VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:
The Industrial Bank of Venezuela (BIV) has granted micro-credits worth (Bs.F) 402,498 bolivares to 88 inhabitants of Tachira State. BIV branch president, Willian Garrido Tovar was present to hand out grants, which will be used to develop economic activities, "guaranteeing a better standard of living but with a Socialist attitude," which should benefit the community. Beneficiaries will pay within a three-year period at a fixed 15% interest rate.
The Agricultural Bank of Venezuela (BAV) and Socialist Agrarian Development Fund (Fondas) handed out credits worth (Bs.F) 2.9 billion bolivares to agricultural producers in 2008. Agriculture & Lands (MAT) Deputy Minister for Agricultural Economy and president of the BAV, Richard Canan says 50,000 credits were delivered last year to help producers of strategic crops to guarantee food sovereignty. Canan argues that the government has been supporting small producers, excluded from the traditional system of financing. The BAV closed 2008 with more than 10,200 credits worth more than (Bs.F) 1.4 billion bolivares, which resulted in a harvest of more than 56,000 tons of rice, maize and sorghum.
Three persons have been remanded in custody for alleged corruption against the government's Mission Habitat Foundation. Antonio Marin, Daniel Sanchez and David Maciera were arrested by Police Detective Branch (CICPC) agents when they tried to withdraw (Bs.F) 620 million bolivares from the bank as advance payment for construction work on 7,000 housing solutions in Carabobo State. Officials at the bank were alerted by the rubber stamping and false signatures.
President Chavez has ordered the Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister Tarek El Aissami to break up student demonstrations aimed at blocking the streets. Tear gas can be used, Chavez insists, and the leaders of the protests should be arrested. President Chavez made a statement in Carabobo during a ceremony swearing in the National Women's Front for the constitutional amendment.
Opposition Metropolitan Mayor, Antonio Ledezma has announced his intention to set up a a metropolitan coordination office for justice and peace. The declaration was made during the first metropolitan meeting with communities of Caracas that took place in Chaciato's Plaza Brion. Ledezma says the citizens of Caracas can choose the person who will head the new organization.
Caracas Metropolitan Council member, Alejandro Vivas has condemned an attack against the Metropolitan Palace in Caracas by armed groups on Saturday evening. According to a communique, armed groups entered the headquarters of the Metropolitan executive, breaking down doors and armed with weapons. Vivas calls on the competent authorities to open an investigation immediately and on fellow councilors belonging to the government bench to speak out on the matter and condemn such acts of vandalism.
President Chavez has sent a new and clear message to the President-elect of the United States, Barack Obama insisting that Venezuela will no longer be a US colony. Speaking in Caracas to the heads of United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) logistic and operational electoral patrols, Chavez calls for the defeat of the national bourgeoisie, who want him out after receiving lines of action from the new president of the USA. Nobody should have any illusions about Barack Obama, Chavez proclaims, stating that Venezuela is determined to be free and to go through with national independence. Commenting on the recent situation in Venezuela, Chavez told followers that the enemy is seeking to destabilize the government and bring Venezuela once more to the abyss so that the bourgeoisie, full of hatred, can launch a greater persecution. Chavez has also criticized the performance of the opposition state governors in Miranda and Tachira, who he accuses of boycotting government plans and programs.
The Venezuelan Agrarian Corporation (CVA) cereal and vegetable oil division has set in motion a cereal and rice conditioning factory in Agua Blanca (Portuguesa). The president of the plant, Monica Hung says it consists of three phases: conditioning and drying cereals, threshing rice and packaging. At the moment, the plant can store 5,400 tonnes of goods and there are 13 persons on the payroll for the time being with another 30 workers to be chosen by local communal councils. The unit is expected to deal with 5,000 producers who have been financed by the government.
President Chavez has slammed National Elections Council (CNE) board member, Vicente Diaz for holding an individual press conference and declaring the constitutional amendment unconstitutional. The President accuses Diaz off acting as an opposition supporter by holding the press conference after the CNE launched the official referendum campaign. Chavez says only the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) constitutional chamber can decide whether the amendment is unconstitutional.
Executive Vice President Ramon Carrizalez, who has been keeping a low profile for quite a long period, confirms that the government will not allow student groups to violate the rights of other citizens by denying them free transit on the streets and public places. While the government guarantees the right to to meetings and protests, Carrizalez argues, that it must be done within the framework of the law and the government will respond to those who break the law.
Metropolitan Mayor, Antonio Ledezma accuses the government of starting a campaign of violence and sabotage against his administration to stop him from making public irregularities under the administration of former pro-government mayor, Juan Barreto. Making a comparison to the constitutional amendment proposal language, Ledezma quips that the government wants to undertake a plan of "indefinite" violence. A report on irregularities and acts of violence since November 23, the Mayor reveals, will be sent to diplomatic representatives accredited in Venezuela. In the report the delayed handing over of the Mayor's Office and theft of treasury will figure.
Mayor Ledezma also accuses the former administration of irregular financial dealings in the case of handing out almost (Bs.F) 70 million bolivares to set up an Internet platform to a company, which received the money without doing any work on the project. There is also the case of mini fire engines worth (Bs.F) 2.8 million bolivares, which allegedly were never received and Bs.F 2.2 million bolivares for radio communications equipment and accessories that were never delivered.
In his TV talk-show, former Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel reveals that apart from Venezuelan opposition leaders and the owner of TV news station, Globovision, Alberto Federico Ravell, politicians belonging to the Chilean Christian Socialist party turned up for the infamous "Puerto Rico Pact" meeting, along with publicity agents of the Chilean La Tercera tabloid. Rangel suggests that Panama is being used to launch a plan against Venezuela by US intelligence and military. The international airport at Tucume, he claims, is being fitted with a separate terminal and hangers for spy planes, while the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is setting up an intelligence center near the airport to spy on Venezuela's defense system. Rangel contends that some opposition sectors will be concentrating their efforts on creating a financial encirclement against the government, political destabilization by promoting social conflicts and finally, intense intelligence and counterintelligence activity monitored from abroad.
Venezuela has made a commitment to send Brazil monthly cargoes of around 250,000 barrels of natural gasoline from March 1 to February 28, 2011. The agreement was reached during a visit to Venezuela by Brazilian President Lula da Silva on Friday. The two presidents agreed to 13 legal instruments to promote greater solidarity and cooperation between the two countries in the fields of energy, agriculture and industry.
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE) youngsters only 1% of youngsters reached the voting age of 18 in December. From August 25 through December 5, 2008 16,767 new voters enrolled in the electoral register. According to the opposition, 400,000 people would register, if the electoral register were re-opened. The INE refutes opposition figures. The National Electoral Council (CNE) decided to go ahead with the referendum for a constitutional amendment on February 15, using the electoral register as closed December 15.
Journalist Orel Sambrano was gunned down on Friday last and there is a strong belief that it had to do with his investigation into narco-trafficking, in which the Makled family is said to be implicated. The Makled brothers were arrested on November 14 in the possession of 400 kg of cocaine after security forces raided a family farm. Sambrano was vice president of the Radio America station, an editorial writer for the regional newspaper, Notitarde, a lawyer by profession and professor at the Carabobo University. The journalist was shot and killed by two gunmen riding a motorbike after leaving his vehicle on Friday evening .
Columnist Luis Felipe Colina accuses former Finance minister, Nelson Merentes of receiving $400 million from commissions related to structured notes. According to the journalist, Merentes helped a well-known director of an editorial group connected to the government. Colina ventures that President Chavez is aware of the case and that is the reason why Merentes is being kept at arm's length. There have been rumors that Merentes had been slotted for the post of president of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV).
There was no Sunday radio address by President Chavez yesterday. Communication & Information (Minci) Minister, Jesse Chacon has announced that the radio show has been suspended until after the constitutional referendum on February 15.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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