Reuters. 12 February 2003. Chavez Pushes Venezuela Price Controls, Subsidies.
CARACAS -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday introduced price controls and announced subsidies to soften the impact of an economic crisis after a two-month opposition strike slashed the nation's vital oil production. Chavez, a populist former paratrooper locked in a bitter struggle with foes of his self-styled "revolution," said the government planned to subsidize basic food items such as rice, beef and milk that are covered by the new price controls. "We're preparing subsidies. Why? To sell the goods whose prices we are setting even more cheaply, for the poor ... We'll subsidize as much as money allows," Chavez told cheering supporters at a youth rally. The government on Wednesday also introduced price curbs on 106 basic foods and more than 60 other essential items. Officials have said priority under the new control regime will go to medicines and imports of basic goods. The president also said Wednesday that production was at about 2 million barrels per day compared with pre-strike levels of 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org ------------------------------------------- Macdonald Stainsby http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international -- In the contradiction lies the hope. --Bertholt Brecht _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
