President Hugo Chavez has been facing a public outcry in recent weeks over power failures that, after six nationwide blackouts in the last two years, are cutting electricity for hours each day in rural areas and in industrial cities like Valencia and Ciudad Guayana. Now, water rationing has been introduced here in the capital.The deterioration of services is perplexing to many here, especially because the country had grown used to cheap, plentiful electricity and water in recent decades. But even as the oil boom was enriching his government and Mr. Chavez asserted greater control over utilities and other industries in this decade, public services seemed only to decay, adding to residents' frustrations.
With oil revenues declining and the economy slowing, the shortages may have no quick fixes in sight.
| Oogo took all the oil revenues and bought as many people as he could. Now the home oil industry can't produce because they haven't been investing in production. Venezuela now begins a big slide into the dumpster. Too bad. |