As a highly-placed diplomatic source confided to me just last evening, it would be national disaster for Venezuela to return to the calumnies of the pre-Chavez era. But, while the original 'Chavez plan' for Venezuela remains true, its divergence into sectarian extremism on both sides of the domestic political chasm is reprehensible and unworthy of a man who has dedicated his life to his country as much as Chavez has himself pledged.
Whether or not he remains in control of his government remains -- at least to me -- in doubt since I believe the man should surely react in horror if he only knew of the blatant abuses committed by those who, for the moment, remain closest to him.
Certainly hopes were raised in last weekend's appointment of Ali Rodriguez Araque as Finance Minister for he was the 'shining knight' who rode in to the rescue from the key Secretary Generalship of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna at the time of the April 2002 coup d'etat which saw the imposition of Pedro Carmona Estanga as 'Dictator for a Day.'
A revolutionary veteran himself, Rodriguez Araque brings much-needed professionality to Chavez' Cabinet. His past presidency of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and his dual function as Minister of Energy were exemplary through troubled economic times and his most recent appointment must surely be a significant step to National Executive prominence where the majority of Chavez' team is frankly so much dross!
Will Chavez take counsel from the sage? Will he be deviated from the true purpose of his presidency by the Praetorian Guard of sychophants and on-the-make officials that surround his every move?
God alone knows! But if Venezuela's democratic future is at stake, we hope that Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias gets down on bended knee and then arises with resolve to put his famous 'Three Rs' (revision, rectification and right) into immediate practice to remove corruption from the ranks of his government before it is already too late!
Roy S. Carson
vheadline@gmail.com
Whether or not he remains in control of his government remains -- at least to me -- in doubt since I believe the man should surely react in horror if he only knew of the blatant abuses committed by those who, for the moment, remain closest to him.
Certainly hopes were raised in last weekend's appointment of Ali Rodriguez Araque as Finance Minister for he was the 'shining knight' who rode in to the rescue from the key Secretary Generalship of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna at the time of the April 2002 coup d'etat which saw the imposition of Pedro Carmona Estanga as 'Dictator for a Day.'
A revolutionary veteran himself, Rodriguez Araque brings much-needed professionality to Chavez' Cabinet. His past presidency of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and his dual function as Minister of Energy were exemplary through troubled economic times and his most recent appointment must surely be a significant step to National Executive prominence where the majority of Chavez' team is frankly so much dross!
God alone knows! But if Venezuela's democratic future is at stake, we hope that Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias gets down on bended knee and then arises with resolve to put his famous 'Three Rs' (revision, rectification and right) into immediate practice to remove corruption from the ranks of his government before it is already too late!
Roy S. Carson
vheadline@gmail.com
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- Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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