This week in Venezuelan news...
Hi readers,
This week the Venezuelan government carried out a number of nationalisations, including of gas and steel plants, and taking temporary control of Cargill pasta plant. President Chavez also talked with Argentina and then El Salvador about increasing bi-national cooperation. Meanwhile the ‘debate' between national ministers and private TV station Globovision continued and Caracas University students marched against government intervention in the right wing station and against a 6% university spending cut. Check out the summary below or visit the website for more details.
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com.
Best wishes,
Tamara, for the venezuelanalysis team
Venezuela Nationalizes Gas Plant and Steel Companies, Pledges Worker Control
This week the Venezuelan government nationalized a gas compression plant in the eastern state of Monagas and five prominent steel and iron briquette companies as part of its two year-old national development plan to integrate the country's strategic industries under state control. President Hugo Chávez said the nationalized companies should gradually be placed under worker control.
Venezuela Captures Top Colombian Drug Trafficker
The Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela has captured Wilmer Guerrero, one of the 20 Colombian drug cartel bosses most sought after by Colombian police. It has also closed down six drug laboratories.
Ex-President of Industrial Bank of Venezuela Arrested for Corruption
On Tuesday, Venezuelan authorities arrested the former president of the Industrial Bank of Venezuela (BIV), Luis Quiaro, on charges of embezzlement.
Venezuela Completes 22 Trimesters of Consecutive Economic Growth
Venezuela's GDP grew by 0.3% in the first trimester of this year, bringing the number of consecutive trimesters of economic growth in Venezuela to twenty-two, according to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV).
University Administrators and Students March, Debate Budget with Venezuelan Education Ministry
A group of Venezuelan university students and administrators, opposition political party officials, and employees of the opposition television station Globovision marched to the Higher Education Ministry on Wednesday to protest the government's 6% cut in university budgets as part of an overall government spending reduction amidst the world economic crisis.
Venezuela's Chavez and El Salvador's Funes Discuss Cooperation
Mauricio Funes, the president-elect of El Salvador, made a formal visit to Venezuela to meet with President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday. In a meeting that lasted more than five hours, the two leaders discussed deepening cooperation between the two countries, especially regarding oil.
Venezuela and Argentina Increase Cooperation in Gas, Agriculture, and Finance
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner met in Buenos Aires last Friday to increase the cooperation between the two countries in gas production, agricultural production, and regional finance.
Venezuelan Government Takes Temporary Control of Cargill Pasta Plant
On Friday, the Venezuelan government took temporary control of a pasta factory owned by the U.S. company Cargill and located in Vargas state. The vice minister for food, Rafael Coronado, said the government will run the factory for 90 days, and make a new decision in the meantime on how to proceed.
British Parliamentary Reception Marks 10 Years of Chavez
Government Minister praises Venezuela's anti-poverty measures and calls for closer co-operation.
