VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:
The battle for the hearts and minds of Caracas citizens has kicked off after the New Year with Libertador Mayor, Jorge Rodriguez boasting that 96% of the garbage left on the streets during the vacation period has been collected with the help of contractors and community organizations. The Mayor says he will reinforce the recovery of open spaces, such as Catia and Cementerio boulevards that have been overrun by informal traders complete with stalls.
Metropolitan Mayor, Antonio Ledezma, on the other hand, is concentrating on improving traditional hospital services. The Mayor accuses President Chavez of ruining the capital's health system by introducing an inefficient centralized system. Ledezma visited the Perez de Leon Children's Hospital in Caracas on January 1, stating it was "terrifying" what he saw. The Mayor's wife, Tiki, accompanied him to "help critical patients," as the news item puts it and she accuses the government of wanting to take the Maternity Hospital away from the control of the Metropolitan Mayor simply to create conflicts between the different government bodies.
The new director of the Police Detective Branch (CICPC), Wilmer Flores Troesel proclaims that crime increased 40% in December in the Petare district and other Miranda State municipalities. There were 31 homicides in Petare between December 24 and January 2. Flores Troesel calls on Miranda State Governor and mayors to continue the policies of the outgoing governor, Diosdado Cabello claiming that under the latter's leadership the crime rate had fallen. The current state governorship is in the hands of the opposition and the outgoing governor was pro-government.
Since the Police Detective Branch (CICPC) director's negative assessment of the Christmas vacation crime rate in Petare, The Interior & Justice (MIJ) Ministry has activated a special security plan in the Caracas Sucre municipality, which belongs to the opposition and of which Petare is a district. 400 police officers as well as National Guard officers have been assigned to beef up current police patrols. Interior & Justice (MIJ) Ministry national police coordination director, Edgar Barrientos declares that the measure will be continuous and other measures will be taken in the second week of January to implement preventive mechanisms and to seek closer connection with communities in Petare.
According to a report in Maracaibo broadsheet, Panorama, the oil sector is responsible for 92.9% of Venezuela's total exports, while the export of aluminum has dropped more than 15%. The figures come from the Central Bank of Venezuela's (BCV) annual report published on December 29. Non-oil exports experienced a light increase of 5.8% to end the year in $6.9 billion. The USA continues as the top destination but oil exports to that country have dropped 10% to 1.53 million bpd. Caribbean countries, with whom Venezuela has signed several energy cooperation agreements, remain in second place, while Asia has replaced Europe in the third place for the first time. Income from oil represents 47.1% of the Gross Domestic Produce and is the highest since 1970.
According to Communication & Information (Minci) Minister, Jesse Chacon, citizens' view of the National Government improved considerably during 2008. Despite a counter campaign on the part of mass media, the Minister points out, the government believes that people are positive regarding the situation of the country. President Chavez' acceptance rate in 2008 reached 69.2%, the Minister states, commenting on a survey undertaken by Felix Sejias. 47.4% of people believe that 2009 will be better economically, while 27.7% believe it will be worse. The Minister says Venezuela is one of the few countries that has been least hit by the international economic crisis, even though he does admit that Venezuela will be affected because it belongs to a globalized world.
Commenting on the curb in foreign currency for people traveling abroad, Minci Minister Jesse Chacon says the measure is necessary at a time of international economic crisis and somewhat cynically adds that it will favor domestic tourism. Every country is saving, the Minister insists, and the question for the government is whether to save dollars used by travelers or save flour, rice and the possibility of purchasing meat, food and medicines. The top priority, Chacon declares, is to save resources needed for industrial development, food security and health. The Minister wagers that there will be an increase of Venezuelan tourists visiting beaches, Merida and the Gran Sabana during the Carnival and Easter vacations. These tourists, he maintains, will be important for the national economy and will allow the government to reduce the income of dollars for oil exports.
Referring to the abuse currently in vogue regarding preferential dollar quotas, the Minister contends that places such as Cucuta (Columbia), Curacao and Aruba have benefited from Venezuelan dollars, adding that charter flights have been arranged for people to travel to those destinations to use up their dollar quotas with little benefit for the Venezuelan economy.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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