VZ pensioners want their money in currency, not mythical cryptocurrency
Pensioners reject the petro and demand payment of bonuses in bolivars
"I want Maduro to explain to me how I'm going to buy food and medicines with petros," said María Rodríguez. Pedro Arias said that in the bank "they are not clear" how they will pay
translated from Spanish
By ANA DÍAZ | ANADIAZ@EL-NACIONAL.COM
DECEMBER 7, 2018 01:15 AM
The pensioners of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security do not support the announcement by President Nicolás Maduro of November 29 to cancel the third month of bonuses in Petros. "Older adults demand full payment and cash with sovereign bolivars," said Luis Cano, representative of the Front for the Defense of Retired Persons, Pensioners, Old and Elderly
He said the president "released that announcement as everything he does, without consulting or taking into account the conditions of Social Security pensioners, as most are not familiar with digital technologies."
In Caracas banking agencies, the pensioners showed their disagreement with the use of the digital currency that the government intends to impose. "I want Maduro to explain to me how I'm going to buy food and medicines with petros because as far as I know peddlers, shops and pharmacies charge in bolivars," María Rodríguez, 74, said.
Even when you have a debit card, you prefer to use the savings book to collect the pension and the bonuses because they pay you full and at once. "That money goes away to me in a while in spite of which I pay it buying to the street vendors. They sell cheaper than commercial establishments. "
Pedro Arias, 80, said that in the agency of the state bank, where he receives his pension, "they are not clear" how they will pay the pensioners in Petros. "I asked the manager and the bank teller and none of them could explain what Maduro meant. Then do not come to say that the old people protest everything, but the payment of the third month of aguinaldos we want complete in bolivars and cash.
José Sánchez, 65 years old, added that the previous payments of bonuses and the pension were "in buying the food and the remedies." "Now the government is going to pay us petros and nobody on the street knows how that works."
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http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/economia/pensionados-rechazan-petro-exigen-pago-los-aguinaldos-bolivares_262450
Backstory. Maduro unilaterally created a state sanctioned cryptocurrency called the Petro. Backed by "oil, diamonds and other riches" currently buried in Venezuela. The problem? IF you could buy one (nobody sells it except Chavismo, and even they haven't been able to sell any) it cannot be redeemed by anyone, anywhere. Because its a myth.