<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Transparency International has listed Venezuela as the fourth most corrupt country in Latin America. 

Speaking at a seminar entitled, "Power and Corruption: How to Fight it," Transparency representative, Silke Pfeiffer gives Venezuela a 2.8/10 rating, just a bit higher than rivals: Paraguay, Ecuador and Haiti. 

"The rating has not changed much since 1999 when it was 2.6 ... it is impossible to implement national development programs without first attacking the problem of corruption ... the international banks know that." 

British Ambassador John Hughes, Inter American Development Bank (IADB) representative in Venezuela, Roman Mayorga were among those attending the seminar.

Higher Business Studies Institute (IESA) professor Rogelio Perez Perdomo says the government is paying money to support armed groups ready to move into action at any moment ... "these payments are necessarily irregular and if the government is using State funds, then it is embezzlement." Perez Perdomo adds that if business sectors are funding costs, then it's in return for government contracts.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

President Chavez Frias has handed over land deeds and agricultural credits to more than 400 peasants in the border State of Apure.

The media has picked up on the President's cue from Pope John Paul II  that private property over land  is not sacred. "If land is left idle and unproductive, others should have the right to produce on it."

Launching another idea during the visit to Apure, Chavez Frias hints that lands could be handed over to military garrisons to grow food for soldiers.

The President says he wants to hand over 1.5 million hectares of land and land deeds to peasants this year. It is part of his policy to depend less and less on imports and to create a different attitude towards the land.

Speaking to peasants, Chavez Frias announced the creation of food wholesale micro-businesses to include a new economic sector into the provincial economy and his Zamora Agricultural Plan.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Labor Minister Maria Cristina Iglesias has visited the International Labor Organization (ILO) HQ in Geneva to defend the Venezuelan government's handling of the December-January national stoppage. 

Iglesias has told the ILO Administrative Council that Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras)  and Venezuelan Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV)  leaderships organized a "financial coup against the Venezuela government, which was aborted by massive support from workers and the People."

Calling the national stoppage a "lockout," Ms. Iglesias refuted accusations that the government is persecuting Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA)  workers and employees. 

• CTV general secretary, Manuel Cova was in Geneva last week to defend CTV president, Carlos Ortega, Fedecamaras president Carlos Fernandez and top PDVSA executives. 

Oil Workers Federation (Fedepetrol) president, Rafael Rosales accompanied the Minister and spoke at a specially convened conference on Venezuela at Geneva University.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The National Assembly (AN) Economic and Financial Consultancy Office puts losses caused by the December-February national stoppage at $7.3 billion said to be 7.6% of GDP.

Loss in the oil sector for production stoppage and short term crude and products sales is estimated at $2.8 billion aggravated by investment in gasoline imports covering 1% GDP making an all round impact of $3.7 billion or 3.8% of GDP 2002.

The Office estimates that in the non-oil sector, the negative economic impact was $3.6 billion or 3.8% of GDP 2002. The manufacturing sector was hardest hit followed by services and real estate.

• Taxes from oil and non-oil sectors dropped 1.6% GDP which converts to a fall equivalent to 9.3% of total 2002 contributions.

This year the Office forecasts $84 billion GDP which is 15% less than in 2002.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, March 30, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Quinto Dia columnist Miguel Salazar says he is struck by the government's blessing of the recall referendum and has learned that younger military officers are not so happy either. 

"I think calling a general election would have been much better because in a general election the President would not be forced to burn bridges as he has by approving the recall referendum." 

If Chavez Frias loses, he has to go, period. 

If he wins, he may be tempted to accelerate the process which would not be convenient for Venezuela.

Salazar argues that general elections would clear the air and oxygenate the democratic system everyone wants to preserve. 

If Chavez Frias wins a general election, it could prepare the way for the necessary change as regards a correct strategy in tune with reality ... if he loses,  the power struggle will continue but attuned to democratic conscience. 

"Winning or losing a general election, it will push aside a political figure that is currently looming behind the recall referendum and what Salalzar describes as a Creole version of Anthony Quinn, namely a 'taita,' somebody like Rafael Caldera ... he has his imitators and would-be "national saviors" ... then, there is Carlos Andres Perez laying in wait in Santo Domingo.