<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Catholic Education Association (AVEC) has issued a communique, pointing out that the government owes 46.5 million bolivares, the total of March, April and May. The delay could affect the education of 400,000 children in 760 institutions.

AVEC admits that the government has cleared up a backlog of payments but complains that payments have become irregular causing problems among teachers and parents. The organization also recognizes the State's difficult financial situation, warning that some schools are barely surviving because of delayed government subsidies but also because many parents cannot pay the small monthly quota ... "many are unemployed or earn very little."

The press release also accuses the government of harassing and closing in on many schools, which AVEC says is unjust and causes more stress to families.

Meanwhile, State school teachers are threatening another march to demand salary increases and the setting up of a collective bargaining process, which expired in May 2002. Fetramagisterio president, Nelson Gonzalez has fixed a national march for June 12 ... "we have exhausted all other means and will not allow the Education Minister to continue delaying wage talks." 

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Ambassador to Colombia, Carlos Rodolfo Santiago has confirmed that Venezuelan businessmen will receive dollars within 15 days from the government foreign exchange administration committee (Cadivi) to pay their Colombian creditors, "if they are registered, of course ... the dollars are ready ... the problem is that only 10% of businessmen that have debts have enrolled and presented all the necessary requisites. 

According to newspaper reports, Venezuelans owe $300 million to their Colombian counterparts and Santiago says some companies such as Colombia's main airline consortium Alianza Summa, consisting of Avianca, Aces and Sam have been exonerated in part. "Even though Avianca does not have representation in Venezuela, Cadivi has authorized dollars." 

The Ambassador has also denied charges from the anti-government Venezuelan-Colombian Chamber of Commerce that the government is refusing dollars to political opponents.

"The government is giving Venezuelan importers dollars to reactivate trade with Colombia, which took a 70% dive as a result of the December-January national stoppage ... $10 million has been set aside for importers ... it's small, but will gradually increase."

The Venezuelan government's decision to attend the debt problem was taken during a meeting between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe in Puerto Ordaz last month.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Miranda State 4th Control Judge has ordered the preventive arrest of Passport & Identification (Oni-Dex) official, Gladys Palacios Pinango and middleman Ilario Noguera Aponte for alleged trafficking of Chinese nationals.  

According to State Prosecutor David Palis, Miranda Police officers seized a pile of Chinese passports stamped with Oni-Dex seals and Oni-Dex director's signature, legalizing them to remain in Venezuela with transit papers and ID cards. 

• This is the first time that officials have been arrested for illegal transactions, even though it is an open secret that Chinese and Arabs pay high sums to legalize their situation. 

In fact,  even for Venezuelan citizens renewing ID cards or obtaining a Venezuelan passport, the process has become a "Chinese torture" in itself, unless you have money to spare.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Speaking in Panama in preparation for the Miss Universe contest on June 3, Miss Venezuela Mariangel Ruiz denies that her last minute decision to take part in the pageant was a publicity stunt and says Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso did not pay a penny to get her to Panama. 

"Gustavo Cisneros, who is a Miss Venezuela contest sponsor put up the money after the Panamanian President insisted that Venezuela's participation at the event was very important ... Cisneros made a loan from Venevision, which also belongs to him and that is how I'm here." 

Mr. Cisneros created a minor stir last month in Venezuela when his organization announced that there wasn't enough cash to take Miss Venezuela to Panama, referring to the political situation and the government's exchange rate freeze as influencing the decision. 

Miss Venezuela (1.76 height) dismisses charges that Mr. Cisneros was playing politics. Her own family, Ruiz says, does not oppose President Hugo Chavez Frias although it is "critical and feels bad about what is happening in Venezuela."