that sooner or later, national and international courts would return the license to the channel.
For that reason, RCTV would continue "struggling legitimately," he added. Marcel Granier, president of RCTV's parent company, Grupo 1BC, claimed that the people wanted RCTV to have its license back.
RCTV claims to have taken top place in the viewer league of cable stations in Venezuela, and presents this as evidence that its programs are still missed by the public.
Argument has long raged over exactly when RCTV's license expired. When Chávez announced his decision not to renew the license, he said the due date was June 27 last year. RCTV, which had broadcast for over half a century when it went off the air, has insisted all along that the license was actually valid until 2022.
Oswaldo Quintana, RCTV's resident legal adviser, said he was seeking a new ruling from the Supreme Justice Tribunal on a petitition asking the judges to rule there had been a misuse of power when Chavez decided not to renew RCTV's license last year.
With the opposition rallying to RCTV's cause, Quintana said that sooner or later, national and international courts would return the license to the channel.
For that reason, RCTV would continue "struggling legitimately," he added. Marcel Granier, president of RCTV's parent company, Grupo 1BC, claimed that the people wanted RCTV to have its license back.
RCTV claims to have taken top place in the viewer league of cable stations in Venezuela, and presents this as evidence that its programs are still missed by the public.
Argument has long raged over exactly when RCTV's license expired. When Chávez announced his decision not to renew the license, he said the due date was June 27 last year. RCTV, which had broadcast for over half a century when it went off the air, has insisted all along that the license was actually valid until 2022.
VTV told the private news channel that payment would start next Sunday ... Globovision rejected the demand as unconstitutional and exorbitant
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Globovision, the privately-owned all-news television station, claimed that state channel VTV had abruptly demanded payment for re-broadcasting its material at a rates equivalent to Bs.F.432,000 an hour from next Sunday.
VTV hadn't announced the move. Instead, it emerged when Globovisión issued a lengthy statement expressing its opposition to VTV President Yuri Pimentel's demand, and insisting it wouldn't pay.
The rate was set a Bs.F.120 a second, meaning a minute of material would cost Bs.F.7,200. The only exception, according to Globovision, would be speeches by President Hugo Chavez or similar events in news items or "informative spaces."
Whether only Globovision was in VTV's sights or if the measure applied to regional and community channels or satellite stations remained unclear.
Up to now, the common practice has been for stations to lift material from each other without payment, but carrying a credit. While it was also unclear when VTV made its demand, the short notice until payment goes into effect probably added to the temper of Globovision's reaction. It condemned the move as "unconstitutional" and an attempt "against the Venezuelans' freedom of expression and information."
The charges envisaged by VTV -- "the channel of all the Venezuelans," as Globovision put it -- were "exorbitant" and sought to put "the wish for wealth above the interests" of the population, the statement continued. The rate will apply to both live transmissions taken from VTV, or material used after the event.
Globovision said it was being expected to pay for statements by ministers, governors, legislators, mayors and other public officials, political leaders or citizens about matters of public interest, but to which it was not allowed access. It had become notorious and common knowledge to Venezuelans and the international community that the state had set a policy of impeding and limiting official access to Globovision and its journalists, the statement said.
Globovision claimed that most of the time, it wasn't invited to official press conferences, or allowed access to government offices or information. For this reason, VTV was the sole source of some information.
The Venezuelan state, Globovision said, had put an "irrational and excessive price on the broadcast of information of general interest" -- and it had done so when the Inter-American Human Rights Court was hearing a case brought against the Venezuelan state for violating the rights of freedom of speech of Globovision workers.
Globovision raised the point that, in making its move, it might be shooting itself and the government in the foot. While other countries' governments wanted their statements to reach the widest possible audience, this one was limiting distribution of its own information.
VTV hadn't announced the move. Instead, it emerged when Globovisión issued a lengthy statement expressing its opposition to VTV President Yuri Pimentel's demand, and insisting it wouldn't pay.
The rate was set a Bs.F.120 a second, meaning a minute of material would cost Bs.F.7,200. The only exception, according to Globovision, would be speeches by President Hugo Chavez or similar events in news items or "informative spaces."
Whether only Globovision was in VTV's sights or if the measure applied to regional and community channels or satellite stations remained unclear.
Up to now, the common practice has been for stations to lift material from each other without payment, but carrying a credit. While it was also unclear when VTV made its demand, the short notice until payment goes into effect probably added to the temper of Globovision's reaction. It condemned the move as "unconstitutional" and an attempt "against the Venezuelans' freedom of expression and information."
The charges envisaged by VTV -- "the channel of all the Venezuelans," as Globovision put it -- were "exorbitant" and sought to put "the wish for wealth above the interests" of the population, the statement continued. The rate will apply to both live transmissions taken from VTV, or material used after the event.
Globovision said it was being expected to pay for statements by ministers, governors, legislators, mayors and other public officials, political leaders or citizens about matters of public interest, but to which it was not allowed access. It had become notorious and common knowledge to Venezuelans and the international community that the state had set a policy of impeding and limiting official access to Globovision and its journalists, the statement said.
Globovision claimed that most of the time, it wasn't invited to official press conferences, or allowed access to government offices or information. For this reason, VTV was the sole source of some information.
The Venezuelan state, Globovision said, had put an "irrational and excessive price on the broadcast of information of general interest" -- and it had done so when the Inter-American Human Rights Court was hearing a case brought against the Venezuelan state for violating the rights of freedom of speech of Globovision workers.
Globovision raised the point that, in making its move, it might be shooting itself and the government in the foot. While other countries' governments wanted their statements to reach the widest possible audience, this one was limiting distribution of its own information.
Venezuelan Tax Authorities Initiate Tax Assessment Against Sidor
Ternium S.A. announced today that, following the announcement of the Venezuelan government's intention to nationalize Sidor and the passing of legislation to that effect, the Venezuelan tax authorities initiated a tax assessment against Sidor involving income taxes for fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 resulting in allegedly omitted payments in an aggregate principal amount of Venezuelan bolívares 1,438.6 million (or US$669.1 million). The tax assessment, which covers certain previously audited periods, alleges that Sidor improperly deducted certain payments for income tax purposes, primarily consisting of amounts paid to Ylopa - Serviços de Consultadoria, Ltd., a subsidiary of Ternium organized under the laws of Portugal, and Corporación Venezolana de Guayana, or CVG (a Venezuelan governmental entity and a shareholder of Sidor), under certain participation account agreements (contratos de cuentas en participación) entered into with Ylopa and CVG in connection with the restructuring of Sidor's financial debt in 2003. In addition, the tax assessment challenges, among other things, the adjustment of tax loss carry forwards corresponding to prior fiscal years.
Dominican Senate thanks Chavez for helping with oil
Santo Domingo.- The Senate passed a resolution which giving thanks to Venezuela president Hugo Chavez for contributions made to Dominican Republic. One of motivations of the bill submitted by senator Charlie Mariotti recognizes the merits Chavez and Venezuela, which since the origins of its Independence protected Dominican Republic’s founding father, Juan Pablo Duarte. The resolution said the country receives oil from Petrocaribe without which fuel prices would make it an arduous existence for Dominicans, who the resolution says appreciate President Chavez’s initiative.
Venezuelans shielded from rising gas prices
Rising oil prices are causing grief to motorists across the world, except in Venezuela, where domestic supply and state subsidies mean filling up the tank costs less than a bottle of mineral water. 'We have got used to free-flowing gasoline. In Venezuela, it's the price of milk and flour that is going up, not gas,' said Leandro Otero, a taxi driver in Caracas, after spending three bolivars (about one US dollar) filling up. The minimum monthly wage in Venezuela is 800 bolivars, or about 370 US dollars, and a liter of gas costs 0.1 bolivars (four US cents) -- making it virtually free. Low prices have fueled the oil addiction of residents of this country, the largest crude oil producer in Latin America, and they are quick to protest against any attempts to change the situation.
Mayor of London to probe Ken Livingstone's 'foreign embassies"
The Mayor has already scrapped the controversial deal Mr Livingstone struck with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez to provide cheap fuel for London's bus network and work has already begun to wind down the GLA's office in Caracas. The review of the remaining offices will be led by deputy mayor for government relations Ian Clement, and will be concluded by the autumn. Mr Clement said: 'This process will take a serious look at whether taxpayers' money is being spent wisely and in the interests of Londoners. 'It is right that we scrutinise millions of pounds' expenditure on these international offices and continually look at how we can ensure London remains one of the world's leading business centres.'
Signals from MinAmb "have gone in the opposite direction of fostering a harmonious and sustainable development of the mining sector!
Venezuela's Mining Chamber (Camiven) has ruled in favor of establishing a National Mining Plan which allows "authorities to recognize the acquired rights of investors and to allow development projects to proceed smoothly and efficiently."Camiven president Gilberto Sanchez Albornoz told El Universal that he perceives that "as regards the mining sector, there is an absence of government policy to enable authorities to act in a coordinated manner." He notes that "initiatives and declarations by environmental and mining authorities are made without a minimum of consultation."
In the El Universal interview published today, he says that signals given by the Minister for Environment "have gone in the opposite direction of fostering a harmonious and sustainable development of the mining sector and, even more, comes up with rules to prevent development projects that have met all legal mining and environmental requirements formulated in accordance with the land use regulations in force. "
Google Earth satellite image from above Sifontes municipality in southeastern Bolivar State
Sanchez Albornoz says "the differences between companies and workers must be resolved by competent bodies ... the government's complacent attitude has created a perverse incentive for agitators seeking government intervention in private enterprise."
"It is good time to facilitate the commencement of new business operations so that they can obtain benefits that will enable them to generate social and economic benefits for the community ... employment must be the government's priority, especially in areas where there is critical poverty."
____________________________________
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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Venezuelan information minister resigns over charges for official footage
Venezuelan Minister for Information and Communication Andres Izarra announced his resignation Tuesday over the planned charges for the use of footage from the state-run TV channel Venezolana de Television (VTV). Izarra told a press conference that he would submit his resignation to President Hugo Chavez because the decision was made without consulting with the president. Globovision, a private Venezuelan TV channel controlled by the opposition, said Tuesday that the VTV has decided to charge private TV networks for the use of its official footage with 3,350 U.S. dollars per minute from June 1.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Venezuela's Minister of Communications & Information (MinCI) Andres Izarra has announced he will step aside over controversial decision!
Venezuela's Minister of Communications & Information (MinCI) Andres Izarra has announced he will step aside, falling on his sword for having taken a controversial decision to charge private broadcasters 120BsF (US$60) per second to re-broadcast State-owned Venezolana de Television (VTV) output.Izarra said he had taken the charge decision (announced earlier in the day by VTV president Yuri Pimentel) without previous consultantion with President Hugo Chavez Frias or any other member of the National Executive.
Izarra had been appointed to the MinCI portfolio in December 2007 after having taken on the presidency of continental broadcaster TeleSUR. Earlier he had held the Communications & Information post after having been recalled as Press Attache in Washington to lead a media offensive ahead of the unsuccessful recall referendum against President Chavez in 2005.
Izarra, the son of political ideologue William Izarra, had worked as a news producer at the now-defunct RCTV television news station at the time of the 2002 coup d'etat which saw Chavez overthrown temporarily by 'Dictator for a Day' Pedro Carmona Estanga ... he resigned his RCTV executive role after being ordered to censor news coverage of Chavez' restoration to power when RCTV chiefs decided to show children's cartoons instead.
Venezuela's economy grew at its slowest pace in more than four years in the first quarter as investment and non-oil exports declined
Venezuela's economy grew at its slowest pace in more than four years in the first quarter as investment and non-oil exports declined. Gross domestic product expanded 4.8 percent from a year earlier, the central bank said today in a statement, the slowest pace since 2003's third quarter. Growth trailed the 6.7 percent median forecast from 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The central bank raised consumer interest rates twice this year and the government sold $4 billion in bonds last month to drain liquidity in a bid to cool economic growth and curb Latin America's highest inflation rate. The economy in Venezuela, the Western Hemisphere's largest oil producer, has grown 12.1 percent on average during the past four years as the government tapped surging oil revenue to increase social spending. ``We interpret this drop in growth as a necessary adjustment made to balance out supply and demand,'' Alejandro Puente, an economist at Banco Provincial SA in Caracas, said before today's data release.
Vannessa announces name change to Infinito Gold Ltd.
Vannessa Ventures Ltd. (the 'Company') - The Company announces that it is changing its name to 'Infinito Gold Ltd.'. Effective at the opening on Wednesday, May 28, 2008,the Company's common shares currently listed on the TSX Venture Exchangeunder the symbol 'VVV', will commence trading under the new name InfinitoGold Ltd. with the new symbol 'IG'. The name change to Infinito Gold Ltd. marks a transition in the Companyfrom a focus of pre-development centered on obtaining all of the majorapprovals and permits for the Crucitas gold project to a focus on mineconstruction leading to the operational phase of the mine.The Company has relocated the current Vice President of Operations, Dr.John Thomas, to Costa Rica to take responsibility for mine construction andinitial mine operation. Dr. Thomas was in charge of the construction of the Choco 10 gold mine in Venezuela and has extensive experience in mineconstruction and operation in many countries worldwide. Arnoldo Rudin, theGeneral Manager of the Company's wholly owned subsidiary IndustriasInfinito S.A. ("IISA"), located in San Jose, Costa Rica, will work closelywith Dr. Thomas in developing the project.
Dr. Franz J. T. Lee explains the original Bourgoise Revolution from its origin in Europe to its full realization as "Globalization"
Dr. Franz J. T. Lee explains the original Bourgoise Revolution from its origin in Europe to its full realization as "Globalization" and as the ideological weapon to launch Capitalism on a world scale from the Marxist Scientific and Philosophic approach. Also Dr. Lee thoroughly analyses the quintessence of Capitalism as economic exploitation, political domination, social discrimination, genocidal militarization and human alienation and the problems to launch a Revolution in the epoch of Globalization.
To learn more about the life and work of
Dr. Lee please visit: http://www.franzlee.org
http://video.google.es/videoplay?docid=1693507609143078155&hl=es
Oscar Heck: I don't trust the Colombian government for one second ... and neither should anyone else!
VHeadline commentarist Oscar Heck writes: Yesterday, May 26, 2008, dailypress.com published an article written by Andres Oppenheimer, an Argentinean-born and US-trained "journalist" who is now Latin American editor and syndicated foreign affairs columnist with The Miami Herald.
I love catching liars and manipulators by the collar
The article in question is entitled, "World needs to react to Chavez's and Correa's support of terrorist group."
Apart from making a misleading comment, the article begins with flat-out speculation, stating, "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa can scream and yell as loud as they want, but the fact is they've been caught red-handed supporting a terrorist group [FARC] trying to topple the democratically elected government of Colombia."
Now, from the Interpol report, it is quite clear to myself or any intelligent and/or honest being that Interpol in no way suggests that the information contained within the computers (and external hard drives, etc.) is authentic. It simply states (confirms) that the information contained within the computers, hard drives, etc., were not modified after they were supposedly found at the FARC camp. I quote, from the Interpol report (page 9):
That is, they believe the Colombian government's story that these computers were the property of Raul Reyes and the FARC.
The request from the Colombian government to Interpol never asked for Interpol to confirm that the computers were in fact property of Raul Reyes and FARC members ... simply, I believe, because it would be almost impossible to confirm that and, if it were possible to confirm, it would take years of investigation and millions of dollars ... or ... because Interpol is in on the scam and further and deeper investigation may just reveal that the computers and the information contained within were CIA/Colombian government/Blackwater plants.
You can read the report yourself.
I continue with Oppenheimer's distortions of reality. "Last week, after Interpol, the top international police body, issued a much-awaited report certifying the authenticity of 37,872 computer files from Colombia's FARC guerrillas -- containing hundreds of references to Venezuela's and Ecuador's active support for the armed rebel group.
"I don't know where Oppenheimer gets his information from ... maybe a gnome whispered it to him while he was sitting on the throne?
The actual number of files reviewed by Interpol were (if I added correctly): 282, 339 (excluding email addresses). See page 27 of the report.
I love catching liars and manipulators by the collar
The article in question is entitled, "World needs to react to Chavez's and Correa's support of terrorist group."
Apart from making a misleading comment, the article begins with flat-out speculation, stating, "Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Ecuadorean counterpart, Rafael Correa can scream and yell as loud as they want, but the fact is they've been caught red-handed supporting a terrorist group [FARC] trying to topple the democratically elected government of Colombia."
(Note that it is only the USA, Canada, Colombia and the EU that classify the FARC a "terrorist" group. That leaves most of the world that does not classify the FARC as terrorists. Search "FARC wiki" and references. The total population of the countries which classify the FARC as terrorists represents about 875 million, or about 13% of the world's population. Thus, overall, it can be said that only a minority considers the FARC terrorists.)The speculation is "caught red-handed supporting" [the FARC]. I have printed out the entire Interpol report regarding the computers supposedly found at a FARC camp in Ecuador a few weeks ago by the Colombian military after they bombed the camp, killing several FARC members and several innocent people in another nearby camp (that was on March 1, 2008).
Now, from the Interpol report, it is quite clear to myself or any intelligent and/or honest being that Interpol in no way suggests that the information contained within the computers (and external hard drives, etc.) is authentic. It simply states (confirms) that the information contained within the computers, hard drives, etc., were not modified after they were supposedly found at the FARC camp. I quote, from the Interpol report (page 9):
"The verification of the eight seized FARC computer exhibits by Interpol does not imply the validation of the accuracy of the user files, the validation of any country's interpretation of the user files or the validation of the source of the files."In fact, the Interpol report states (page 6): "Specifically, Colombian authorities sought Interpol's independent computer forensic technical assistance to examine the user files on the eight seized FARC computer exhibits and to determine whether any of the user files had been newly created, modified or deleted on or after March 1 2008."
In other words, Interpol was hired not to read the files (they didn't, according to the report), nor to determine if the information contained was real, but they were hired only to confirm whether or not the files contained within the computers were in some way modified [by the Colombian government] after the computers were found.There is nothing I can find within the Interpol report that confirms that the computers were owned by FARC members. On page 10, section 1.1:2, the report states (pre-forensic investigation), "The eight seized FARC computer exhibits belonged to Raul Reyes …" but that statement simply says, as is mentioned several times in the report, that Interpol assumes that the computers (etc.) belonged to Raul Reyes.
In other words, Interpol was not hired to determine if the computers were plants or not. In other words, those computers could have been planted at the scene by the Colombian government and/or CIA agents or whoever.
That is, they believe the Colombian government's story that these computers were the property of Raul Reyes and the FARC.
The request from the Colombian government to Interpol never asked for Interpol to confirm that the computers were in fact property of Raul Reyes and FARC members ... simply, I believe, because it would be almost impossible to confirm that and, if it were possible to confirm, it would take years of investigation and millions of dollars ... or ... because Interpol is in on the scam and further and deeper investigation may just reveal that the computers and the information contained within were CIA/Colombian government/Blackwater plants.
You can read the report yourself.
I continue with Oppenheimer's distortions of reality. "Last week, after Interpol, the top international police body, issued a much-awaited report certifying the authenticity of 37,872 computer files from Colombia's FARC guerrillas -- containing hundreds of references to Venezuela's and Ecuador's active support for the armed rebel group.
"I don't know where Oppenheimer gets his information from ... maybe a gnome whispered it to him while he was sitting on the throne?
The actual number of files reviewed by Interpol were (if I added correctly): 282, 339 (excluding email addresses). See page 27 of the report.
How can I trust Oppenheimer if he is lying to me?
Now, I don't know where he gets "containing hundreds of references to Venezuela's and Ecuador's active support."
Certainly not from the Interpol investigation since Interpol did not read the files.
- So where did he get that information from?
Maybe from a purple bullfrog … or the CIA set-up team?
Who knows, but I wouldn't trust a word that Oppenheimer regurgitates.
Then he says: "Pretty much like he did a few months ago ... when a Venezuelan delegation was caught trying to smuggle $800,000 in cash into Argentina for his political allies in that country..."
Oppenheimer wants you and I to think that the "Venezuelan delegation" was a Venezuelan government delegation ... which is not at all the case. Manipulator! The person who smuggled the money was a wealthy Venezuelan US citizen who was on the same plane with several members of PDVSA, Venezuela's state-owned oil company. The case is still up in the air and nothing has been proved.
The Venezuelan opposition, and much of the anti-Chavez US mainstream media, have implied that the money was being shipped on behalf of Chavez to support Cristina Fernandez' presidential campaign at the time -- which is totally irrational.
As Venezuela's VP said, if Chavez had wanted to send money to Fernandez, he would have brought it with him on the government plane the next day, since he was traveling then … avoiding customs.
(Note: There are other ways to ship "stuff" … and this is done through diplomatic cargo, which is in general, completely exempt of review, taxation, inspection, etc. It is customarily done to ship "secret stuff," supplies, food, and booze – in no-booze countries like Saudi Arabia - from one country/embassy/consulate to another. Even though alcohol is strictly illegal in Saudi Arabia, the American, Italian and other embassies in Saudi Arabia were fully stocked with imported whiskey and other "stuff." I know, I was there.)
Then he provides more details, "The probe carried out by Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, France, involved 64 police officials from 15 countries..."
I don't know (again) where he gets this information from. I searched the internet for other references to these figures, but I can't find any. He could not have found this information in the Interpol report, because there is no such reference. Let me see ... maybe he has "confidential sources" ... like tooth fairies or hobbits?
"The FARC laptops amount to one of the biggest ... The documents have led to the seizure of $480,000 in FARC funds in Costa Rica and a cache of 66 pounds of non-enriched FARC uranium outside Bogota."
I know of the story about the $480,000 (which is really uneventful and has nothing to do with present FARC operations) ... but the thing about the uranium?
I tried finding references to this "story" and only found stuff at Foreign Policy (a super-conservative think tank), on Bloomberg (a news agency) and on a few blogs ,,, but nothing in the media in general.
I quote from Bloomberg: "March 27 (Bloomberg) -- Colombian authorities are investigating what the country's biggest guerrilla group planned to do with 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of depleted uranium seized in a raid on the outskirts of Bogota. The depleted uranium, found yesterday in a rural area outside the city, poses no health risk and can't be used to build a dirty bomb, said Charles Ferguson, a nuclear affairs analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington."
(FYI: So far, as far as I have researched, no direct link between the FARC and the supposed uranium has been confirmed. The link is being assumed based on the authenticity of the so-called FARC computers, also an assumption. All this could very realistically be a set up. Think Iraq and the so-called weapons of mass destruction.)
What really gets to me is that we are expected to believe this stuff, we are expected to believe the Colombian government when the Colombian government has lied in public on so many occasions about so many things.
For example, in the fall of 2007, they said they would not try to follow (or spy on) Chavez and his people, nor try to follow (or spy on) FARC members while negotiations between the FARC and Chavez took place to release hostages held by the FARC.
The FARC held their part of the bargain and released some hostages, but the Colombian government, a few weeks later killed several FARC members including at least on of its leaders who was involved in the negotiations, Raul Reyes.
This killing happened while Chavez was in the process of opening new negotiations with the FARC for additional releases of hostages.
I don't trust the Colombian government for one second ... and neither should anyone else.
Then Oppenheimer states things that I am quite sure are lies. When this information first came out from the Colombian government (and its pro-government private media), there was no mention of the dollar sign … which now, people like Oppenheimer spread liberally within their articles.
I would challenge Oppenheimer and his gang to provide on single piece of verifiable evidence for stuff like this:
"Among hundreds of other revelations, the files contain eight references to $300 million in assistance that Chavez promised FARC, as part of a long relationship that might have started when FARC gave $105,000 to Chavez when he was in prison after his 1992 coup attempt. Other documents refer to a $100,000 FARC contribution to Correa's 2006 presidential campaign."
Then he really goes off into la-la land and says, "The certification of the documents' authenticity raises many thorny questions," and proceeds to say things like:
"Will the OAS convene a general assembly under the group's 2002 Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism, which forbids member countries from giving safe haven or money to terrorist groups? And will the U.N. Security Council invoke its Resolutions 1373 and 1566 — which say the same — to condemn Chavez and Correa?"
The documents' authenticity was not confirmed by Interpol, Oppenheimer. Why does he lie to people? In fact, as I pointed out above, Interpol explicitly states that it cannot confirm the authenticity of the documents (and its sources). Why does he lie?
Anyone can now follow the Interpol link which I provide above and confirm that Oppenheimer is in fact a liar. His statements cannot be error, otherwise that would put him in a class of idiots, which I'm sure he is not.
Oppenheimer is just a dishonest and manipulative opportunist, and like so many of his ilk, ruthless, for he does not care in the least how many innocent people he negatively affects due to the potential repercussions produced by his filthy words.
Think of all the set-up lies said against Iraq, those "weapons of mass destruction" that Saddam Hussein and his "evil terrorist" lot supposedly had.
Oscar Heck
oscarheck111@yahoo.com
Las Cristinas: A more accurate version of the El Nacional article than that provisioned by Dow Jones earlier today shows certain discrepancies!
A more accurate version of the El Nacional article than that provisioned by Dow Jones earlier today shows certain discrepancies. The article in the 'Companies & Business' section of El Nacional is written by Eduardo Hendez Sanchez and is strapped 'Coordinating the protection of the Imataca Forest Reserve.' The sub-heading continues: 'The government will define the zones to be exploited by mining' while the main headline says: 'The (ministries of) Basic Industries and that of Environment will inform which areas will be permitted for open-pit mining'.
The article continues: Functionaries from the ministries of the Environment (MinAmb) and of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) have set up working groups to determine the geographical coordinates of the zones where the government will permit open-pit exploitation of minerals such as carbon (coal), gold and diamonds in the State of Bolivar, to make sure that the activity does not cause an irreversible impact on the environment.
The article continues: Functionaries from the ministries of the Environment (MinAmb) and of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) have set up working groups to determine the geographical coordinates of the zones where the government will permit open-pit exploitation of minerals such as carbon (coal), gold and diamonds in the State of Bolivar, to make sure that the activity does not cause an irreversible impact on the environment.
In the next few days they will announce the details of the areas suitable for the extraction of minerals, said a source at the Environment Ministry. It is not known if the information will be announced in a public ceremony or by means of an official decree but it is expected "soon."
- That which is clear is that for Mibam and the Ministry of Agriculture is that no exploitation activity will be permitted in the 3.5 million hectares which constitute the Imataca Forest Reserve in Bolivar State.
Concessions: In the decade of the eighties, 1.4 million hectares of Guayanese jungle were conceded to twelve projects for the exploitation of lumber, and in 19978 the government of Rafael Caldera authorized the extraction of gold in the green zone (clearings).
Environment Minister Yubiri Ortega announced two weeks ago that the Executive would not extend any more licences to exploit open-pit mining and, consulted on the situation of Crystallex said that the government had denied permission they had waited for for the last two years to exploit the gold reserves at Las Cristinas in Sofontes, Bolivar State.
Environment Minister Yubiri Ortega announced two weeks ago that the Executive would not extend any more licences to exploit open-pit mining and, consulted on the situation of Crystallex said that the government had denied permission they had waited for for the last two years to exploit the gold reserves at Las Cristinas in Sofontes, Bolivar State.
Nevertheless, two days after her declaration, a source at her ministry, who asked not to be identified, gave assurances that the measure would "not be so radical" but that the intention was that the activity of development should not affect the ecosystem.
A month ago, the government began an exhaustive revision of all the mining concessions that had been authorized by the Republic and of the projects which are waiting to begin exploitation of minerals in the country.
A PDF file of the complete El Nacional
article is downloadable at:
http://www.mediafire.com/?li0g4jgzmsn
____________________________________
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
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Still on the Drawing Board: the Banco del Sur a Half Year Later
In December 2007, presidents from seven of the thirteen South American countries met in Argentina to create the Banco del Sur, a development bank originally advocated by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez as a substitute for international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF )and the World Bank. However, as the Banco del Sur is still on the drawing board and its purpose still debated, the only relatively fixed points are the countries which have agreed to be members: the leftists Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, and the moderate left-leaning Mercosur countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The question at hand is whether the newborn Banco del Sur will be able to live up to the challenges of running a successful sub-regional development bank while still making a coherent and strong ideological statement.
Should Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez be engaged? Or isolated? Presidential candidates debated this question in Florida last week
Obama says we should meet with Hugo Chavez to work out our difference. Obama also says that Hugo Chavez should be isolated because he supports terrorist forces like FARC. Confused yet? Should Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez be engaged? Or isolated? Presidential candidates debated this question in Florida last week ... Make that a presidential candidate debated this with himself in Florida last week. Sen. Barack Obama took both positions on successive days. Mr. Obama told Walter Pacheco of the Orlando Sentinel last Thursday he’d personally meet with Mr. Chavez: “One of the obvious high priorities in my talks with President Hugo Chavez would be the fermentation of anti-American sentiment in Latin America, his support of (Marxist narco-terrorists) FARC in Colombia, and other issues he would want to talk about,” Sen. Obama said then. “It is important to understand that ignoring these countries has not led to improved behavior on their part and it has not served our national security interests.”
Almost from the beginning, Argentina's Mrs. Kirchner’s administration has been defined by conflict
Almost from the beginning, Mrs. Kirchner’s administration has been defined by conflict. Just days after she took over in December, a Miami prosecutor announced a controversial case involving a suitcase containing about 800,000 US dollars that he said was intended as a campaign contribution to Mrs. Kirchner from Venezuela’s government. The Argentine president reacted furiously, and the resulting diplomatic row strained relations with the United States."
Venezuela To Keep Blocking Mining Permits In Imataca - Report
The Environmental Ministry is upholding its decision to block mining permits in the Imataca Forest Reserve, confirming the announcement made two weeks ago by Environmental Minister Yubiri Ortega, El Nacional daily reported Tuesday. The decision affects Crystallex International Corp. (KRY) and Gold Reserves (GRA), which were attempting to dig the country's largest gold and copper mines in that region. El Nacional, which cited anonymous sources from the Environmental Ministry, also said that the Basic Industries Ministry and the Environmental Ministry established a joint commission to agree on the locations where the government will allow for open-pit mining projects in the Bolivar state. Ortega had said two weeks earlier that the 'government would not give permits to anyone for open-pit mining in gold, diamonds and coal.' Permitting mining in the Imataca region, however, will not be taken into consideration by the committee, El Nacional reported.
LATIN AMERICA - How Far Left Has Latin America Moved?
Everyone seems to agree that Latin America has moved leftward in the period after 2000. But what does this mean? If one looks at the elections throughout Latin America, parties to the left of center have won them in a large number of countries since 2000 - most notably in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and most recently Paraguay. There are of course important differences between the situations in these countries. Some of these governments seem pretty close to the center. Others talk a more revolutionary language. And there are a few exceptions - notably Colombia, Peru, and Mexico (although in Mexico, the conservative government won the last elections with about the same degree of legitimacy as Bush won the 2000 elections in the United States). The real question is not whether Latin America has moved left, but how far left has Latin America moved. There are, it seems to me, four different kinds of evidence that one could put forward to say that Latin America has moved leftward. The first is that all of these governments have in one way or another sought to distance themselves from the United States to one degree or another. The Bush administration would have preferred in all of these cases that their electoral opponents had won. In the past, when unfriendly governments came to power in Latin America, the United States tended to work to bring about their replacement, indeed their overthrow."
Emphasis on national television production: TVES is one year old
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): The changeover from private sector to state control of Channel Two happened a year ago today, when Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) shut down after more than half a century of broadcasting to make way for TVes, a new public channel.
President Hugo Chavez had declined to renew RCTV's broadcasting license. Officials said TVes would be information based and use independent national productions to nurture the television industry.
On the eve of the debut anniversary, TVes President Lil Rodriguez said Monday it started with 33 independent producers and more than doubled this to 78. They had made 229 productions and put forward 702 program proposals, she added. Any country, she said, needed television made for and by its people. "We're fighting for a television where we show what we are and how we are," she declared. However, there was a hint that a re-think might be under way at TVes. "We must incorporate more international productions, humor and reality shows," she said. The station is broadcasting more sports events.
At the time of takeover, the government's critics claimed TVes would be wall-to-wall propaganda. Some appeared to hit the button before even seeing how things turned out. Industry figures suggest TVes got off to a wobbly start, with audience share dropping into low single digits in the months after the changeover. Just how it's doing now is a matter of debate.
As to RCTV, its enforced move to cable coincided with a change in the pattern of television viewing in Venezuela. The number of cable TV subscriptions rose by 23.5 percent last year. Cable stations' audience share rose last year to 20 percent, and 23 percent last month. This may have reflected rising living standards in an expanding economy. RCTV re-invented itself as a cable station a month after it shut down. It's said to have gotten off to a strong start in a market where the biggest company was Venevisión, and to have since taken over the top slot.
President Hugo Chavez had declined to renew RCTV's broadcasting license. Officials said TVes would be information based and use independent national productions to nurture the television industry.
On the eve of the debut anniversary, TVes President Lil Rodriguez said Monday it started with 33 independent producers and more than doubled this to 78. They had made 229 productions and put forward 702 program proposals, she added. Any country, she said, needed television made for and by its people. "We're fighting for a television where we show what we are and how we are," she declared. However, there was a hint that a re-think might be under way at TVes. "We must incorporate more international productions, humor and reality shows," she said. The station is broadcasting more sports events.
At the time of takeover, the government's critics claimed TVes would be wall-to-wall propaganda. Some appeared to hit the button before even seeing how things turned out. Industry figures suggest TVes got off to a wobbly start, with audience share dropping into low single digits in the months after the changeover. Just how it's doing now is a matter of debate.
As to RCTV, its enforced move to cable coincided with a change in the pattern of television viewing in Venezuela. The number of cable TV subscriptions rose by 23.5 percent last year. Cable stations' audience share rose last year to 20 percent, and 23 percent last month. This may have reflected rising living standards in an expanding economy. RCTV re-invented itself as a cable station a month after it shut down. It's said to have gotten off to a strong start in a market where the biggest company was Venevisión, and to have since taken over the top slot.
Government digs in its heels: No price rise as producers apply more pressure
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Deputy Agriculture Minister Richard Canan said the government would guarantee beef supplies as food producers renewed pressure on the authorities to remove meat from state price controls.
Beef prices would not be increased, even if "intermediaries" such as the big refrigerated stores were pressing for higher prices, he said. He spoke during a tour to ensure that suppliers were applying controlled prices set out in the Official Gazette.
The ranchers' federation, Fedenaga, had warned that the supply situation was turning out as it had earlier warned, and could become critical because national output could barely meet 50 percent of demand, and what was needed was to lift the controls. This wouldn't lead to an exaggerated increase in prices but stability on the supply chain, Fedenaga President Genaro Mwndez claimed.
Venezuela's biggest business organization, the Federation of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Fedecámaras), joined in the fray saying that prices had to be revised and "adjusted" because Venezuela had an "inflationary economy." The correct measures to correct this had not been applied, said Fedecamaras President Jose Manuel Gonzalez. As to whether there would be five percent economic growth this year, Gonzalez said he was holding judgment. The Foreign Exchange Administration Commission (Cadivi) was still taking 100 days or more to authorize access to hard currency.
Méndez said the shortfall in domestic output of beef was being covered with imports and the people hadn't noticed growing dependence on imports as production dropped 100,000 tons in 2007. Imports then met 42 percent of demand, but now, 50 to 55 percent of the beef would be imported. However, Mendez felt this might not be possible. "There are problems with prices at international level," he claimed, echoing similar warnings sounded when powdered milk went seriously short. There was strife between farmers and the government in Argentina and difficulties in obtaining hard currency permits to import from Brazil, he said.
Beef prices would not be increased, even if "intermediaries" such as the big refrigerated stores were pressing for higher prices, he said. He spoke during a tour to ensure that suppliers were applying controlled prices set out in the Official Gazette.
The ranchers' federation, Fedenaga, had warned that the supply situation was turning out as it had earlier warned, and could become critical because national output could barely meet 50 percent of demand, and what was needed was to lift the controls. This wouldn't lead to an exaggerated increase in prices but stability on the supply chain, Fedenaga President Genaro Mwndez claimed.
Venezuela's biggest business organization, the Federation of Chambers of Industry and Commerce (Fedecámaras), joined in the fray saying that prices had to be revised and "adjusted" because Venezuela had an "inflationary economy." The correct measures to correct this had not been applied, said Fedecamaras President Jose Manuel Gonzalez. As to whether there would be five percent economic growth this year, Gonzalez said he was holding judgment. The Foreign Exchange Administration Commission (Cadivi) was still taking 100 days or more to authorize access to hard currency.
Méndez said the shortfall in domestic output of beef was being covered with imports and the people hadn't noticed growing dependence on imports as production dropped 100,000 tons in 2007. Imports then met 42 percent of demand, but now, 50 to 55 percent of the beef would be imported. However, Mendez felt this might not be possible. "There are problems with prices at international level," he claimed, echoing similar warnings sounded when powdered milk went seriously short. There was strife between farmers and the government in Argentina and difficulties in obtaining hard currency permits to import from Brazil, he said.
Comptroller General says nothing new about electoral ban ... many opposition contenders for election candidacies are pressing ahead anyway
Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Comptroller Clodosbaldo Russián said there was "nothing new" about potential candidates being barred or "inhabilitated" from standing at elections, and he claimed the Supreme Justice Tribunal (TSJ) had ruled in favor of his ban on almost 400 people who want to run for office at state or municipal level in November.
While Russían was technically correct, his critics argue that he used his powers in an unprecedented way. They say the Comptroller General's powers apply only to people with criminal convictions issued by a court of law.
The argument has yet to be settled to the satisfaction of either side, and appears to have prompted division at the National Electoral Council (CNE). One CNE director recently opined that in the absence of a definitive ruling from the TSJ, the Russián ban stood, after another had said the banned people could run after all.
Russián said his door was open to anyone who wished to see him. But given his insistence that he's in the right, signs are any of the banned candidates would get short shrift were they to take him up on the implied offer. He claimed that all of the people on his list – who include several prominent opposition contenders for nomination as candidates for the elections – had an opportunity to defend themselves when his investigations began. However, at this time, news of his ban came as a bolt from the blue for most people.
Potential candidates from the mainstream opposition have said they'll press on regardless. That said, Acción Democrática (AD) is acting awkward yet again, arguing that the circumstances mean the opposition would do better to start searching for new unity election candidates.
Unsurprisingly, this arouses suspicions in opposition circles. It's suggested that AD, whose position has slipped in recent years, is out to put forward its own people as alternatives. AD's old rivals, the Social Christians of Copei, expressed solidarity with banned candidates.
While Russían was technically correct, his critics argue that he used his powers in an unprecedented way. They say the Comptroller General's powers apply only to people with criminal convictions issued by a court of law.
The argument has yet to be settled to the satisfaction of either side, and appears to have prompted division at the National Electoral Council (CNE). One CNE director recently opined that in the absence of a definitive ruling from the TSJ, the Russián ban stood, after another had said the banned people could run after all.
Russián said his door was open to anyone who wished to see him. But given his insistence that he's in the right, signs are any of the banned candidates would get short shrift were they to take him up on the implied offer. He claimed that all of the people on his list – who include several prominent opposition contenders for nomination as candidates for the elections – had an opportunity to defend themselves when his investigations began. However, at this time, news of his ban came as a bolt from the blue for most people.
Potential candidates from the mainstream opposition have said they'll press on regardless. That said, Acción Democrática (AD) is acting awkward yet again, arguing that the circumstances mean the opposition would do better to start searching for new unity election candidates.
Unsurprisingly, this arouses suspicions in opposition circles. It's suggested that AD, whose position has slipped in recent years, is out to put forward its own people as alternatives. AD's old rivals, the Social Christians of Copei, expressed solidarity with banned candidates.
Hugo Chavez meets Venezuelan Olympic athletes
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez waves to the crowd of athletes during an event with the delegation, which will take part in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, in Caracas May 26, 2008. During the event, President Chavez announced that there will be 100 Venezuelan athletes taking part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.Argentina will sell $1.36 billion in dollar-denominated bonds maturing in 2015 to Venezuela
Argentina will sell $1.36 billion in dollar-denominated bonds maturing in 2015 to Venezuela, Argentina's official gazette reported today. The bonds have a 7 percent coupon and will be sold directly to Venezuela at market prices, the gazette said. Venezuela has bought billions of dollars in bonds from Argentina over the past few years, which it then resold to local investors to drain excess reserves from the economy and help meet demand in Venezuela for U.S. dollars.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro travels to Cuba for an official visit at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart, Felipe Perez Roque
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro travels on Tuesday to Cuba for an official visit at the invitation of his Cuban counterpart, Felipe Perez Roque. According to Granma news daily, Maduro heads the Venezuelan delegation that will participate in the 12th Meeting of the Cuba-Venezuela Mechanism of Political Consultation. This visit will contribute to the strengthening of the existing fraternal ties between the two nations and it will allow the foreign ministries of both countries to consolidate their dialogue and coordination. During his stay in Cuba, Maduro will carry out an extensive program that includes official talks with Perez Roque and meetings with other Cuban authorities.
Colombia visits Moscow to express concern about Russian arms sales to Venezuela and hold talks on buying similar weapons as a countermeasure
Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos will visit Moscow next month to express concern about Russian arms sales to Venezuela and hold talks on buying similar weapons as a countermeasure, Kommersant reported. Santos will use his 10-day visit, the first by a Colombian of his rank, to try to convince Russia to curtail arms shipments to President Hugo Chavez's Venezuela, which Colombia accuses of arming FARC rebels, the Moscow-based newspaper said, citing an interview with the vice president. Venezuela in the last three years has bought Russian fighter jets, attack helicopters and air defense systems, as well as 100,000 machineguns, some of which may have gone to the rebels, Kommersant said. Colombia is interested in acquiring fighter jets, transport helicopters, armored vehicles, air-traffic control systems and night-vision equipment, the newspaper said.
Livingstone's controversial tie up with the Venezuelan radical Hugo Chavez to provide the bus fleet with cheap oil will not be renewed
The Venezuelan oil deal is scrapped along with a mayor’s office there; those on income support will lose their discounted travel discounts. Completely 'Caracas.' Livingstone's controversial tie up with the Venezuelan radical Hugo Chavez to provide the bus fleet with cheap oil will not be renewed. The Mayor called the deal 'completely Caracas' during the election campaign, and said: 'I think many Londoners felt uncomfortable about the bus operation of one of the world's financial powerhouses being funded by the people of a country where many people live in extreme poverty.'"
Tremendous bureaucracy and new regulations in the automotive industry in Venezuela...have made business very difficult
After record sales last year, Venezuela's auto market is seeing a strong decline this year thanks to new government measures aimed at restricting imports. 'The situation in Venezuela is extremely challenging,' says Eduardo Mayoral, managing director for Chrysler Latina, which oversees the company's Latin America operations. 'The tremendous bureaucracy and new regulations in the automotive industry in Venezuela...have made business very difficult.' Chrysler's sales in Venezuela, its top market in South America, fell by 43 percent in the first four months of the year, he says."
Perceived risk is on the rise due to Venezuela’s suspected role in narcotics trafficking, relationship with Iran and alleged support of the FARC
Business between the United States and Venezuela is booming, with record highs in trade and private capital investments last year. At the same time, perceived risk is on the rise due to Venezuela’s suspected role in narcotics trafficking, relationship with Iran and alleged support of the FARC. Financial institutions can both retain their Venezuelan clients and manage risk by developing a sound compliance program that will satisfy heightened regulatory scrutiny. Venezuela was the United States’ third-largest trading partner in Latin America in 2007, with a record $50 billion in trade, just behind Brazil at $50.2 billion. Despite political tensions, total trade increased 8.6 percent, compared to only 4.6 percent in Mexico. The United States remains Venezuela’s largest oil customer, buying 65 percent of output.
Las Cristinas: MinAmb Ortega de Carrizales' decision was taken from an office, without regard for reality!
A recent announcement by Environment Minister (MinAmb) Yubiri Ortega de Carrizales that gold mines in Las Claritas and Kilometer 88 could not be exploited because they are within the Imataca Forest Reserve, has developed into an acute economic crisis, according to a warning issued by leadership, business and indigenous people in the affected area of southeastern Venezuela.In effect, the Minister's announcement paralyzes work on the Las Cristinas and Brisas del Cuyuni projects which were under construction ahead of the awaited start of mining at the respective plants. The San Isidro community alone has hoped for more than 4,000 jobs in the first phase, leading later to more than 1,500 direct jobs.
Unidad Minera del Sur directors Pablo Zambrano and Antonio Rivas have told El Diario del Guayana that the anguish of many local people is palpable; while Ydalis Jimenez, Zenaida Parra, Victor Calderon and others agree that the Minister's announcement "frustrates the expecvtations of the people" and "creates social-economic ill-will that could generate a general crisis."
Zambrano and Rivas says that the proposals to develop mining at Las Cristinas and Las Brisias del Cuyuni would not damage the environment which is already deforested. "As regards realities in the area, we should mention that there is a union of small-scale miners organized in a joint development involving industrial, small-scale and artisanal mining. This model has been applied on a voluntary basis. If the government takes this into account, major problems with small-scale mining will be obviated.
"If the Minister of Environment had taken the trouble to visit the area and investigate how people in Las Claritas and Kilometer 88 live, she would have found that these people are very much involved in gold mining."
"When she argues that mining in the Imataca must not affect the ecology , she must realize that the areas occupied by two major projects such as Las Cristinas and Brisas del Cuyuni have already been affected for more than thirty years. The start of these two projects would have no affect on anything. Any affect has already occurred and, moreover, the projects provide for the preservation of the environment. Her decision was taken from an office, without regard for reality. We must ask the minister, what will 10,000 local people do ... the only activity these people know is mining."
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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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The obvious place to invade is Venezuela: but an oil-related invasion would impose an additional requirement: to keep the environmentalists away!
The obvious place to invade is Venezuela (even if current estimates of Venezuelan and Saudi reserves are wrong and there is in reality more oil in Saudi Arabia that could be unlocked if ExxonMobil and the boys were given free rein, the Saudis are nominally our allies, so an invasion would be considered unsporting by world opinion.) Since the 1.8 trillion barrels of Venezuelan oil deposits consist largely of the Orinoco tar sands, a Venezuelan oil-related invasion would impose an additional requirement: to keep the environmentalists away in order that reserves could be exploited with maximum efficiency.For those who feel that invasion-for-oil is altogether too Bismarckian in its implications, there are other alternatives. The most effective would be to use the interest-rate weapon, reversing the damage caused by the cuts since September and ideally going a little further, to fight the resulting consumer price inflation. A series of small interest rate rises would not be effective, because it would enable speculators to adjust. (The 0.25% rate rises in 2004-06, all 17 of them, we now know were completely ineffective in quelling housing speculation as they allowed the speculating frog to bask in the gradually warming interest rate water, rather than being forced by a sudden temperature rise to jump out of the saucepan.)"
Group goes behind the headlines with Chavez
From the valley where Caracas is nestled to the looming mountaintop of Cerro El Avila, the Venezuelan altitude rises a dramatic 9,000 feet. A contrast equally sharp separates the highs and lows of Venezuelans' views of Hugo Chavez, their charismatic and controversial president. No middle ground is apparent. In five nonstop days in Caracas, an American Society of Newspaper Editors delegation heard the most compelling arguments from leaders in both camps — including a 90-minute private audience with Chavez in Miraflores, the presidential palace.
Venezuelan National Guard rebel calls for the overthrow of President Hugo Chavez Frias from 'safe haven' in Miami
Former Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel has accused rebel Venezuelan National Guard (GN) Lieutenant (ret.) Jose Colina Pulido of plotting against the constitutional government of Venezuela with the full blessing and protection of the government of the United States of America.- Colina Pulido sought asylum in the United States after forming part of a group of rebel militaries who set up a 'Rebellion HQ' at Plaza Altamira in the upscale east of Caracas following the April 2002 coup d'etat which saw President Hugo Chavez Frias briefly replaced by 'Dictator for a day' Pedro Carmona Estanga.
Without going into details, Rangel said that Colina Pulido's subversive call to rebellion is further evidence of what Venezuelan opposition groups, civil and retired military personnel, and some of the privately-owned media the rebels are conspiring to do over the next few months to disrupt November's electoral process.
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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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Johnson did the right thing when when he confirmed that he is to drop the deal to get £15m-worth of cheap oil for London buses from Venezuela
Mr Johnson did the right thing at the weekend when he confirmed that he is to drop his predecessor's deal to get £15m-worth of cheap oil for London buses from Venezuela. The benefits for Venezuela were limited - chiefly some advice from London's transport chief, Peter Hendy, which does not seem to have been followed - while the country earned less for its fuel than it should have done. In effect, Venezuela was subsidising a discount travel scheme for Londoners. But that will not be much comfort to the 250,000 people on income support who were offered cheap travel in London and who will, from August, be made to pay full fares. Nor was it brave of Mr Johnson to break the news over a bank holiday weekend.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Luis Gonzalez, Venezuelan infielder with Tokyo's Yomiuri Giants, banned for one year by Japan's professional baseball governing body for doping
Luis Gonzalez, a Venezuelan infielder with Tokyo's Yomiuri Giants, was banned Monday for one year by Japan's professional baseball governing body for doping. Gonzalez, a former US Major League player for the Colorado Rockies, has tested positive for clobenzorex, amphetamine and parahydroxyamfetamine -- all banned in Japanese baseball, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) said. 'He categorically denied taking drugs. But these substances cannot be created in vivo,' Kazuo Hasegawa, NPB chief secretary, told a news conference. 'We cannot help but assume that they have been taken from outside. We have taken the maximum possible action.'Venezuela has pulled off a partial coup of the lower weight classes of professional boxing
Since 2006, Venezuela has pulled off a partial coup of the lower weight classes of professional boxing. As of this writing, Venezuela owns two reigning world champions at the130 and 126-pound weight divisions. A third surrendered his title just one week ago to one of the best fighters on the planet and a fourth Venezuelan fighter will be vying for his second world championship at a higher weight class. Prior to this recent success Venezuela has produced a lot of good, but few great fighters. Antonio Esparragoza probably leads the pack as a WBA featherweight champion with seven title defenses bewtween 1987 and 1990. Other capable fighters like Antonio Cermeno (122 and 126), Eloy Rojas (126), Leo Gamez (105,108, and 112), and Crisanto Espana (147) also claimed WBA world title belts in the noted divisions.
Chavez is trying to redistribute the country's wealth, blunt U.S. influence and rid capitalism of what he calls its 'anti-values'
A day's drive west of the Orinoco Belt, where the largest liquid deposit of oil in the Western Hemisphere helped deliver $13.9 billion for Venezuelan social programs last year, a security guard, Efrain Rengifo, waited in line outside a grocery store run by the Venezuelan government. The line spilled out of the concrete-block store, the Super Mercal in Barinas, capital of a beef-producing region in the home state of President Hugo Chavez. Chavez is trying to redistribute the country's wealth, blunt U.S. influence and rid capitalism of what he calls its 'anti-values.' Socialism is Christ; capitalism is Judas, Chavez says. Rengifo stood with his wife in the April heat while street vendors hawked empanadas and iced cups of juice. He wore the red T-shirt of an education program set up by Chavez, who has defined socialism as 'attending to all of the needs of everyone.'
Terrorists protected by the United States denounced in Venezuela
Former Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said that notorious terrorist Luis Posada Carriles enjoys special status in Miami and has bodyguards provided by the authorities. During his weekly television program called Jose Vicente Today, Rangel said that the Cuban-born criminal freely travels around Miami and constantly participates in meetings with Cuban exile groups and other rightwing US extremists. Rangel said that Posada Carriles, who escaped from a Venezuelan jail to avoid trial for the bombing of a civilian Cuban airplane in 1976 that killed 73 persons, is always accompanied by his Venezuelan associate Francisco (Paco) Pimentel.
Venezuela threatens further steps against existing mining and logging interests held by international companies
Venezuela announced last week that it would put an end to new gold projects in the country and threatened further steps against existing mining and logging interests held by international companies. 
Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega said Venezuela will not give permits for any open-pit mines and will not allow companies to look for gold in its vast Imataca Forest Reserve. Ortega also said that the government was revising all of its mining and timber concessions. The moves follow steps taken by Venezuela in late April to stop the mining operations of several international companies at other sites in the country, including the massive gold deposit at the Las Cristinas site. The shares of affected companies fell dramatically on the news. Separately, workers last week halted operations at Venezuela's Isodora gold mine, demanding that it be nationalized. Last year, President Hugo Chavez launched a nationalization drive, starting with Venezuela's oil industry. The Venezuelan government has since targeted other key sectors of the economy, including electricity, telecom, cement and steel companies. Chavez now appears to be turning his attention to international mining and other natural resource interests.
Environment Minister Yuviri Ortega said Venezuela will not give permits for any open-pit mines and will not allow companies to look for gold in its vast Imataca Forest Reserve. Ortega also said that the government was revising all of its mining and timber concessions. The moves follow steps taken by Venezuela in late April to stop the mining operations of several international companies at other sites in the country, including the massive gold deposit at the Las Cristinas site. The shares of affected companies fell dramatically on the news. Separately, workers last week halted operations at Venezuela's Isodora gold mine, demanding that it be nationalized. Last year, President Hugo Chavez launched a nationalization drive, starting with Venezuela's oil industry. The Venezuelan government has since targeted other key sectors of the economy, including electricity, telecom, cement and steel companies. Chavez now appears to be turning his attention to international mining and other natural resource interests.
South America is thinking of creating a common currency and a central bank along the lines of those in the European Union's euro-zone
South America is thinking of creating a common currency and a central bank along the lines of those in the European Union's euro-zone, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday. The idea is a logical next step following the signing last Friday of a teaty creating a Union of South American States that aims to promote joint regional customs and defense policies, Lula said during his weekly radio broadcast. 'Many things still haven't been realized. We are now going to create a Bank of South America. We are going to move forward so in the future we'll have a single central bank, a common currency,' he said. But, he added: 'This is a process. It won't be something that happens quickly.' Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela all signed up to the UNASUR treaty creating the regional union during a ceremony in Brasilia last Friday.
Former MLB pitcher Geremi Gonzalez killed by lightning in Venezuela
Former major league pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, who won 11 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday. He was 33. Emergency management official Herman Bracho said Monday that Gonzalez was struck by lightning at a beach. Gonzalez pitched for five major league teams from 1997-2006. The right-hander appeared in 131 games with 83 starts, compiling a 30-35 record. Gonzalez also played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers. He made a combined 24 appearances for the Mets and Brewers in his final major league season in 2006.Fates of Hecla de Venezuela, Las Cristinas (Crystallex International) and Las Brisas del Cuyuni (Gold Reserve) to be handed down this week!
Quoting its own sources at the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam), local newspaper El Diario de Guayana says (in its Monday editions) that final decisions on the fates of Hecla de Venezuela, Las Cristinas (Crystallex International) and Las Brisas del Cuyuni (Gold Reserve) will be handed down this week.
The report appears to confirm central govenrment policy that, according to Venezuela's socialist model, ownership of the country's resources should remain in the hands of the state, thus avoiding transfers of ownership such as recently happened in the case of iron & steel giant Siderurgica del Orinoco (Sidor) or the transfger of Hecla's mining rights in El Callao and Sifontes municipalities to CVG-Minerven for re-assignment under operating contract to the Russian Agapov group.
As regards the Las Brisas del Cuyuni Project (Gold Reserve) close to Las Cristinas (Crystallex International) the El Diario de Guayana report claims there is a similar situation inasmuch as it was first reported that they had received environmental permits, which were then were terminated along with the granting of rights.
"The situation is generally known, although no official announcement has been made of any such decisions."
El Diario de Guayana says that according to information received, "a group of technocrats" in central government has advocate that the gold industry should be in State hands while organized small-scale mining should be allowed via collectives in a trend towards mixed development. There are radically opposing views as to how small-scale mining should be organized with some believing that mining should be structured in three main and complementary blocs: industry, small and artisanal.
The status quo today is that while Las Cristinas remains the property of the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) and therefore in State ownership, the contract to operate the mine was signed with Crystallex International Corporation and although it has not officially been announced, it appears that the Environment Ministry has refused permits to start Las Cristinas.
There is, however, the possibility of a "negotiated clarification" to be announced by President Hugo Chavez himself after two weeks of embittered wrangling between environment Minister Yubiri Ortega de Carrizales and Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz.
Even if the environment permits situation is cleared up, there is still debate over what will happen with Las Brisas del Cuyuni (Gold Reserve) ... its statis is still "up in the air" since Gold Reserve is still clinging to a claim that it has ownership of the concession, it either has to move to an operating contract or relinquish any claim it might have had on now extinct concessionary rights.
The report appears to confirm central govenrment policy that, according to Venezuela's socialist model, ownership of the country's resources should remain in the hands of the state, thus avoiding transfers of ownership such as recently happened in the case of iron & steel giant Siderurgica del Orinoco (Sidor) or the transfger of Hecla's mining rights in El Callao and Sifontes municipalities to CVG-Minerven for re-assignment under operating contract to the Russian Agapov group.
As regards the Las Brisas del Cuyuni Project (Gold Reserve) close to Las Cristinas (Crystallex International) the El Diario de Guayana report claims there is a similar situation inasmuch as it was first reported that they had received environmental permits, which were then were terminated along with the granting of rights.
"The situation is generally known, although no official announcement has been made of any such decisions."
El Diario de Guayana says that according to information received, "a group of technocrats" in central government has advocate that the gold industry should be in State hands while organized small-scale mining should be allowed via collectives in a trend towards mixed development. There are radically opposing views as to how small-scale mining should be organized with some believing that mining should be structured in three main and complementary blocs: industry, small and artisanal.
An influential group argues that there have been positive experiences from alliances between small-scale gold miners and gold industry giants ... the Agapov Group has significant investments in Sifontes and Callao and they have reached agreements on funding, technology and development of small-scale mining, and that these experiences should increase.Las Claritas miner Felipe Gonzalez is suggesting that small-scale miners in the area of Las Cristinas, with 14 million ounces of gold, should be given plots on the concession, since small-scale mining can coexist with industrial mining ... he says that the emblematic Las Cristinas area is simply waiting for the integration of small-scale and industrial mining.
The status quo today is that while Las Cristinas remains the property of the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) and therefore in State ownership, the contract to operate the mine was signed with Crystallex International Corporation and although it has not officially been announced, it appears that the Environment Ministry has refused permits to start Las Cristinas.
There is, however, the possibility of a "negotiated clarification" to be announced by President Hugo Chavez himself after two weeks of embittered wrangling between environment Minister Yubiri Ortega de Carrizales and Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz.
Even if the environment permits situation is cleared up, there is still debate over what will happen with Las Brisas del Cuyuni (Gold Reserve) ... its statis is still "up in the air" since Gold Reserve is still clinging to a claim that it has ownership of the concession, it either has to move to an operating contract or relinquish any claim it might have had on now extinct concessionary rights.
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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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Transnational mining corporations bringing in workers from outside El Callao to do jobs which cooperatives can do!
Government-backed cooperatives in El Callao are claiming that transnational mining corporations are bringing in workers from outside the area to do jobs for which their members are full trained.
Sergenepiar cooperative spokesman Julio Hernandez says that they are running out of jobs in El Callao where small businesses are not being contracted by the transnationals.
Sergenepiar cooperative spokesman Julio Hernandez says that they are running out of jobs in El Callao where small businesses are not being contracted by the transnationals.
- "We have to protect local employment opportunities; for example I have the machinery but I have to work hard to get work since these companies bring in people from Puerto Ordaz. They are throwing aside dozens of cooperatives that must now leave the community to make ends meet, to feed their families."
Conflict arose because of "irresponsible statements" by both Mibam's Rofolfo Sanz and CVG-Minerven's Luis Herrera
Out-of-work Hecla Mining employees at the El Callao Mining Company say they still do not know what will happen to their jobs after a decision to take the Idaho-USA based company into State ownership via CVG-Minerven and to re-assign gold mining rights to the Russian Agapov group. 
Union representatives say they have high expectations and ask the workers to have patience while they negotiate collective benefits contract after a long history of allegedly being underpaid and harassed by Hecla.
Basic Industries & Mining (Mibam) Minister Rodolfo Sanz, however, does not surface unscathed from the debacle since labor representatives are claiming the conflict arose because of "irresponsible statements" by both Sanz and CVG-Minerven president Luis Herrera that the decision to remove Hecla was the product of "labor problems."
In an interview with local newspaper Correo del Coroni, union spokesman Sanders Guilarte said the most worrying thing is that although the Russians will pay higher wages, the mine operation itself is rapidly exhausting the resources and the lifetime of the mine is short ... "now we must focus on achieving a good salary increase, better working conditions and stability."
Basic Industries & Mining (Mibam) Minister Rodolfo Sanz, however, does not surface unscathed from the debacle since labor representatives are claiming the conflict arose because of "irresponsible statements" by both Sanz and CVG-Minerven president Luis Herrera that the decision to remove Hecla was the product of "labor problems."
In an interview with local newspaper Correo del Coroni, union spokesman Sanders Guilarte said the most worrying thing is that although the Russians will pay higher wages, the mine operation itself is rapidly exhausting the resources and the lifetime of the mine is short ... "now we must focus on achieving a good salary increase, better working conditions and stability."
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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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Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- May 26, 2008
The death of Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) maximum leader, Manuel Marulanda has been confirmed. The Colombian government first broke the news two days ago and yesterday, the FARC issued a communique, confirming that its leader of more than 40 years had died of a heart attack. Alfonso Cano will replace Marulanda as the new leader. The communique was sent to Telesur continental TV. Marulanda started his peasant self-defense group in 1948 when Liberal Party leader, Eliecer Gaitan was assassinated. In 1953, members of the guerrilla group accepted an armistice but Pedro Antonio Marin, known as "Sureshot" for his sniping abilities, continued with the support of the Communist Party. The name of Marulanda, which he adopted, was in memory of a trade union leader murdered by the military. 1964 is down as the beginning of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia with the creation of a Southern bloc and a program proclaiming agrarian reform. Marulanda took part in peace negotiations with Belisario Betancur in the 80s, which ended after paramilitaries killed more than 3,000 members of the Patriotic Union (UP) the political wing of the guerrilla movement. Another peace initiative with President Andres Pastrana at the end of the 90s also came to nothing after the Colombian Government broke off talks because of the FARC policy of holding hostages.
The new leader, Alfonso Cano comes from the ranks of the Communist Youth movement in the 70s and was responsible in the 80s for setting up the Patriotic Union but after the assassination of many UP members, Cano joined the military wing in the northeastern part of Colombia that borders with Panama. Since 2002 he has been responsible for setting up the Bolivarian Movement of the New Colombia and has taken part in peace negotiations.
The Colombian government says that it will continue bombardments against all members of the FARC secretariat and its forces throughout Colombia. Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos has stated that his country's security policy will continue the same or even more intensely in the belief that the FARC is on the run. A Centre for International Policy analyst suggests three scenarios for the FARC: disintegration to which he assigns a 25% probability of the group disintegrating after losing its maximum leader. Greater cohesion and increased military action (35%) and partial fragmentation (40%). The authors says it will be interesting to see whether the new leader, who is thought to be more political, will take steps to improve the group's image among poorer Colombians but warns that he may have a power struggle with hardliners.
President Chavez says the US spying mission reactivated via the Fourth Fleet will not stop countries from pursuing their own destiny. During an interview in Brasilia where he attended the foundation of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) summit, the President accuses the US of acts of espionage and provocation. The presence of the Fourth Fleet, Chavez comments, is undoubtedly an attempt to dissuade countries but it will fail because they are using the old Cold War practice of threatening to dissuade ... "we will not be dissuaded."
Julio Chavez, currently Mayor of Torres municipality in Lara's State, has been accepted as a pre-candidate to the State Governorship. The rectification on the part of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) leadership comes several days after continued protests. President Chavez is said to have intervened as PSUV president, clarifying the confusion. The protest started after Chavez' name did not appear on the list of candidates to the State Governorship but did appear as candidate to Torres municipality. Protesters have been complaining that there was clear preferences for the candidacy of current Iribarren Mayor, Henry Falcon. Elections will take place over the weekend on June 1.
President Chavez has announced a total 42 energy projects, costing more than $9 billion aimed at guaranteeing access to electricity on the part of all the Venezuelans and increase national capacity 38.3%. Chavez made the announcement during a visit to inspect work on the third development of the Fabricio Ojeda hydro-electrical plant in Merida. Work is expected to be completed in 2009 producing 257 MW. According to reports, the development has been paralyzed from more than 20 years.
During a visit to Merida, President Chavez has sworn in members of the newly created National Electricity Corporation. Hipolito Izquierdo has been appointed president of the corporation that groups more than 10 companies that generate, transmit and distribute electricity throughout Venezuela. The other members of the board are: Jesus Rangel, Khaled Ortiz, Anibal Rosas, Luis Castillo, Javier Alvarado, William Contreras and Hector Navarro.
CANTV Telecom president and Telecommunications Minister, Socorro Hernandez reports that there are around 133 cooperatives in the company. Contracts have been signed with 33, while 20 are in the process, 53 will shortly be up and running and 21 in the initial stages ... the tally released leaves 6 cooperatives unaccounted for. The statement was made during the anniversary of CANTV's first year as a socialist productive company. The cooperatives belong to the supplies sector mostly. Hernandez adds a profit of one million (Bs.F) bolivares, an increase of patrimony in Bs.F 500 million and taxes payments of more than one billion bolivares.
Former London Mayor Ken Livingstone has criticized Boris Johnson for announcing an end to the Caracas-London deal on a bank holiday and without consulting organizations that represent thousands of carers, single parents and others who would be affected. Livingstone says the announcement was done in a "cowardly" fashion and shows that the new Mayor is more interested in pursuing a "right-wing ideological agenda than improving the living standards of the most deprived people in the capital." Furthermore, he complains, Johnson has not proposed any alternative way to provide cheaper travel to Londoners. There has been no official response from Venezuela, even though Venezuelan Ambassador, Samuel Moncada has commented in public he had aspirations that the deal would be renewed when it expires in August. Johnson has also cancelled Livingstone's plan to send a London bus to Beijing for the Olympics costing £450,000, calling it a "gimmick" and "ludicrous waste of public money."
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick@vheadline.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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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Venezuela IS committed to supply one million barrels per day to India
Venezuela, with the largest oil reserve in the world, and a prospective production of six million barrels per day, has already committed to supply one million barrels per day to India. Other similar offers can be explored. Revive the proposal of forming a buyers’ cartel with major oil importing countries such as the US, Japan, Germany, China, India, France, South Korea and so on. The buyers’ cartel could negotiate a price with the oil exporting countries at a markup of, say, 50 per cent above costs, as against 500 per cent at present. After purchasing oil from the producing countries, the buyers’ cartel could release the oil in the market and let demand determine the price.
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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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Chavez opponents demand return of Venezuelan TV station
Opponents of President Hugo Chavez are marching to demand the return of an opposition-sided television station that was booted off public airwaves this week last year. Many are still upset by Chavez's decision not to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television, or RCTV, which had been critical of his government. Chavez replaced the network with a state-run channel that regularly transmits pro-government propaganda. RCTV now only airs on cable.
Chris Herz: The same bumf we have heard so often about "the awful authoritarian dictator Hugo Chavez Frias"
VHeadline's Washington D.C. based commentaris Chris Herz writes: Democratic presidential contender Barak Obama spoke this last week in Miami before the Cuba-American National Foundation. His remarks were the same old stock baloney about Cuba and the same bumf we have heard so often about "the awful authoritarian dictator Hugo Chavez Frias."
The only thing remotely new is a statement about being ready to open high level discussions with both the island and with Venezuela.
But this policy was that of the Great Republic of Roosevelt. That nation is dead these many years, replaced by the present evil empire in a process begun by Nixon and now completed by Bush II. What is now the US side simply are unable to even imagine treating the other nations of the Americas as full and equal sovereign partners.
As yet, no one anywhere within the US policy establishment is prepared to sacrifice influence and possibly even career by the suggestion that not only have the USA never had the slightest legal right to force others into the empire, but this empire may now lack the military, subversive and financial power to compel the obedience to which it has become accustomed.
I do not think the USA possesses now the ability to mount even the sort of proxy wars that Reagan and Bush I were able to wage in Central America in the 1980's. Still less a massive Iraq-style invasion against either the island or the Venezuelan nations. We might be still able to conquer another Granada or Haiti ... but perhaps not even another Panama.
Iraq and Afghanistan are well understood by all concerned to be a deadly drain on imperial resources. But hardly less lethal are the burdens imposed by a lack of social responsiblily within the USA on the part of the ruling elites. This results in the massive invasion of the USA by international drug cartels operating as do other mercantile cartels, in cahoots with banks, shipping and other financial and industrial elements.
We are having now to spend major portions of state and local budgets on cops and jails ... and then the new Department of Homeland Security with its new emphasis upon the criminalization of illegal migration are adding to this burden.
Plus DHS are so massively involved in other activities -- right down to snooping on emails and phone calls -- that an enormous new and unproductive world-wide bureaucracy and its corporate profiteers has sprung up. At vast expense.
This homeland policing is from the standpoint of our elites absolutely vital. I have myself heard many working people who only eight years ago obeyed without question the TV pundits and the corrupt preachers of the Protestant Church and cast their ballots for George W. Bush say now the only thing to save our nation is revolution!
Another disaster, one of even greater magnitude, is the out-sourcing of industrial production to the overseas branches of US corporations. Even were the entire remaining industrial production of the USA to be exported this could correct only 17 or 18% of the trade imbalance!
Many people in the media and blogosphere comment on the absence of a mass movement against the Bush wars. To them it seems astonishing that millions could demonstrate against war before March, 2003 when the issue was in doubt. But now when clearly the USA have experienced at least tactical defeat, all the former peace marchers stay at home.
Our people are no stupider than any other -- as Lincoln said you can fool them all some of the time, and you can fool some all of the time, but you cannot fool them all forever. And about 80% of our people now state that our nation is on the wrong path; of these most understand (although the polling companies dare not state the obvious question) the present state system is only able to offer more war, more jails. Marches and voting will not change it.
As Emma Goldman famously said: "If elections could change anything, they would be illegal." Here is Obama's real problem, not whether or no he will invite Hugo Chavez Frias to Washington.
I have no magic crystal ball. I can see the future no better than anyone else. I can predict however that the USA would love to invade and conquer Venezuela -- but that by reason of financial and social disarray will be unable to do so.
I do not think they even have enough financial power to ensure separatism in Santa Cruz Province in Bolivia or in Zulia Province in Venezuela: So long as South America remains determined not to allow it.
From the imperial capital
Chris Herz
cdherz44@yahoo.com
The only thing remotely new is a statement about being ready to open high level discussions with both the island and with Venezuela.
But of course such discussions have been on-going for years through the embassies of the USA and of Venezuela and the Cuban interest sections of the Swiss Embassy in the respective capitals of Caracas Habana and Washington.What really has to change must change in Washington first: A new commitment to the Good Neighbor Policy first enunciated by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A commitment to abandon forever armed or subversive intervention in the affairs of the other nations of this hemisphere.
But this policy was that of the Great Republic of Roosevelt. That nation is dead these many years, replaced by the present evil empire in a process begun by Nixon and now completed by Bush II. What is now the US side simply are unable to even imagine treating the other nations of the Americas as full and equal sovereign partners.
As yet, no one anywhere within the US policy establishment is prepared to sacrifice influence and possibly even career by the suggestion that not only have the USA never had the slightest legal right to force others into the empire, but this empire may now lack the military, subversive and financial power to compel the obedience to which it has become accustomed.
I do not think the USA possesses now the ability to mount even the sort of proxy wars that Reagan and Bush I were able to wage in Central America in the 1980's. Still less a massive Iraq-style invasion against either the island or the Venezuelan nations. We might be still able to conquer another Granada or Haiti ... but perhaps not even another Panama.
Iraq and Afghanistan are well understood by all concerned to be a deadly drain on imperial resources. But hardly less lethal are the burdens imposed by a lack of social responsiblily within the USA on the part of the ruling elites. This results in the massive invasion of the USA by international drug cartels operating as do other mercantile cartels, in cahoots with banks, shipping and other financial and industrial elements.
We are having now to spend major portions of state and local budgets on cops and jails ... and then the new Department of Homeland Security with its new emphasis upon the criminalization of illegal migration are adding to this burden.
Plus DHS are so massively involved in other activities -- right down to snooping on emails and phone calls -- that an enormous new and unproductive world-wide bureaucracy and its corporate profiteers has sprung up. At vast expense.
This homeland policing is from the standpoint of our elites absolutely vital. I have myself heard many working people who only eight years ago obeyed without question the TV pundits and the corrupt preachers of the Protestant Church and cast their ballots for George W. Bush say now the only thing to save our nation is revolution!
Another disaster, one of even greater magnitude, is the out-sourcing of industrial production to the overseas branches of US corporations. Even were the entire remaining industrial production of the USA to be exported this could correct only 17 or 18% of the trade imbalance!
Many people in the media and blogosphere comment on the absence of a mass movement against the Bush wars. To them it seems astonishing that millions could demonstrate against war before March, 2003 when the issue was in doubt. But now when clearly the USA have experienced at least tactical defeat, all the former peace marchers stay at home.
Our people are no stupider than any other -- as Lincoln said you can fool them all some of the time, and you can fool some all of the time, but you cannot fool them all forever. And about 80% of our people now state that our nation is on the wrong path; of these most understand (although the polling companies dare not state the obvious question) the present state system is only able to offer more war, more jails. Marches and voting will not change it.
As Emma Goldman famously said: "If elections could change anything, they would be illegal." Here is Obama's real problem, not whether or no he will invite Hugo Chavez Frias to Washington.
I have no magic crystal ball. I can see the future no better than anyone else. I can predict however that the USA would love to invade and conquer Venezuela -- but that by reason of financial and social disarray will be unable to do so.
I do not think they even have enough financial power to ensure separatism in Santa Cruz Province in Bolivia or in Zulia Province in Venezuela: So long as South America remains determined not to allow it.
From the imperial capital
Chris Herz
cdherz44@yahoo.com
Breakaway Ministry of Mines to devolve from current Ministry of Basic Industries & Mining (Mibam)
Following an in-depth background briefing, VHeadline Venezuela can today reveal that, after heated discussions lasting more than two weeks, the National Assembly (AN) Permanent Commission on Mining is forwarding a recommendation to President Hugo Chavez Frias to immediately institute a breakaway Ministry of Mines devolving from the current Ministry of Basic Industries & Mining (Mibam).Earlier in the Chavez administration the issue of mining had come under the tutelage of the Ministry of Energy & Mines (MEM) which was itself broken into the current Ministry of Energy & Oil and Mibam.
According to sources in the AN commission, the new Ministry of Mines will have comprehensive responsibility under the new Mining Law when it comes into force and will gather together all institutional responsibilities for the country's mining sector including devolved supervision of contracting, revenues, engineering, exploration, labor and other regulatory requirements including step-by-step issuance of all relevant permits.
It is unofficially understood that current Mibam Minister, Rodolfo Sanz will take the key portfolio, while Luis Herrera Mendoza is slated to take over the executive role at Mibam (or MBI - Ministry of Basic Industries) which will include supervisory control of the country's giant steel mills, aluminum production etc.A key feature of the new Mining Ministry is aimed at having comprehensive control of all aspects of Venezuela's mining industry to eliminate inter-ministerial confusions such as the recent "differences" between Mibam's Rodolfo Sanz and MinAmb's Yuribi Ortega de Carrizales. The latter had caused widespread confusion in a throwaway statement that she will not allow open-pit mining in the Imataca Rainforest region but Mibam's Sanz says already established workings in southern Bolivar State are not covered by her unofficial edict but rather that there is general agreement that the Imataca should not be opened up for further exploration and/or exploitation.
____________________________________
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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Mayor Boris Johnson will not renew an oil deal with Venezuela which provides cheap fuel for London's buses once the agreement ends
London's new Mayor Boris Johnson will not renew an oil deal with Venezuela which provides cheap fuel for London's buses once the agreement ends later this year. The mayor of London said half-price bus and tram fares for 250,000 Londoners on income support, which was also funded by the deal, would still be honoured. Mr Johnson said he thought many Londoners were uncomfortable with how the scheme was funded.Former mayor Ken Livingstone signed the deal at City Hall in February. In return, a team of officials from the Greater London Authority agreed to work in Venezuela advising on recycling, waste management, traffic and on reducing carbon emissions.
Mr Johnson said: 'I think many Londoners felt uncomfortable about the bus operation of one of the world's financial powerhouses being funded by the people of a country where many people live in extreme poverty. 'I simply think there are better ways of benefiting Londoners and better ways of benefiting Venezuelans.' He added: We will continue to offer the half-priced travel concession to Londoners on income support for the duration for which the deal was originally planned, and will continue to improve the capital's transport system and ensure that it is accessible and able to meet the needs of all those who rely on it.' The current deal is due to conclude on 20 August. Mr Johnson also said the office set up in Caracas to oversee the deal would be closed, saving an estimated £67,000 per year in running and staff costs.
Why the negative comments on Chavez by Stabroek News?
I read your recent article on 5th Latin American summit in Peru and cursorily scanned its contents for the now obligatory negative comments on Chavez and rather sadly you did not disappoint. There right at the end of a fairly balanced article was a reference to his “comedic talents” – you just could not help yourself! What is the basis for these simplistic personal attacks on what I can assure you is probably one of the most popular leaders in the world for daring to have the ‘cojones’ to challenge the arrogance and, yes, stupidity of the representatives of the most powerful nation in the world. He stood up to ‘el abusador’ (the world’s bully) and the majority of the powerless applauded. Have you forgotten the brief coup that attempted to topple the democratically elected Chavez government in Venezuela and its support by the USA and even Britain? I mention this because you appear to pay scant attention to these historical facts. As an experienced journalist and political commentator you are surely not so naive to assume that the USA/CIA did not have a role in this whole sordid business and with regard to the recent invasion of Ecuador by its Colombian ‘placeman’ in Latin America, Uribe, your editorial on that particular matter clearly hinted at justification for infringing the sovereignty of ‘others.’ One is left with the impression that your hostility is perhaps ideological, for in this sense it corresponds quite well with the ‘selective humanity’ of ‘the empire’!
No limit to oil price rise: Chavez
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said the world economy must grow accustomed to the high price of oil - currently above $130 a barrel - because there’s “no limit” to how high it can go, EFE news agency reported Sunday. “We can’t talk about limits. We could’ve talked about limits when Venezuela proposed that price band (with a floor of $22 a barrel and a ceiling of $28), which was working well until the war in Iraq pulverized it,” Chavez told Efe here. “There’s no limit now,” said the Venezuelan leader, whose country boasts the largest crude reserves in the Western Hemisphere.
Chavez: US architect of Iran-Iraq war
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says the United States 'planned, financed, and executed' the 1980-1988 war between Iran and Iraq. 'They produced the Iran-Iraq war. The United States empire planned, financed and executed that war,' said the outspoken president.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Colombian Guerrilla Leader Is Reported Dead
Colombia’s defense minister revealed Saturday that officials were trying to corroborate an intelligence report claiming that Manuel Marulanda, the supreme leader of Colombia’s largest rebel group, died of natural causes in March. If confirmed, the death of Mr. Marulanda, believed to be 76, would be a severe blow for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, a Marxist-inspired insurgency that has been waging a guerrilla war to overthrow Colombia’s government for more than four decades.
Venezuela calls Colombia's defense minister a 'liar'
Venezuela says Colombia lied about the results of a meeting to determine whether Colombian troops illegally entered Venezuelan territory last week. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro says the Colombian defense minister lied in a statement, but did not elaborate in a telephone interview Saturday with Venezuelan state television. On Tuesday, Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos issued a statement saying the incursion never happened. Venezuela says Colombian troops were intercepted in Venezuela last Saturday, just hundreds of yards (meters) from the shared border. Bilateral tensions have run high since Colombia produced computer files suggesting Venezuela may have financed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
Venezuelan twist in Israeli spy-satellite services contract corruption scandal!
Israel's corruption scandal took another bizarre twist yesterday when police said they suspected that a Long Island millionaire expected to deliver crucial testimony in court next week got Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to help him sell spy satellites in South America. Olmert was interrogated for the second time after telling his inner circle he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to remain in office. Police suspect him of receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars during his tenure as Israel's trade minister from Morris Talansky, a Woodmere, LI, businessman, in return for favors. Sources said investigators were looking into charges that Olmert asked an Israeli diplomat in Venezuela to help Imagesat, in which Talansky is a major investor, sell its spy-satellite services to Hugo Chavez's government. The $18 million deal never went through because of Israeli concerns that the technology would pass from Venezuela to Iran.
Venezuela: 'This is crazy but I'm not complaining,' says Morales. 'Gasoline here is cheaper than water.'
Global oil prices zoomed up to $135 a barrel this past week. But that doesn't worry Roberto Morales, a 33-year-old Venezuelan businessman. Morales, who drives a compact Volkswagen Gol, still pays only $1.32 to fill up his car with 11 gallons of high-octane gasoline, thanks to Venezuela's subsidized fuel price. 'This is crazy but I'm not complaining,' says Morales. 'Gasoline here is cheaper than water.'
He's not exaggerating. Gasoline prices in Venezuela are the cheapest in the world—1/15 the price of a liter of bottled water, and 1/25 the price of a liter of milk. Since 1998, Venezuela has kept the price of gas fixed at 0.097 strong bolivars a liter, or about U.S. 3¢ (lower octane is 0.070 strong bolivars). That means that consumers pay about 12¢ a gallon, or 1/33 of what their U.S. counterparts pay.
He's not exaggerating. Gasoline prices in Venezuela are the cheapest in the world—1/15 the price of a liter of bottled water, and 1/25 the price of a liter of milk. Since 1998, Venezuela has kept the price of gas fixed at 0.097 strong bolivars a liter, or about U.S. 3¢ (lower octane is 0.070 strong bolivars). That means that consumers pay about 12¢ a gallon, or 1/33 of what their U.S. counterparts pay.
HR Film Fest Review: Now the People Have Awoken
Set during the December 2006 elections, the film mainly presents the views of Chavez supporters, such as Noam Chomsky and Eva Golinger, with just a few comments from opposing groups. The main message of the movie is that life has improved considerably for the poor since Chavez came to power, with more equal access to education and health, and community-owned enterprises that benefit the lower classes. Factory workers in the documentary, who had been unemployed before Chavez, now cooperatively own a shoe factory. In the film, one man said his daughter needed a $12,000 operation and because of Chavez he was able to send her to Cuba under the reciprocal Venezuela-Cuba health agreement. Other interviewees said they had been able to get an education for the first time.
WOOPS! United States wants to nationalize U.S. oil industries .. Shell: It's a movie we've seen before called 'Hugo Chavez and Venezuela!'
Venezuela's National Executive is aware of what has happened with regard to Canadian gold miner Crystallex International at Las Cristinas
According to an article in today's edition of Nueva Prensa de Guayana, National Assembly (AN) deputy Adel El Zabayar says that the National Executive is aware of what has happened with regard to Canadian gold miner Crystallex International at Las Cristinas and claims that in the short term it is "appropriate to terminate the contract" on claims that it is "injurious to the interests" of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
El Zabayar, who is a member of the AN Standing Committee on Energy & Mines ... and in the middle of a PSUV primary for election as candidate to governorship of the State of Bolivar ... says that the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) was aimed at eradicating the root causes of all problems relating to the mining sector but the complexity of the situation at Mibam has left the minister (Rodolfo Sanz) incapable of dealing with issues in a timely manner.
El Zabayar says he wantgs to see the creation of a specific Ministry of Mines to "generate an adequate and effective mineral policy, which rules the entire mining industry, including exploration, exploitation and concessions, throughout the national territory" ... he insists that a new Ministry of Mines should thoroughly review what he describes as "the erratic performance of transnational mining corporations in our territory."
El Zabayar claims that Crystallex International is "committing a fraud against the nation with the placement of shares on the Vancouver Stock Exchange." He alleges that Crystallex has invested an average of US$5 million in the Vancouver exchange and that this represents "an evasion of funds that do not stay in Venezuela." He says the case is known to the National Executive and it is expected that in the short term it is "appropriate to terminate the contract which is injurious to the interests of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela."
El Zabayar argues that the government must work thoroughly with the case of transnational mining companies and cautions that they are introducing "a number of criminal methods in conspiracy with the judiciary."
El Zabayar, who is a member of the AN Standing Committee on Energy & Mines ... and in the middle of a PSUV primary for election as candidate to governorship of the State of Bolivar ... says that the Ministry of Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) was aimed at eradicating the root causes of all problems relating to the mining sector but the complexity of the situation at Mibam has left the minister (Rodolfo Sanz) incapable of dealing with issues in a timely manner.El Zabayar says he wantgs to see the creation of a specific Ministry of Mines to "generate an adequate and effective mineral policy, which rules the entire mining industry, including exploration, exploitation and concessions, throughout the national territory" ... he insists that a new Ministry of Mines should thoroughly review what he describes as "the erratic performance of transnational mining corporations in our territory."
El Zabayar claims that Crystallex International is "committing a fraud against the nation with the placement of shares on the Vancouver Stock Exchange." He alleges that Crystallex has invested an average of US$5 million in the Vancouver exchange and that this represents "an evasion of funds that do not stay in Venezuela." He says the case is known to the National Executive and it is expected that in the short term it is "appropriate to terminate the contract which is injurious to the interests of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela."
El Zabayar argues that the government must work thoroughly with the case of transnational mining companies and cautions that they are introducing "a number of criminal methods in conspiracy with the judiciary."
- "In this regard, I repeat, we must create (a separate) Ministry of Mines where the Venezuelan State, exercising their sovereignty, take absolute and exclusive control of mining throughout Venezuela," El Zabayar who is calling on the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) to combat these 'judicial mafias' which are perpetuating a 'society of complicity' which we have fought from the trenches of the Bolivarian revolution."
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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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Hecla 'abandons' El Callao: Mibam Minister Rodolfo Sanz to re-assign rights to Russia's Agapov/Russoro
Local newspaper Correo del Caroni is reporting that out-of-work gold miners, who have thrown up barricades across the Venezuela-Brazil interstate highway at El Callao, are expecting moves this weekend by Basic Industries & Mines (Mibam) Minister Rodolfo Sanz and Labor Ministry officials to resolve the debacle which is focused on the intervention Couer d'Alene (USA) Hecla mining rights.
Hecla has been taken over by CVG-Minerven and, according to local officials in El Callao, it is expected that the mining rights will be re-assigned to the Russian Agapov's Russoro.
Mining union representatives are, however, somewhat hesitant about the transition and are demanding guarantees from CVG-Minerven president Luis Herrera and Mibam's Sanz before signing-off on any deal.
While Labor Ministry officials are conducting a comprehensive audit and review of conditions at Hecla, begun Thursday, the company continues to maintain that it has not violated any human rights and has always acted within the law. Ministry officials will also review conditions at Hecla's La Camorra mine where there is a similar dispute over unpaid wages and benefits under the Labour Act.
Correo del Caroni sources at the Basic Industries & Mining Ministry (Mibam) say it is the end of the road in Venezuela for since Hecla has refused to re-engage three employees fired for having filed complaints to Minister Rodolfo Sanz that they had been forced to strip naked.
Subsequently Hecla is considered to have abandoned any claims it may have had to remain in Venezuela and this is also offered as an explanation as to why Sanz has chosen to re-assign the mining rights to the Agapov company rather than go the full hog of state intervention and subsequent transition delays.
____________________________________
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
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Friday, May 23, 2008
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has conveyed his desire to strengthen and diversify bilateral relations with India
Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has conveyed his desire to strengthen and diversify bilateral relations with India, a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson said on Friday. This was conveyed in a meeting between Chavez and MoS for External Affairs Anand Sharma during the latter’s three-day visit to Venezuela from May 18 to 20. “The two nations discussed the exploration in Carbobo 1 and Junin Norte oilfields, which received a positive response. India has also invited Venezuela to invest in greenfield refinery projects in partnership with Oil PSUs in an integrated petrochemical complex. Chavez has confirmed his country’s desire to develop a durable and multi-faceted partnership, especially in the fields of energy, science & technology, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals, including generics,” an official statement said. The next India-Venezuela Joint Commission meeting will be held in New Delhi later this year."