I read with interest the thread in early January, about the effects of the strike in Venezuela on Bonaire. Yesterday, Extra had a picture of Venezolanonan residensia na Boneiru signing a petition for a referendum. This prompts me to ask: are you seeing any effects yet? Hovensa (refinery on St Croix) has already seen lay-offs. How's the gasoline supply? Fuel for electricity? (We're headed down on Saturday for four weeks.)
Masha danki in advance.

We heard today from a Venezolean person that the strikes in Venezuela were stopped, and normal life started up there again, so Chaves won, allthough the main part of Venezuela people are anti-Chavez, and it won't take a long time to get reactic actions again.
In the mean time, we here in Bonaire don't feel much of the problems in Venezuela, I heard that the oil-=workers were sent home for some time, and for sure, Polar is sold-out for weeks, but gas is normal for sale, and fruit and vegs are still available at the stall in the harbour, so actually, when you are not addicted to Polar, we don't feel anything here.

Harrie

Well there's no effect of the strike here on Bonaire. But there is something really fishy about the strike, because a lot of the people (if not most of them) are for Chavez. Also the owners of the major tv stations are against Chavez.(so imagine if CNN would only broadcast against Bush.)
A Venezuelan guy I know told me that the news leaving Venezuela are not comletely accurate.
You never know who to trust.

The Venezuelan man, we spoke, told a story that there were 5 million people that signed a petition against Chavez, compared to about 11 million people that are allowed to vote in Venezuela, of course, not everybody was in the possibility to sign the petition, so at least there is a big group of Venezualan people against Chavez.
As far as we know the guy, he knows what he is talking about, and at least worth of trusting his words. Yes, you will never know who to trust, that is true.
It is good that the strikes have been stopped, that will allways be better for the economics of Venezuela, and the peace in our region.

Harrie

Living on Bonaire just watch one of the speeches Chavez gives - all TV stations in Venezuela are forced to broad cast them and to interrupt their normal programs. Chavez used the "Cadena" law already 22 times since the 1st of January -- other presidents before used it about 4 times during their terms in power.
Every sunday he has is program "Hola Presidente" ... very interesting...
If he really knows what he is doing he would never have talked about at least half of his population as terrorists, saboteurs etc....
In any democratic country there would have been new elections....

Did you read this article in the Amigoe???

<http://63.151.144.112/artman/publish/article_248.shtml>

short version in English

<http://www.amigoe.com/english/aru_late_news.htm#aruba%20watches%20for%20chavistas%20actions>

and read some of these articles.... like "horror in Venezuela" --- which you can find back also at Amnesty International...

http://www.vcrisis.com/