Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Uh, Ah, Chavez no se va!
Our Readers' Opinions
August 27, 2004

Uh, Ah, Chavez no se va!

EDITOR: The above headline was the slogan used in the campaign recall referendum of 15/8/04 in Venezuela by supporters of President Hugo Chavez. The majority of Venezuela’s poor – 58 per cent of the voting population – came out in their numbers to support their President who represents their hopes and aspirations for a better life. {{more}}
President Chavez’ chief undertaking on taking power in Venezuela was to improve the living standard of the poor and dispossessed. The funds required had to come from the country’s petroleum industry, which is state property. The prime beneficiaries were the masses.
President Chavez passed the Hydrocarbon Law, which indicated that the national petroleum company (PDVSA) had to have a stake in all foreign oil companies and that these companies should pay 37 cents out of every dollar they made instead of the 16 cents they were paying. He also decided that resources from PDVSA would be used to finance the social programmes for the poor. This drew the wrath of senior officials at PDVSA who resorted to sabotaging the petroleum industry with the help of the opposition. They indicated in no uncertain terms that the funds of PDVSA should not be used to benefit the poor. PDVSA’s millions were supposed to benefit the elite and not the poor; as far as they were concerned the country’s resources were theirs for the taking.
Members of the opposition claim that the use of PDVSA’s funds to finance social programmes will cause unprecedented decline in the economy. This has been refuted by Victor Alvarez, president of the Foreign Trade Bank (Bancoex) who claims the Venezuelan economy is expected to have a ten per cent GDP growth in 2004 and is heading to a stage of sustained growth for at least the next five years.
Those who oppose President Chavez are to a large extent driven by extreme greed (the hallmark of modern capitalism).
President Chavez, with the support of the poor and dispossessed, has been able to survive a number of attempts to remove him from power carried out by the opposition under the so-called Democratic Coordinator with the assistance of the so-called Endowment for Democracy, an agency of the White House. One of the intentions of these alleged promoters of democracy was to “Floridarize” the recent recall referendum in Venezuela. The overwhelming support of the people prevented this from happening.
The results of the recent referendum are a lesson for all: that when a people are united, no force can prevail against them. The wealth and power of the elite class can never smother the will of the masses.
The victory of President Chavez has brought out some of the most outrageous responses from some who oppose him. A White House spokesperson made the following statement: “Winning most of the votes does not make Chavez’ government legitimate.” These are the same people who want us to accept the Latortue regime in Haiti as legitimate. What manner of men!
Even after the OAS and The Carter Centre have stated that the referendum was well run and conducted without fraud, the opposition continues to refuse to accept the results.
On the evening of 18/8/04, President Jimmy Carter had to be escorted by heavy security from a restaurant in Caracas, after members of the opposition and their supporters threatened him with physical violence.
Uh, Ah Chavez no se va! (Uh, Ah Chavez is not going!)
Dr. Franklyn James

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Front Page
    12 left homeless in mid-day fire at Richland Park
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    A fire that destroyed a multi-family complex in Richland Park over the weekend has left at least 12 people homeless, including a 23-year-old mother of...
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Front Page
    PM responds to US military strike on small boat off Venezuela
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has responded to reports by the United States administration that its military had carried out the bombing of a boa...
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Front Page
    Building material disappear from the Mary Hutchinson Primary School
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Police investigators on Union Island are said to be looking into the “disappearance” of building materials that were sent to the Southern Grenadine Is...
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Front Page
    What’s new at Fitz Hughes Government School?
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    by Grace Francis After sharing a small space for over a year, children and teachers at the Fitz Hughes Early Childhood Centre went into brand new prem...
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Front Page
    MRI-6 donates over $70,000 for school meals for vulnerable students
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Several secondary schools and special needs institutions across St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) have received $5,000 donations towards meals for s...
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    News
    Minister of Information Technology  emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    News
    Minister of Information Technology emphasises the importance of Cybersecurity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Robust cybersecurity must be at the heart of the digital transformation that is currently taking place in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) says Min...
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    News
    Entities team up to boost disaster communication capacity
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Climate Change Resilience Network (CCRN) in collaboration with the Youlou Radio Movement (YRM) recently embarked on a disaster preparedness initia...
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    News
    Ministry of Health to get more dialysis machines
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, is to obtain three more Heamodialysis machines as part of the revolution in the healthcare secto...
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    News
    PM Gonsalves heads delegation to Ethiopia
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, is leading a delegation to the East African country of Ethiopia; the delegation left the state on Wednesday, Septe...
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    News
    New Port to be opened on October 24- PM Gonsalves
    Webmaster 
    September 5, 2025
    The modern port in Kingstown is expected to be handed over to the government just before this country celebrates its 46th anniversary of political ind...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok