It's just a jump to the left
Venezuela creates its own unique time zone on Sunday, putting the clock back 22 minutes half-an-hour on a permanent basis. President Hugo Chavez says that an earlier dawn means the performance of the country will improve, as more people will wake up in daylight.
| That makes no sense at all. I think he's crazy. |
"I don't care if they call me crazy, the new time will go ahead," he said.
| Yeah, you can do that if you're a dictator. That doesn't mean you're not nuts. |
But critics say the move is unnecessary and the president simply wants to be in a different time zone from his arch-rival, the United States.
And then a step to the right
The new time puts Venezuela four-and-a-half hours behind Greenwich Mean Time, and out of step with all its neighbours. The move had first been announced in August, but it has been delayed twice because international bodies and Venezuela itself were not ready to implement the change.
Science and Technology Minister Hector Nacarro praised the measure. "I see it as a very positive thing that while there is light we can be in it," he said.
Put your hands on your hips
And President Chavez said earlier this year that schoolchildren would arrive for lessons with more energy as a result of the change. "These children have to get up at five in the morning... they arrive at school dead tired. And why? Because of our time."
And pull your knees in tight
The time change is the latest in a series of reforms implemented by President Chavez, who has already changed the country's name, coat of arms and flag.
Let's do the Time Warp, again |