Opposition hardliner spells out government misuse of prison reform funding

www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Opposition hardliner, former Patria Para Todo leader, Carlos Nieto, who now heads the Ventana por la Libertad NGO, has challenged the government’s record on prison reform.

Arguing that the government moves only when the media splashes a story, Nieto says reforms fell through ... not because of the lack of international financing but due to negligence ... “several governments have already contributed $90 million between them.“

Nieto points to 10 million euros from the European Union (EU) to finance a penitentiary project led by MIJ official Jose Antonio Moreta and $90 million from the Inter American Development Bank (IADB) to finance prison projects.

“The MIJ has done nothing on either project … the money has been there for several years … IADB has an office at the MIJ Rehabilitation & Custody Department in El Platanal.”

Apart from the above contributions, Nieto adds that the British Embassy in Caracas had financed a project to train prison wardens … “it’s been wasted because nothing was done.”