Venezuela Analysis: News Briefs

Venezuelan McDonald’s Closed Two Days for Tax Irregularities in

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:13:53 -0430

October 10, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuela's tax and customs enforcement office, SENIAT, forced a 48-hour closure of all 115 McDonald's restaurants in the country on Thursday as a punishment for tax irregularities.

The McDonald's restaurants, which are operated by three separate franchises in Venezuela, Alimentos Nasif, Alimentos Arcos Dorados, and Compañía Operativa de Alimentos, will be allowed to open again on Saturday at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela Creates New Holiday to Commemorate Community Medicine School

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:46:00 -0430

October 10, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez created a National Day of Integral Communitarian Medicine this Wednesday.

Chávez created the commemorative day, which is on October 8, during a ceremony for the third anniversary of Venezuela's Integral Communitarian Medicine School, which is also the 41st anniversary of the murder of Latin American revolutionary leader and doctor Che Guevara.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuelan Bonds Lose Value, Inflation Remains High Amidst World Financial Crisis

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:30:29 -0430

October 10, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuelan bonds dropped in value Wednesday. A prominent Venezuelan bond, the Global 27, sunk to 59.5% of its value, lower than it had dropped during the recession caused by the coup against Chávez in April 2002, when the bond sunk to 69.6% of its value.

Amidst a worldwide credit freeze triggered by the collapse of the two largest mortgage firms in the United States last month, the drop in bond values will make it more difficult for Venezuela, the world's fifth largest oil exporter, to obtain loans.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela Aims to Convert 969 Vehicles to Natural Gas This Year

Daniel Cancel - Bloomberg — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:21:38 -0430

Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the country's state-oil company, aims to convert 969 gasoline- burning vehicles to run on natural gas by the end of the year helped by a new conversion center.

The company opened its first conversion facility in the central state of Lara today as part of a plan to install dual fuel tanks in new cars, Venezuela's Information Ministry said today.
By Daniel Cancel - Bloomberg

Venezuela Supports 2,275 Bolivian Projects

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:58:30 -0430

Venezuela is supporting the implementation of 2,275 projects in Bolivia through the program "Bolivia changes, Evo achieves" with a contribution of US$214 million.

The Bolivian chancellor, David Choquehuanca said that such economic support is subject to social control. It is also part of an agreement of cooperation around areas of social development signed by the two countries in January 2006.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela Acts in Solidarity with the Cuban Five

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:56:09 -0430

Mérida, October 1, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- A range of Venezuelan authorities and organizations expressed their solidarity with the campaign to free the Cuban 5 yesterday and over previous days, as the term served by the prisoners reached 10 years.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

U.S. President Bush Meets with Venezuelan Opposition

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:00:32 -0430

Mérida, September 24, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- On Tuesday U.S. President George Bush met with opposition leaders from Venezuela and other "dissidents" from Cuba, Russia, China, North Korea, Burma and other countries, in New York, according to a White House statement.

In the meeting Bush and his wife gave a dinner and discussed "advancing the agenda of freedom and protection of rights and dignity" said White House spokes woman, Emily Lawrimore.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

President Chavez Arrives in Cuba for an Interchange of Ideas

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:39:08 -0430

Mérida, September 22, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Sunday night Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez arrived in Havana, Cuba, to meet with Cuban President Raul Castro and Cuban revolutionary leader and ex-president, Fidel Castro, for a brief discussion and analysis around the world political situation.

Chavez said the conversation served to increase the interchange of ideas with the revolutionary leader.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

United Socialist Party of Venezuela Raises Over US$500,000

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:36:05 -0430

Mérida, September 22, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)- This past Saturday the United Socialist Party of Venezuela's (PSUV) raised over half a million dollars in its "One day's wage for the Revolution" fundraising campaign for the upcoming regional and municipal elections that are to take place November 23.

The day was going to be last Saturday, however, it was postponed by a week in order to prioritise mobilizations in support of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez after the revelation of a coup plan.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela Assists Hurricane Affected Countries

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:30:37 -0430

Mérida, September 1, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- On Sunday Hugo Chavez announced that the Venezuelan government would send water and food to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and also offered help to Cuba since Hurricane Gustav passed through these countries.

The announcement was made during transmission of Chavez’s weekly Sunday talk program, Alo Presidente number 319.

In Cuba, hundreds of thousands have mobilised to help with hurricane recovery. Food supplies have been badly affected, and many areas were flooded. No lives were lost, though.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Former London Mayor to Advise Venezuelan Mayors

BBC — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:41:15 -0430

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone is to work as a consultant for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Mr Livingstone, who has long been a supporter of Mr Chavez, will advise pro-government mayors in the capital Caracas on urban planning.

He said he was "proud and honoured" to be part of the city's transformation.

As mayor, Mr Livingstone struck a deal to swap cheap Venezuelan oil for city planning advice, but it was cancelled by his successor Boris Johnson.

By BBC

Katrina Survivors Seek Venezuela's Support

AP — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:32:16 -0430

CARACAS-- Some survivors of Hurricane Katrina say they aren't getting enough attention from the Bush administration, so they're turning to Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez for help.

Ishmael Muhammad of the New Orleans Survivor Council has visited Venezuela three times to seek funding and forge ties. He says the group hopes to raise $45,000 for a center to house 50 people as they rebuild their homes.

He says the community knows the Venezuelan government "could use it for political propaganda, but they're OK with that."

By AP

Poll Says Food Shortages Less of a Problem, Strong Support for Chávez

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:07:40 -0430

Mérida, August 27, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- A national survey carried out between August 2nd and 13th by the Venezuelan Data Analysis Institute (IVAD) shows that only 9% of Venezuelans think food shortages are still a “grave problem,” while 22.1% consider food shortages to be one of the three principal problems in the country.

Food shortages peaked in the first months of 2008, when polls showed 58% of the Venezuelan population considered them a problem.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuelan Opposition Leader “Ignored” at Democratic Convention

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:03:42 -0430

Mérida, August 27, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- At the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, on Monday, Venezuelan opposition leader Manuel Rosales was “ignored” when he criticized the candidate disqualifications who have been accused of corruption. Rosales met with a team of advisers to Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela’s “Tree Mission” Reforests 1,235 Acres in Central State

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:55:17 -0430

Mérida, August 27, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuela’s national tree planting program known as the “Tree Mission” has reforested 500 hectares (1,235 acres) in the state of Aragua, according to a statement released by the Environment Ministry.

The state level ministry director, Carmen Cannata, reported that during two large-scale tree planting operations last year, 290,000 trees of a variety of species were planted on river banks, in national parks, and other deforested areas across the state, which is on Venezuela’s central coast.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Unemployment in Venezuela Drops to 7.2% in July

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:04:51 -0430

August 16, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Unemployment in Venezuela dropped from 8.8% in July 2007 to 7.2% in July 2008, the National Statistics Institute (INE) announced Thursday.

According to an official statement by the INE, the number of employed people increased by 378,491 persons between July 2007 and July 2008, while the number of unemployed persons decreased by 193,425 during that time.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Over 4,000 Candidates Registered for Venezuela’s November 23 Regional Elections

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 15:40:29 -0430

August 15, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- The date for the registration of candidates for Venezuela’s November 23 state and regional elections passed on Thursday.

The final date for registration was Tuesday but candidates were given 2 extra days, with today to complete any requirements that they were lacking.

Over 4,000 candidates registered to compete in the 22 state governments of Venezuela, in which there are 602 positions, including 233 legislative council members, 328 mayors and 23 governors.
By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

$2.4 Billion in Spending Increases for Venezuelan Public Housing and Universities

Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:30:00 -0430

August 14, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- The Venezuelan government approved US$1.1 billion in funding for universities, institutes, and university colleges, as part of the Bolivarian government’s increased support of the superior education system and another US$1.3 billion for public housing.

Tuesday, Chavez announced that a week ago it that his government decided to deliver 14 additional credits to the technology university colleges, which will be used for the hiring of teachers for the national programs of formation and information laboratories.
By Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela and Argentina Give Priority to Technical Training in Bilateral Agreements

Presidential Press — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:43:34 -0430

The governments of Venezuela and Argentina endorsed four training and agricultural agreements during President Hugo Chávez’s visit to Argentina.

The first is an integral cooperation agreement signed by the Venezuelan Light Industries and Trade Ministry and the Argentinean National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI, Spanish acronym) according to which the latter will provide advice, training, technical assistance and specialized service to Venezuela’s Autonomous Service of Normalization , Quality and Technical Regulations.
By Presidential Press

Another View of Chavez's Venezuela

Sean Janssen - Union Democrat — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 09:43:45 -0430

A Jackson, CA man has helped create a documentary about alternative media that presents a different view of Venezuela under controversial leader Hugo Chavez than the one many have seen.

By Sean Janssen - Union Democrat

Venezuela Launches New Child Care Program

Xinhua — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:55:56 -0430

CARACAS, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced the launch of a new child care social program designed to assist children in situations of risk or separation from their families.

Chavez announced the three-step social program at a ceremony here to mark the annual National Day for Children and Teenagers, observed on the third Sunday of July.

For the first nine-month step, Chavez has approved a budget of over 122 million U.S. dollars.

By Xinhua

Brazil, Venezuela to Lend Bolivia US$530 Million for Cross-Continent Road

AP — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:38:30 -0430

RIBERALTA, Bolivia-- Brazil and Venezuela are promising US$530 million in low-interest loans for Bolivia to complete a highway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Brazil is pledging a 20-year, US$230 million loan to pave 315 miles (510 kilometers) of roadway, while Venezuela is promising US$300 million for the rest.

Presidents from all three countries inked the deal Friday in rural Bolivia.

By AP

Ecuador, Venezuela Build Oil Refinery on Pacific

AFP — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:28:59 -0430

EL AROMO, Ecuador - Venezuela and Ecuador plan to build the biggest oil refinery on South America's Pacific Coast, to wean Venezuelan crude away from US refineries, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced here Tuesday.

"Instead of having refineries in the United States, we decided to keep them here in our geopolitical context," Chavez said as he launched the project together with Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa.
By AFP

Murder Rate Down 27%, Drug Confiscations Up 9% in Venezuela

ABN/Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:31:48 -0430

July 8, 2008 (ABN/venezuelanalysis.com)—Venezuela’s murder rate dropped 27% in the first half of 2008, relative to the same period of the previous year, said Venezuela’s Minister for the Interior and Justice, Ramón Rodriguez Chacín yesterday. Meanwhile, the amount of smuggled drugs that were confiscated in this same period rose by 9%, from 26.3 tons to 28.7 tons.
By ABN/Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuelan Priests Open Pro-Chavez Church

Christopher Toothaker - AP — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:10:04 -0430

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A fledgling church that openly backs President Hugo Chavez is raising the ire of Venezuela's Roman Catholic hierarchy, preaching the Gospel alongside socialism.

Founders of the newly created Reformist Catholic Church of Venezuela, based in the western city of Ciudad Ojeda, say that supporting Chavez's socialist ideals goes hand-in-hand with Christian aims of helping the poor.

By Christopher Toothaker - AP

U.S. embassy in Venezuela says receives bomb threat

Reuters — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:54:20 -0430

CARACAS - The United States Embassy in Venezuela received a bomb threat on Thursday, an embassy spokeswoman said, though the embassy has only closed the parking lot and not the embassy itself.

"Someone called in (a bomb threat) and said there was something in the parking lot. We are just checking the cars that are there," spokeswoman Robin Holzhauer said.

"People have not been able to come into that parking lot, but the embassy itself is open," she said.
By Reuters

Police capture man suspected of killing journalist in Venezuela

AP — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:48:27 -0430

CARACAS, Venezuela: Police in Venezuela have arrested a man suspected of killing a television anchorman.

Federal Police Chief Marcos Chavez says 24-year-old Isaac Oberto Mollera Zarraga was collared Thursday with the help of a sketch circulated in the media.

Anchorman Javier Garcia was found slain in his apartment last week, his body riddled with stab wounds. Garcia worked for Radio Caracas Television which has been critical of the government.

Authorities have not given a motive for the killing.
By AP

Chavez Candidate Leads Caracas Mayor Race, Poll Says

Daniel Cancel - Bloomberg — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:30:21 -0430

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's candidate for mayor of Caracas, Aristobulo Isturiz, is the front-runner ahead of the November election, according to the first poll of city voters.

Isturiz, a former education minister who now hosts a show on state television, had the backing of 39 percent in the June 6-19 poll by Caracas-based Hinterlaces. Leopoldo Lopez, a Harvard-educated opposition leader who met with Barack Obama on June 21 in Miami, trailed with 30.1 percent.
By Daniel Cancel - Bloomberg

Chávez and Paraguayan President-Elect Fernando Lugo Discuss Economic Relations

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:20:17 -0430

Mérida, June 20, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- The President-elect of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, made his first diplomatic visit to Venezuela Wednesday and Thursday. Lugo and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez attended a Catholic mass in the Caracas barrio Curicuao, and discussed future bilateral relations.

“I hope the friendship between Venezuela and Paraguay may be a symbol of brotherhood and solidarity within Latin America,” said Lugo, a retired Catholic Bishop, upon arriving in Caracas.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

Chávez and Castro Discuss Food Crisis and Energy Strategy in Havana

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:25:39 -0430

June 18, 2008 (venezuelanalysis.com)-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez met with former Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba on Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

“With Fidel we conversed for almost three hours yesterday, and today almost two more hours, walking through the garden. Today we reviewed our entire plan for energy exchanges and the strengthening of refining capacity and petroleum and petro-chemical production,” Chávez told the press Tuesday.
By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com