Dear Editor,
Many Jamaicans must be mourning the recent passing of President Hugo Rafael Chavez of the Federal Republic of Venezuela, who had strong connections with Jamaica over the years.
President Chavez became very popular after he led a coup and attempted Government takeover in 1998. He eventually won the presidential election in 1999 and soon afterwards got voter approval for a new constitution.
Then, by 2000, Chavez was re-elected to a six-year term and while he had been a strong critic of the United States, he worked feverishly to hasten socialist reforms in Venezuela.
However, many wealthy and middle-class Venezuelans opposed Chavez because his Government increasingly took over decision-making for the petroleum industry and began redistributing wealth.
During his tenure, Chavez promoted his plan to create a "21st century socialism" and took steps to put important Venezuelan industries under public control.
Anyway, the Venezuelan Government has carried out massive programmes to improve the living conditions of the poor. For instance, the Government had provided building material, electricity, water, and sewage facilities for many local Rancho dwellers.
In addition, the Government had taken steps to improve rural life so that the people would stay on farms, instead of moving into crowded cities. At the same time, it must be emphasised that Venezuelans have a high standard of living in relation to the rest of Latin America, due mainly to the country's large petroleum production.
President Hugo Chavez, who was born on the 28th of July, 1954 in the State of Barines, Venezuela, was greatly influenced by the South American revolutionary, Simon Bolivar.
Certainly, Hugo Chavez was a courageous leader who made a great impact in Jamaica, the Caribbean, and to the marginalised people of his country. His legacy will live on.
Valentine Pearson
Montego Bay
valenem pearson@yahoo.com
Chavez's legacy will live on
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Many Jamaicans must be mourning the recent passing of President Hugo Rafael Chavez of the Federal Republic of Venezuela, who had strong connections with Jamaica over the years.
President Chavez became very popular after he led a coup and attempted Government takeover in 1998. He eventually won the presidential election in 1999 and soon afterwards got voter approval for a new constitution.
Then, by 2000, Chavez was re-elected to a six-year term and while he had been a strong critic of the United States, he worked feverishly to hasten socialist reforms in Venezuela.
However, many wealthy and middle-class Venezuelans opposed Chavez because his Government increasingly took over decision-making for the petroleum industry and began redistributing wealth.
During his tenure, Chavez promoted his plan to create a "21st century socialism" and took steps to put important Venezuelan industries under public control.
Anyway, the Venezuelan Government has carried out massive programmes to improve the living conditions of the poor. For instance, the Government had provided building material, electricity, water, and sewage facilities for many local Rancho dwellers.
In addition, the Government had taken steps to improve rural life so that the people would stay on farms, instead of moving into crowded cities. At the same time, it must be emphasised that Venezuelans have a high standard of living in relation to the rest of Latin America, due mainly to the country's large petroleum production.
President Hugo Chavez, who was born on the 28th of July, 1954 in the State of Barines, Venezuela, was greatly influenced by the South American revolutionary, Simon Bolivar.
Certainly, Hugo Chavez was a courageous leader who made a great impact in Jamaica, the Caribbean, and to the marginalised people of his country. His legacy will live on.
Valentine Pearson
Montego Bay
valenem pearson@yahoo.com
Chavez's legacy will live on
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