The Mercury News

Venezuela's state oil company said it dismissed about 900 more employees, raising the total to more than 18,000 since an oil strike began four months ago.

Those let go worked in all of Petroleos de Venezuela's units, a spokesman said. The firings occur two weeks after Energy and Mines Minister Rafael Ramirez said that dismissals were slowing. Petroleos de Venezuela had 33,000 employees before the strike began Dec. 2.

Labor unions, business leaders and former oil executives organized the national work stoppage to pressure President Hugo Chavez to step down and hold elections.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 03, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

President Hugo Chavez Frias is set to meet his Colombian counterpart Alvaro Uribe on April 23 in the Venezuelan town of San Cristobal, according to a statement from the Colombian Foreign Ministry.

During the meeting the two leaders will discuss border security and in particular the activities of Colombian guerilla groups in the area.

Colombian officials have complained that Venezuela is not doing enough to prevent these groups from setting up bases in Venezuela, but efforts to prevent this appear to have been stepped up recently with Venezuela's army being called into action several times over the past few weeks.

Also tabled for discussion will be bilateral trade issues, which have become more worrying since the two month long opposition work stoppage and the seven week old foreign currency trading suspensions.

Colombian exports to Venezuela have fallen significantly over the past few months due to the Venezuelan economic and political crisis.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 03, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Officials from the US State Department's Office for International Energy, Matthew McManus and Pedro Gustavo Erviti have held discussions with Venezuelan Minister Counselor of Energy Affairs Fadi Kabboul and embassy Energy Affairs Attache Ramon Key to enquire about the current situation of Venezuela's petroleum industry ... in particular its ability to export gasoline.

The two Venezuelans officials presented a detailed analysis of the current state of play at Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and its production levels of 2.95 million barrels per day, as well as the company's restructuring plans, which they said would bring it for flexibility and make it more competitive than it currently is.

The US energy officials were told that Venezuela is currently exporting 843,000 barrels of crude per day to the US, along with 247,000 barrels of associated products.  As for gasoline, the Venezuelans said they would provide the State Department with their export forecasts over the coming few days.

TCPalm.com By Ike Crumpler staff writer April 3, 2003

Well before he ever heard a drill instructor yell, Stuart resident Eugenio Caceres exhibited the sprit of the Marine Corps motto sempre fi. His "always faithful" attitude was evident in his eager determination to serve.

"He graduated (from high school) on a Thursday night and he left for the Marines in the morning," says his mother, Livia. "He said he didn't want to lose the momentum."

A 2002 graduate of South Fork High School, Lance Cpl. Eugenio Caceres grew up in Stuart after his family immigrated from Venezuela in 1987. Now the 19-year-old is in the infantry in Iraq, fighting with the 2nd Division.

An avid follower of history who also loves to dance, he has two brothers, Samuel, 16, and Israel, 14. Though he stands over 6 feet tall, he's known as "Little Eugenio" to family. His father's name is Eugenio as well.

The Caceres practice a timeless Venezuelan ritual. Children -- regardless of age -- request a blessing or benediction from their parents each time they greet and before exchanging good-byes. Livia Caceres bestowed the honor on her son -- when he called from half a world away, two days before the invasion.

"He said, 'Mom, would you bless me? We are being given the ammunition and we are going in. Would please pray for me? 'Cause this is different,' " she recalls. "That was the last time I heard from him."

The Marine Corps made all the difference in transforming Eugenio Caceres from an aimless teen to an admirable man, his mother says.

"We'd say, 'Pick up your room'; 'Pick up your shoes'; 'Do your homework,'" she says. "Now he's the one who keeps us in shape."

Recognizing how rudderless he was, Eugenio Caceres knew the military would provide his life with a strong foundation. Even more, he saw an opportunity to express his gratitude to America for allowing him a better life. His mother is certain that realization is the result of the principles he was taught in his youth taking root.

"When we first came to this country, we always tried to instill in him good values, the ones that respect the American people," she says. "He chose the Marines, that's what we've been standing for all these years. He has seen the way this country has blessed us. That is why he joined the Marines, as an act of love. Many love by birth. We love by choice."

Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 3:25 PM

Como saben estando desde aqui vemos con mucha atencion lo que nos ocurre en Venezuela, y recibimos muchas notas en donde nos preguntan como estamos, que hacemos, etc, y la necesidad de indicarles que estamos haciendo por estos lares. En este sentido, les anexo una segunda cronica de lo que estamos haciendo. Seguimos en contacto y NI UN PASO ATRAS.

JUAN FERNANDEZ

Miami, 02-04-2003

Crónicas de un Viaje II

Estimados todos;

Como continuación a nuestra primera nota, de Crónicas de un Viaje, les vuelvo a escribir para contarles que estamos haciendo, como nos sentimos, y las perspectivas de solución vistas desde la distancia. Espero con el favor de Dios todos se encuentren bien, a pesar de las grandes dificultades.

En primer lugar, estamos efectuando reuniones con grupos de opinión, medios de comunicación y naturalmente con venezolanos. Por otro lado, estamos estableciendo contacto para sostener reuniones con congregantes de la Florida. Todo con el propósito de llevarles de una manera mas directa nuestro mensaje, que como saben tienen dos fases, la primera la salida constitucional y la segunda de reconstrucción y crecimiento para tener la Venezuela Siglo XXI, una Venezuela de futuro para todos.

Ahora bien, en estos días puedo caminar por las calles libremente; sin embargo, siento un peso, una angustia, por la falta de Justicia, falta de Democracia, la cual sigue presente en Venezuela. Siempre tengo la pregunta de si es preferible estar preso sin garantía del funcionamiento de la justicia o estar en la lucha por todos los medios posibles. Por otro lado, la incertidumbre me pone todo el tiempo a pensar como podemos garantizarnos la solución política para la salida de este gobierno; es indispensable contar con fecha cierta del referéndum, sus recursos, y su transparencia. Por lo tanto, insisto en la necesidad de concentrarnos en esta primera fase, ya que de ella depende todo lo demás, el futuro del país.

Algunas ideas que nos pueden ayudar son las siguientes; es importante, construir la visión compartida de país, esto llevara a la unidad necesaria para pensar en el país y no en la individualidad. Luego, todos los mecanismos que permitan a los ciudadanos, ejercer su derecho, el deber del voto, y su actuación como defensores del referéndum revocatorio. No dejar de ultimo, prepararnos para el escenario en el cual el gobierno no permite el ejercicio de este derecho. Todo lo anterior, implica que solo los ciudadanos somos los responsables de construir nuestro destino. Debemos organizarnos, debemos exigir. Es decir, no esperar que alguien haga algo por nosotros sino nosotros hacer sin esperar.

En estos días, he venido pensando con mucho detenimiento sobre la situación de los venezolanos y de mis compañeros petroleros. Llegue al convencimiento, que la respuesta para tener la industria petrolera exitosa generadora de valor, con sentido de pertenencia por parte de los verdaderos accionistas, los venezolanos, es tener una solución política, en la cual haya también la participación de los petroleros. Pues primero somos venezolanos y luego trabajadores. Se que en estos días se están haciendo muchos análisis entre nosotros para definir la mejor forma de actuar. En mi caso en particular, para continuar siendo un aporte a la solución, con un grupo de compañeros hemos decidido ampliar nuestro campo de acción, para tener aun mayor presencia en el país, y nosotros mismos ser generadores activos de soluciones y cambios. En estos momentos estamos trabajando, analizando la forma mas efectiva, eficiente, para alcanzar los logros y objetivos con éxito, tal como siempre hemos actuado, les informaremos, les consultaremos, con la transparencia y honestidad que nos caracteriza.

Continuaremos dando charlas en el estado de la Florida sobre la presentación “ Mirando a través de una Ventana”. Este nombre se debe a la ventana de mi oficina en la Campiña, con vista al cerro el Ávila, donde reflexione debíamos hacer algo y me llevo a la conclusión que Venezuela es una ventana de oportunidades.

Saludos a todos, Juan Fernández