Messrs Carlos Ortega and Carlos Fernandez just won't let go!

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

VHeadline.com News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue writes: News that members of the Venezuelan Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) led by general secretary Manuel Cova are to visit Costa Rica to hold session with exiled Carlos Ortega has knocked me off balance.

Does that mean that trade union policy will be dictated from Ortega's place of exile?

Does it mean that Ortega will not concede his post as CTV president to someone who lives in Venezuela?

Does Ortega think that the CTV is akin to the Oil Workers Federation (Fedepetrol) which he ran as a personal fiefdom?

Knowing Mr. Ortega's close links with former President Carlos Andres Perez, it is hard to understand the hesitancy of other executive members in blasting Ortega's pretensions sky high. There have been rumblings from Pablo Castro and Carlos Navarro but it is not enough. 

The usually vociferous Andres Velasquez and Causa R colleague ,Alfredo Ramos argue that the most important thing is to get rid of Chavez Frias first and then hang out the dirty linen afterwards ... usual double-speak.

It leads me to another question: why do political analysts, such as Jorge Olavarria who pride themselves on their historical knowledge, ignore obvious connections between local politicians and foreign organizations? 

It is understandable political agony aunts, Nelson Bocaranda and Ibeyise Pacheco refuse to publish a list of opposition politicians that visited Washington or Miami, say last week but it becomes completely obvious that the stiff collars  (scholars) are trying to pull the wool over our innocent eyes convincing us that Venezuela is an island and not a dependent economy ... and yet they insist on the close connection with the USA to hit out at Chavez Frias. The only consequent scholar is columnist, Anibal Romero.

Which is why I appreciate the irreverence of left-wing political analyst, Domingo Alberto Rangel. 

Rangel goes way back and has the moral authority to debunk opposition spin that corruption has increased with Chavez Frias ... the difference is that we know more cases nowadays, thanks to the political polarization and leaks from squealers. 

Venezuela has been high in the corrupt Latin American countries top ten list but the thing is that before Chavez Frias, the media (and Transparency International) only published Venezuela's position in the world tables. 

Rangel has criticized the fact that the Armed Force (FAN) was ill-prepared for undertake its job long before Chavez Frias enlisted as a soldier ... he has exposed the cowardice of Venezuela's greedy and not very patriotic business sector.

It would be nice to see more irreverence.

Which brings me back to Ortega and Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president, Carlos Fernandez ... another person that can't and won't hand over power. 

Thank God he won't be running for President of the Republic. His rush to the emergency room should have convinced him to return to his transport business and leave politics to the politicians. 

Fernandez was very quick to step into the shoes of Pedro Carmona as Fedecamaras president but he won't allow anyone to step into his shoes, despite his heart condition.

• Venezuela is described as the land of caudillos, which I translate as "warlords"  ... which for me conveys the meaning perfectly. 

Whatever opposition and Cuban Miami hacks say about the authoritarian Chavez Frias, Ortega and Fernandez are just as or more authoritarian than the President.

Holding court in Miami, or Costa Rica or Valencia?

Well, I never!