Venezuela's Maza Blasts Government for Delay in Selling Dollars

By Alex Kennedy and Peter Wilson

Caracas, April 30 (<a href=quote.bloomberg.com>Bloomberg) -- Venezuela's economy is suffering from a lack of imports as the government's foreign exchange commission doesn't make dollars available for companies to pay for overseas suppliers.

This is very bad, very negative, and very worrisome,'' Central Bank Director Domingo Maza said before a press conference. And it's not happening because of a lack of dollars.''

Maza, one of seven central bank directors and a holdover from the previous government, said the central bank made available $1.2 billion to the country's foreign exchange commission for sale this month. The commission has ``used less than $1 million.''

The government banned dollar sales in January after a two- month general strike cut oil production by as much as 95 percent. Oil sales provide 43 percent of government revenue.

Venezuela imports about 60 percent of its food, clothing, medicine and electronic goods. Last Updated: April 30, 2003 11:36 EDT