Submitted by John E. Farmer

WHY does President Maduro keep demonizing the USA in every speech he makes? Also, why, like Chavez did, does he blame USA for Venezuela’s problems? Is it not true that IN 2013 USA purchased an average of 792,000 BARRELS of OIL PER DAY from Venezuela which is more than a third of Venezuela’s daily oil production? Is it not true that Venezuela owns refineries in the USA as well as 14,000 petrol stations under the name of CITGO? So where does Venezuela’s revenue come from? Yes, it comes from the good old USA, approximately 80 million dollars a day – not a bad pay cheque, eh?

Why, last week, did Maduro plead with the USA public not to let the government put sanctions on Venezuela? Very simple answer to that one, the already catastrophically weak Venezuelan economy would completely implode. Secondly, it is rumoured and not too difficult to certify that many of the Regime’s high echelon and Military upper crust own businesses, mansions and bank accounts in USA, Can you imagine if the USA applied sanctions and froze these accounts. What would happen if the regime suddenly had to run! The situation is looking a little dicey right now, isn’t it? Wasn’t Maduro two months back threatening the USA? Now he is pleading with them ‘please.’

What about PetroCaribe? Was this a gift offered to the West Indian Islands of the Caribbean or a guise? Could it perhaps be another way to infiltrate into the economy and geopolitical environment of another sovereign country?

Have you heard about the new law being introduced by the Maduro regime? Anyone owning a rented house, an apartment block or apartment building for more than twenty (20) years has to offer the property or apartment units for sale within 60 days, or land owner will have to pay a fine of more than $40,000.00. This law of course will strip legitimate owners of their livelihood. This is not surprising for a government which has already confiscated millions of hectares of private land property. Question: does this happen in a democratic country with a democratic government? 2^nd Question: The Venezuelan economy is collapsing and in a terrible crisis. Sales of property are at a standstill because of the economic situation there. The Maduro regime controls all the US Dollars, so in whose hands will these properties end up?

With such a huge military force and such a large police force how is it possible to have such a high crime rate? The stolen car business in Venezuela is a very large business.

Maduro talks of peace all the time, he even offers peace to the USA, how laughable! But his National Guard forces, his police and his ‘Collectivos’ (motorcycle thugs) are shooting at and gassing protestors every day. The death toll count of the protestors continues to rise. Many of the victims’ are young students. More than a hundred political prisoners remain in Jail. Why is Barbados voting with or using the abstention vote to support this immoral and corrupt regime in the UN and the OAS?

David, I guess many of the persons reading your Barbados Underground News Blog are asking “why is this writer so concerned about what is happening in Venezuela”? Well I would be very grateful if you would give me the opportunity to explain my reasons

1)When I arrived in Venezuela in 1982 and for the next sixteen years Venezuela was as democratic as any other country I had ever lived in. The army always had a strong presence, but it was as a protective, rather than aggressive presence. I met by chance two of the Venezuelan Presidents, Carlos Andres Perez and Jaime Luchinci shaking the hands of the shoppers as they themselves shopped amongst the general public at a shopping plaza. No excessive company of National Guard forces protecting them. This reminded me of the days when I had seen the late Errol Barrow and Tom Adams doing their own shopping in a supermarket here in Barbados. I felt quite comfortable and enjoyed living in Caracas in those days. Everyone enjoyed freedom of speech. You could discuss politics, the government of the day, or any topic you cared to and there was no fear in the Venezuelan people’s eyes. You walked down the street during the day or went out at night in your car without worry or fear.

2) It was not long after the arrival of Hugo Chavez that I noticed a change in the comportment of the Venezuelan citizens. Smiles started to fade from their faces, laughter (the Venezuelans love to make fun of themselves and joke about their politicians) dried up. After a while if you stated anything too critical about any Chavista political figure or the government you could be put into prison and many were imprisoned. Special police forces were sent into the barrios (ghettos) and shot people in the street to put fear into them thus their motto ‘Socialismo O Muerto’. The four year old son of our helper at home had his eye shot out in a Chavez political celebration. She became so depressed and scared that my wife and I insisted she come and live with us in our house, which she did. How wonderful it was to see that young boy grow and lose his fear from the terrible trauma he had experienced. He and his mother stayed with us until we left Venezuela and we are still in touch with them on a regular basis. We are also in touch with many friends there so we know what the truth is and what is really happening in Venezuela. We are not taken in by the political rhetoric by the present Maduro regime and its spokes people and payroll supporters.

3) In my first article someone questioned my marching in a protest march in Caracas. I was a Barbadian citizen and a resident of Venezuela with residential status. It was a peaceful opposition march and I wanted to see with my own eyes who were marching. The crowd was estimated to be over 500,000 persons and this is why I could state categorically that in that march there was a cross section of rich, middle class and poor Venezuelans marching. Not the very, very rich who were marching as Mr. Comissiong stated on CBC television. We marched more than twelve (kilometres) that day. I appreciated Hal Austin’s comments and questions. To answer his inquiry,……. “No, there is not a large Black population in Venezuela”. The Black population is marginal in numbers. When the Black people of Africa were shipped to South America, the Caribbean and the Carolinas in the USA during the Ignominious act and days of the Slave Trade, only a little more than 1% arrived in Venezuela, whereas more than 38% were brought to Brazil. While I lived in Caracas, a black mayor was elected mayor of Caracas. A black politician also ran for the Presidency. I remember a black politician, of Trinidadian family roots who became the Minister of Education. Many of the blacks who originally settled on the cocoa plantations still live in that area. The population of Venezuela is mainly comprised of the Spanish, Italians, and Portuguese who helped to settle and develop the country. German immigrants settled and made a colony in the hills outside of Caracas. There are also small indigenous sectors that live there.

4) I believe that everyone has right of choice to choose his Religious and political way of life. In a Democracy, I believe one should have freedom of vote and freedom of speech. I do not believe in a totalitarian government which will not allow the opposition to have a say. How can I believe or support a Government that shoots and gasses its own people. A government that has wasted Billions of dollars on revolution and arms. A populous government buying its political support and trying to enforce a social communistic system in a capitalistic economy. It just won’t work. Under the Chavez/Maduro governments production of food has dropped by 60%and Venezuela has become a one product economy of oil. All other raw material necessary to manufacture goods is imported. There is very little if any real investment coming into the country. Why is this? Investment will always follow confidence and stable governments.

5)Last question: If Cuba, Russia and Iran are such wonderful friends and supporters of the Bolivarian Revolution as we have been told by Maduro and that USA is the great Satan; why do the Chavistas and higher ups in the army go shopping in the USA.? Pachamama, can you help me with the answer to this one?