Monthly Archives: July 2010

Jul
28
2010
Posted by
admin
Comments

Chávez: expropiación pero no compensación en Venezuela, dice Oliveros

Por Editor Web, WhatsNextVenezuela

Asdrúbal Oliveros, director de la consultora Ecoanalítica, afirmó en entrevista con WhatsNextVenezuela que la mayoría de las empresas expropiadas en Venezuela no han sido debidamente compensadas por el gobierno de Chávez.

“Las personas o las empresas, en la mayoría de los casos, no han recibido compensaciones a valor de mercado, o mejor dicho a ningún valor, por las propiedades en donde el gobierno toma el control”, explicó Oliveros.

Ecoanalítica, una prominente consultora económica con sede en Caracas, estima que el costo de las nacionalizaciones ejecutadas por gobierno de Chávez desde 2006 asciende a 23,300 millones de dólares, de los cuales 14,650 millones de dólares el gobierno aún debe pagar en compensaciones.

“El gobierno ha expropiado mucha tierra en Venezuela, todo lo que son fincas, haciendas. Y han sido procesos muy agresivos en los últimos años”, dijo Oliveros en la entrevista, que puede ver aquí:

En la entrevista, Oliveros dijo que “una vez el gobierno toma control de estas empresas, decae su funcionamiento” puesto que ”hay un impacto de eficiencia muy fuerte”. Ver video:

Por ejemplo, desde que tres cementeras extranjeras fueron expropiadas en 2008, “la producción de cemento viene cayendo en promedio 20 por ciento”. Oliveros se refiere a la mexicana Cemex, a la francesa Lafarge y a la suiza Holcim, con las que el gobierno de Venezuela formó un gran conglomerado público.

Busque aquí más información sobre expropiaciones en Venezuela.

 
Jul
28
2010
Posted by
admin
Comments

Political Beer in Venezuela: Chávez Looks to Nationalize Major Brewery

12polar Political Beer in Venezuela: Chávez Looks to Nationalize Major Brewery This article was originally posted by Toward Freedom

Venezuela has the highest per capita consumption of beer in Latin America, clocking in at 90 liters per person annually. Empresas Polar, one of the largest breweries in the country, is currently in the crosshairs of President Hugo Chávez, who would like to put the company under state control.

Since becoming president in 1999, Chávez has nationalized numerous industries, from the oil sector to Venezuelan operations of the US agricultural and food corporation Cargill.

Now, Chávez has his sights on Polar, a major beer and food producer. The move is part of a government strategy to stem food shortages and decentralize corporate wealth to benefit the majority of Venezuelans.

Venezuelan billionaire Lorenzo Mendoza, the owner of Polar, placed (with his family) in 125th on Forbes Magazine list of the global wealthy.

“I’m not afraid to nationalize Polar, Mendoza, so be careful,” Chávez said. “Let’s see who lasts longer — you, with your Polar and your riches, or me, with my people and the dignity of a revolutionary soldier.”

Sending a clear signal to Polar, which is also the distributor of Pepsi Cola in the country, Chávez ordered the company to remove a massive globe-shaped Pepsi advertisement from a high-rise building in downtown Caracas. The Chávez government also moved to expropriate a Polar warehouse outside of Caracas to turn it into a space for public housing.

In one verbal attack against the billionaire, Chávez said, “Come down from your cloud, Mendoza. Here in Venezuela… We’re done with the sacred cows.”

 
Jul
28
2010
Posted by
admin
Comments

Lawyer from anti-Chavez TV faces prosecution

This article was originally posted by The Associated Press

A  lawyer who represents Venezuela’s lone television channel that remains critical of President Hugo Chavez has been charged with obstructing justice, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Perla Jaimes tried to prevent police from raiding a home belonging to Guillermo Zuloaga, the president and majority shareholder of the Globovision TV station, the Attorney General’s Office alleged in a statement.

Jaimes, who could face up to three years in prison if convicted. denied any wrongdoing.

“None of the arguments they are using correspond with reality,” she said.

The May 1 police raid led to criminal charges of usury against Zuloaga, who also owns several car dealerships. Zuloaga has called the charges bogus and contends prosecutors are acting on orders from Chavez to punish him for Globovision’s stinging criticism.

Human rights groups also have voiced concern that Chavez is using prosecutors to crack down on outspoken critics, including Zuloaga. He recently fled the country after a court issued an arrest warrant for him and one of his sons.

Chavez denies trying to silence the station for its tough editorial line.