Hugo Chavez loses a battle he couldn’t win. Diagnosed with pelvis cancer on June 2011, the Venezuelan leader underwent surgical treatment and chemotherapy for almost two years, unfortunately complications resulting from the aggressive treatment ended his long battle against the disease.
Vice president Nicholas Maduro ordered military forces to maintain the order and peace in the country, as many reacted to the leader’s death in a boisterous way taking over the streets in Caracas, Venezuela where Chavez died.
The news also prompted a series of celebrations in South Florida, where a high concentration of Venezuelans who fled Chavez’s regime reacted in a jubilant way.
Chavez, who ruled Venezuela for 14 years, implemented a socialist reform, which eliminated the middle and upper classes by nationalizing industries, closing off and privatizing upper class residential areas and converting them to communal cooperatives. He eliminated social welfare programs and subsidies to try to impose equality among all. This reform increased poverty in Venezuela by 66%. His drastic measures caused many Venezuelans to flee the country and created a sense of uncertainty and insecurity. Crime increased as much as 36%. High unemployment rates still dominate and personal safety is at stake.
Comments