Primero Justicia and Roman Catholic Church launch "food for community work" program 

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Primero Justicia (PJ) deputy Julio Borges says the "We are all responsible for each other" program has collected 83.237 tonnes of foodstuffs worth 91 million bolivares. 

"It's a joint program with the Catholic Church, non-government organizations (NGOs) and private individuals ... the collaboration of 89,000 persons raised the funds and 300 nationwide institutions will be the beneficiaries, handing out food to the families most in need in exchange for community service." 

Roman Catholic Church organizations, Caritas (development), Fe y Alegria (schools) and local NGOs have made a commitment to hand out food baskets to people who join in local work programs. 

Borges hits out at the government's policy of importing, distributing and marketing food already processed, eliminating the middleman, harming national industry and provoking more unemployment. 

"The State has dedicated $836 million to food imports, which will only cover 20% of the demand ... precooked maize powder is being smuggled out into Colombia at black market dollar prices because the government has imposed price controls."

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