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To: richardred who wrote (931)	3/4/2007 7:52:37 PM
From: richardred	Respond to of 3363

Venezuela’s Productive Class Is Leaving The Country As Hugo Chavez continues in his quest to drag the nation of Venezuela into the hell hole known as the “worker’s paradise”, those Venezuelans who can afford it are packing up and leaving in ever increasing numbers: As Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez further tightens control of the South American country’s economy, wealthy Venezuelans who once thought they could live with his socialist edicts are turning to their backup plan - flight to the United States, particularly Florida. Venezuelans have long gobbled up condos and pre-construction deals in Florida as investments, but the latest buyers want homes where they can live and business properties that will help them earn a green card. “First the people who come are the businessmen in the highest circles, then the losing politicians, then the military and then the professionals,” said Miami-based immigration attorney Oscar Levin. “You’re beginning to see the (Venezuelan) professionals.” This latest and largest potential group of emigrants say they fear the effect Chavez’s socialist policies will have on the economy and on proposed educational reforms that could mirror the ideologically imbued education of Chavez ally and mentor, Cuba’s Fidel Castro. And, as Chavez comes to even more closely resemble his hopefully soon-to-be-dead mentor, the number of people getting out of the country is increasing: Between 2000 - a year after Chavez took office - and 2005, the number of Venezuelans living in the U.S. doubled to about 160,000, according to the latest U.S. Census numbers. Nearly half live in Florida. But those numbers are deceptive. In 2005, 10,645 Venezuelans received their green cards allowing them to live in the United States, almost doubling the 6,222 who received them in 2004, according to the latest Department of Homeland Security statistics. And another 400,000 Venezuelans came to the United States in 2005 on business and tourism visas. It is unclear how many stayed. Colombia, with nearly twice Venezuela’s roughly 27 million residents, sent the same number that year. And it’s not just rich Venezuelans who are trying to leave. As I noted back in January, Venezuelans from all economic groups have been lining up at American and foreign embassies in Caracas for the visa that will allow them to leave the country. We can, I think, expect more of this as Venezuelas slide into socialism continues. There is one thing that could save the country, and it’s something that has happened in Central and South American before when leftist regimes started going too far. A military coup that deposes Chavez and puts the country back on the road to sanity would not necessarily be a bad thing right now. thelibertypapers.org

To: richardred who wrote (931)	4/5/2008 12:42:59 AM
From: richardred	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3363

Venezuela Nationalizes Cement Sector Friday April 4, 3:39 pm ET By Christopher Toothaker, Associated Press Writer Venezuela Blames Foreign Cement Makers for Shortages, Prepares Nationalization CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez's government justified its plans to nationalize the cement industry Friday by accusing foreign-owned cement companies of restricting supply to boost local prices while boosting exports to maximize profits. Industry Minister Rodolfo Sanz said the foreign-owned companies that dominate cement making in Venezuela have been "producing below their capacity so supplies don't increase, exporting their production and creating domestic market shortages." But the nationalization measure Chavez announced Thursday night quickly led to friction with the government of Mexico. A Mexican company, Cemex SAB, supplies about half of Venezuela's cement. Mexican Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens called Chavez's order "an inappropriate action that does not respect the property nor the rights of Mexicans." "There is definitely nothing more to do than condemn this action," Carstens told a news conference in Mexico. France's Lafarge SA and Switzerland's Holcim Ltd. also are affected by the order. Chavez said he cannot allow businesses to continue exporting raw materials needed to tackle a domestic housing shortage. He said it would occur in "the short term." Sanz said the government will soon start talking with the companies "to evaluate their assets" ahead of compensation. The cement action is Chavez's most radical nationalization move since early 2007, when he announced the takeover of this oil-rich South American nation's electricity, telecommunications, natural gas and oil industries. Government officials argue most of the country's basic industries should be controlled by the state to contribute to national development, and Venezuela has suffered from a severe housing shortage for decades. Cemex runs three cement plants in Venezuela that produce about 4.6 million tons annually, as well as 13 distribution centers and four maritime export terminals. Cemex's figures seemed to contradict Sanz's allegation. It reported that its sales in Venezuela rose by 17 percent last year over 2006, with concrete volumes up by 10 percent because of construction boosted by public spending. Cemex exports from Venezuela fell by half, it said, because the company focused on supplying the domestic market. Holcim has two plants that produce 3 million tons a year. And Lafarge has two plants that produce 1.5 million tons a year, according to the company's Web site. Holcim spokesman Peter Gysel said Friday the Zurich-based company has not yet been contacted by Venezuelan authorities and Cemex spokesman Gerardo de la Torre also said his company had not been officially notified of the plan. "We are requesting a meeting with the government to understand the scope of the statements made by President Chavez," he said. Mexico's Foreign Relations Department said it "will do everything within its reach to protect the interests of Mexican companies operating abroad." Last year, Chavez said many of Venezuela's cement factories prefer to sell their product abroad at higher prices and warned: "If the cement factories do not (sell in Venezuela), we will occupy them." Associated Press writer E. Eduardo Castillo contributed to this report from Mexico City. biz.yahoo.com