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Editorial Commentary
VenEconomy:
Sailing in the sea of happiness
Some analysts are of the opinion that the shortages and the government’s deafness and interventionist, controlling policies are part of a preconceived plan to precipitate 21st Century Socialism in Venezuela.
VenEconomy is reluctant to think that the government would go to such lengths of cynicism and Machiavellianism. VenEconomy is of the opinion that this aberrant behavior of the government’s is due more to incapacity and lack of economic professionalism in the ranks of the Executive.
But even if those analysts are wrong, the result is the same: rationing of food and basic goods.
The country is plunged in a monumental economic disaster and the population is against the wall, beleaguered by inflation and shortages of basic products and essential goods.It is inconceivable that the Executive is refusing to take the necessary corrective measures to put right the economic distortions it has created with its ill-advised policies. Even more inconceivable is the fact that not only is it refusing to negotiate with the private sector of the economy, but it is also penning it in with all manner of threats.
Insult was added to injury this week with announcements by Asdrúbal Chávez, vice-president PDVSA and spokesman of its new affiliate, Venezuelan Food Producer and Distributor (PDVAL). According to Chávez, they have set up 26 PDvales (PDVAL establishments) and 20 community PDvalitos (small PDvales) in the last two months, and they aim to have 180 PDvales and 2,000 PDvalitos by the end of the year.
But the worst is not that the Mercales and Mercalitos are being replaced with PDvales and PDvalitos, but that, with the excuse of “guaranteeing” the distribution of food among members of the communities where there are communal PDvalitos, they are going to implement rationing in the worst style of the Cuban revolution.
According to this Chávez, PDVAL conducted a social study to “find out the quantity of food the family group requires” and that the findings of that study determined that just “one shop a day” is sufficient for an entire family obtain the food supplies it needs. So, from now on, the communal councils will keep a purchase log for every person and family to prevent them from going more than once a day to buy the eight items the company will be selling.And that is not all. This Chávez also dropped the biggest bomb of all: that the communal PDvalitos already have the “control cards” for keeping the food rationing register.
Nothing could be clearer. Venezuelans are sailing in the sea of happiness promised by the other Chávez (Hugo) at the start of his mandate, rationing card included.
This project of PDVAL’s looks like another kite the government is flying to see how much Venezuelans will put up with. Let’s hope it does not go too far and spark off another Caracazo!
VenEconomy is a Venezuela's leading specialized publisher in the economic and financial area. VenEconomy's Points of View on the issues of the day, as seen by VenEconomy during the last week. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.
Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by VenEconomy, on 02/21/2007. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers.
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Petroleumworld News 02/22/08
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