The Devil's Excrement

Christmas Eve. Here in Venezuela, tonight is the night. Tonight is Christmas; tomorrow is only the day that baby Jesus brings the presents to the kids.  As economic and political problems fade away for a couple of days, that great tradition, getting together with your immediate family is the focus tonight. Of course, for us, “immediate” is also quite different, a very extended definition. Parties are huge, everyone gets together to eat hallacas, a banana leaf wrap containing corn flour with a stew that has chicken, pork, olives, onion and pimentos. (I am sure I am forgetting some ingredients). People play music ranging from the local gaitas to world famous Christmas carols. People dance, set fire works and laugh. Despite emigration 90% of my siblings are here in Caracas (nine out of ten) today, a good average I think. We will go to my sister’s, give presents, laugh, dance, eat, drink and sleep over so that we can see the kids opening their presents in the morning. Tomorrow, I will once again realize that I am getting old to go to bed so late and wake up so early. I will likely spend all day reading and sleeping, feeling good about Christmas. Friday, back to work even if briefly. To everyone, have a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day! and thanks for the many emails wishing me well, I am grateful that so many of you thought of me even if you don’t know me. Here is a picture of Plaza Altamira with Christmas ornaments. Hope it is a sign of things to come.

Interesting interview in today’s El Nacional with the Mayor of Naguanagua. Naguanagua is in Carabobo state, a municipality of mostly poor people. The Mayor, Julio Castillo, is part of the Proyecto Venezuela party, which us led by former Presidential candidate Henrique Salas Romer. Castillo is reportedly very popular.

On his perception about how the people of Naguanagua see the present

I perceive a worrisome lack of hope when confronting their misery. The Chávez theme is not in the daily life of the very poor; their theme is how they are going to eat that day. Politics is discussed, but Venezuelan politicians have not understood that in popular areas, political opinions are not formed by the media.

What do people ask for?

The conscience of the people is diminishing due to the grave crisis. Each day, individual problems become more important than collective problems. …You find homes where people have not eaten in two or three days. What stresses me the most is the large number of problems I can not solve. One ends up just aiding people, giving bags of food.

What is your biggest concern?

The gap between needs and resources. It has truly been a nightmare to spend two years without a single bolivar from the Special Assignments law. It had never happened that a Government embezzled, because that is what is happening, the funds for the regions…..They owe us money…that is my biggest concern someone has our money and people do not get it because someone made the decision to strangle the regions.

On working together

We have worked with the National Guard and the local police and we have worked well. That is one of the great aspirations of the people, what is called unity. That the President, the Governor and the mayor work together to solve problems.

This is reality, the rest is BS.

After publicly inviting him last week, yesterday Hugo Chavez announced with joy that his friend Fidel Castro would be coming to visit Caracas today and would have lunch in the Presidential palace. Despite that announcement,  there were no reports of the Cuban Dictator showing up in Caracas today and reports indicated he was at The Orchila Island since Sunday, where Chávez met with him today. Curiously, La Orchila was developed by former Venezuelan Dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez for his personal enjoyment and that of his friends. The only indication today that Castro was in Venezuela was a letter published in Cuba, reportedly from Caracas, in which he greets Cuban teachers who are in Venezuela. Obviously, Mr. Castro did or could not make any statements like that of the Russian Foreign Minister, who was also visiting the country today and expressed his desire for Venezuelans to solve their problems through the Constitution and democracy. The “Solidaridad” group, composed of politicians who supported Chavez’ bid for the Presidency and accompanied him until a little over a year ago, were highly critical of the deployment of resources so that Castro and Chavez could have lunch. One of its members criticized the expenses at a time when Venezuelans are going hungry and can not buy presents for their kids.

I personally find the visit by Fidel Castro at this time to be another proof of how insensitive Hugo Chávez is. At a time when what is being questioned is whether this is a democratic Government or not, inviting the leader of the Latin American Dictators to have “a little lunch” is simply insensitive, if not grotesque or obscene. To spend all of this money on this visit is also another demonstration that Chavez loves the opulence that surrounds his power. Maybe somebody pointed all of this out to Chavez after his impulse invitation of the Cuban President and that is why it was “dissapeared” from the media. If anyone wants to defend Castro’s visit to Venezuela, here you can find thousands of reasons, why I am not even willing to listen to them.  Yes, these are all real people, killed by Chavez’ good friend Fidel Castro. Try to explain that one to any civilized human being.

After publicly inviting him last week, yesterday Hugo Chavez announced with joy that his friend Fidel Castro would be coming to visit Caracas today and would have lunch in the Presidential palace. Despite that announcement,  there were no reports of the Cuban Dictator showing up in Caracas today and reports indicated he was at The Orchila Island since Sunday, where Chávez met with him today. Curiously, La Orchila was developed by former Venezuelan Dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez for his personal enjoyment and that of his friends. The only indication today that Castro was in Venezuela was a letter published in Cuba, reportedly from Caracas, in which he greets Cuban teachers who are in Venezuela. Obviously, Mr. Castro did or could not make any statements like that of the Russian Foreign Minister, who was also visiting the country today and expressed his desire for Venezuelans to solve their problems through the Constitution and democracy. The “Solidaridad” group, composed of politicians who supported Chavez’ bid for the Presidency and accompanied him until a little over a year ago, were highly critical of the deployment of resources so that Castro and Chavez could have lunch. One of its members criticized the expenses at a time when Venezuelans are going hungry and can not buy presents for their kids.

I personally find the visit by Fidel Castro at this time to be another proof of how insensitive Hugo Chávez is. At a time when what is being questioned is whether this is a democratic Government or not, inviting the leader of the Latin American Dictators to have “a little lunch” is simply insensitive, if not grotesque or obscene. To spend all of this money on this visit is also another demonstration that Chavez loves the opulence that surrounds his power. Maybe somebody pointed all of this out to Chavez after his impulse invitation of the Cuban President and that is why it was “dissapeared” from the media. If anyone wants to defend Castro’s visit to Venezuela, here you can find thousands of reasons, why I am not even willing to listen to them.  Yes, these are all real people, killed by Chavez’ good friend Fidel Castro. Try to explain that one to any civilized human being.

Local newspaper El Universal reports that the US Government is following a trail of money that financed the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks from Venezuela. According to the article, since the 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center funds from Venezuela have helped finance Al-Qaeda. Reportedly, local banks are helping follow the money trail with agents from the Department of the Treasury. The money leads to three states: Zulia, Nueva Esparta (where Margarita island is located) and Tachira.

It’s the holiday season, relax and enjoy these pictures of orchids I just posted.

It’s the holiday season, relax and enjoy these pictures of orchids I just posted.

I had missed this letter by Gustavo Coronel to Isaias Rodriguez, wish I had written it. To those from abroad, the position held by Mr. Rodriguez is the “Fiscal” more like a Prosecutor than an Attorney General, he is not part of the Cabinet and is selected by the National Assembly. If Mr. Rodriguez had done his job properly, I doubt Hugo Chavez would be President, or he would have behaved much differently, following the laws and the Constitution, but let me not take the thunder away from Coronel’s letter……..