Venezuela's president creates council to fight economic 'sabotage'

[Zorro]

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro launched a state council on Thursday he said would counter economic "sabotage" by opposition-linked business leaders he accuses of artificially creating product shortages.

Starting next week, inspectors working for the "Superior Organ of the Economy" will begin visiting private companies, including warehouses and transport firms, involved in food and basic consumption goods, he said.

The OPEC nation has struggled in recent months with shortages of consumer products such as corn flour and toilet paper that critics say result from a clumsy currency control system that limits the flow of imports.

"I call on the whole country to join this battle for the economic security of the nation, the battle to ensure steady food supplies for our people," Maduro said during a televised meeting with pro-government activists.

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelas-president-creates-council-fight-economic-sabotage-005443202.html

That's sure to fix the problems.

[MADem]

1. Yeah, he'll get to the bottom of this~!!!!

Until the next invented conspiracy theory to try and explain away his brute incompetence as a leader.

[Socialistlemur]

2. It's interesting how he thinks repression will solve the problems caused by Chavez

I'm starting to think Maduro is too dumb to understand repressive tactics won't work when the government faces the cumulative result of 14 years of corruption and mismanagement. His Cuban (ie Stalinist) pedigree shows with the proliferation of supreme councils and hybrid military/civilian commissions.

I don't know for sure which Cubans are in Caracas advising Maduro, but they seem to be more secret police types, or military occupation officers. They use colonialist think, show a complete disregard for the differences between the Cuban population, which has been turned into a docile herd, versus the Venezuelan population which tends to be chaotic and lawless.

[Bacchus4.0]

6. repressive indeed. I believe the Cubans provide security to Maduro like they did for Hugo n/s

s

[Bacchus4.0]

3. on a related note, Colombia will increase exports to Ven 20%

http://www.eluniversal.com/economia/130913/colombia-exportara-a-venezuela-leche-mantequilla-carne-pollos-y-huevos

which is pretty good indicator that internal production is insufficient. And Colombia has had some internal problems with the agricultural sector. This will help Colombian producers, not Venezuelan. Specifically, chicken, eggs, palm oil, meat, milk. THe same products for years have been in short supply. Its actually a lot of live stock and fertile eggs which would indicate an attempt to actually increase internal production eventually. we'll see.

[Marksman_91]

4. It's funny how Colombia seems to be improving in all aspects while Venezuela staggers

Now the roles have pretty much switched.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. inept government. Venezuela used to be pretty nice nt

s