CARACAS, Friday January 26, 2007 | Update
Wednesday 24th
Maza Zavala asks Chávez to put nationalization
in order
Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) director Domingo Maza Zavala
urged Wednesday the Government of President Hugo Chávez
to follow in an orderly manner the legal process for nationalization
of major telecommunications company Cantv and No. 1 power
supplier in the country.
In Venezuela, there is a "rule of law, which means that there
is a constitutional and legal procedure for expropriation
in the public interest, if any," Maza Zavala told Unión
Radio, as quoted by Efe.
"For this reason, I think authorities should act wisely to
order the process" towards nationalization of Cantv and La
Electricidad de Caracas.
US Verizon has the majority control over Cantv, privatized
in 1991, whereas global corporation AES owns La Electricidad
de Caracas.
The "mess" in nationalization of Cantv, where Spanish Telefónica
holds 6 percent of shares, and La Electricidad de Caracas,
"could result into chaos in these sectors," the official added.
Nationalization Law is to reinforce nationalization
of Cantv
Parliamentarian Carlos Escarrá, a member of the Presidential
Council for Constitutional Reform, said nationalization of
Venezuela's largest private telecommunications firm Cantv
will have to wait until the Nationalization Law is passed.
The Nationalization Law is comprised in a package of legal
instruments the Venezuelan Executive Branch plans to enact
under an Enabling Law granting President Hugo Chávez
special ruling powers.
While he declined to elaborate on the mechanisms provided
for in the Nationalization Law, he claimed the instrument
would be in force within 30 days. Escarrá said this regulation
is to make Cantv nationalization bullet-proof, which is prohibited
under current laws.
Thursday 25th
Venezuela orders takeover of private airport
Diosdado Cabello, Governor of Miranda state, Wednesday
ordered expropriation of Oscar Machado Zuloaga private airport.
"We shall perform and meet our obligations" at the Governor's
Office, Cabello stressed. He claimed that the move responded
to the need to create an international airport alternative
to Simón Bolívar International Airport.
"The airport shall become a space for public service and
will no longer be at the service of a group of privileged
people, as it is now."
Oscar Machado Zuloaga Airport, in the outskirts of Caracas,
is currently an airport for instrumental basic transportation,
under the standards of the US Federal Aviation Agency.
The landing strip of the so-called Caracas Airport is only
2,000 m long and 30 m wide.
Ministry of Finance rules out confiscation in nationalization
process
Venezuela will not resort to confiscations under a plan to
nationalize private companies operating in strategic sectors,
Thursday said the Minister of Finance Rodrigo Cabezas, a few
days following President Hugo Chávez' instructions to
take over telecoms firm Cantv without paying investors, Reuters
reported.
The official said the Venezuelan State is to abide by the
laws, and dismissed claims that plans to nationalize telecoms,
energy and oil private companies may ignite chaos in Venezuela.
"This process of nationalization will be advanced by respecting
the constitutional rules. Nobody has talked about confiscating
any firm," Cabezas stressed.
Cabezas said that no other domestic or foreign private companies
would be hit by similar moves.
Friday 25th
Health Ministry takes the issue with nationalization
of private medical care
The Health Ministry is not thinking about nationalizing private
health centers and the government alleged attempts in this
regard are out of the question, said Health Vice-Minister
Julio César Alviárez.
The high-ranking official viewed the idea as "absurd" because
the Ministry is rather focusing on reinforcement of the public
health care by means of Mission Barrio Adentro III, official
news agency ABN reported.
10:30 AM. Economy. The government policy of "land recovery" over the past few years, far from powering domestic primary production, has resulted in disincentive and divestiture both in animal husbandry and agriculture.