Odds are that somewhere there is a WB or IMF study on the inadequacy, pre-Chavez, of the Venez oil enterprise. Pity anyone who takes such concerns seriously, apart from political context. -- mbs
LP: . . . Actually, the conflict with the oil union arose over Chavez's determination to clean house at the state-owned company. He accused executives of owning luxurious chalets in the Venezuelan Andes and other excesses and has said the company's costs must be cut and its benefits spread to the 80 percent of Venezuelans who live in poverty. On April 7th the Washington Post reported that Chavez had installed a board of directors loyal to him and named a leftist economist, Gaston Parra, as president. Parra had criticized company policies for two decades. Company executives were outraged by the moves. Hundreds of managers demanded that the appointments be rescinded, arguing that Chavez's changes were based on politics rather than merit.
