Posts
NEW LINK / M.HERALD/F.Robles
2 screen read...combined
More Venezuelans are questioning why President Hugo Chavez didn't return to Caracas for cancer treatment.
“Because he knows he could die here!” said a Caracas security guard. “What goes around comes around. He governed badly, giving away our riches to other countries. You can die in a hospital here. The health system is useless, so he had to run to Cuba.”
Doctors there say the country’s public health system is a mess and his much touted Cuban clinics have not fared much better.
“I think initially Chávez intended to present it as a vote of confidence for the Cuban health care system — an effort to ratify his vision of health care and socialism,” said former Health Minister Rafael Orihuela. “If he came home, he knows he’d have to go to a private clinic, where the doctors are well-trained and have access to technology. But that’s the worst message he could send: that what he built here doesn’t work.”
2 screen read...combined
More Venezuelans are questioning why President Hugo Chavez didn't return to Caracas for cancer treatment.
“Because he knows he could die here!” said a Caracas security guard. “What goes around comes around. He governed badly, giving away our riches to other countries. You can die in a hospital here. The health system is useless, so he had to run to Cuba.”
Doctors there say the country’s public health system is a mess and his much touted Cuban clinics have not fared much better.
“I think initially Chávez intended to present it as a vote of confidence for the Cuban health care system — an effort to ratify his vision of health care and socialism,” said former Health Minister Rafael Orihuela. “If he came home, he knows he’d have to go to a private clinic, where the doctors are well-trained and have access to technology. But that’s the worst message he could send: that what he built here doesn’t work.”
As a stunned Venezuela slowly gets used to Hugo Chavez's cancer revelation...Cuba may also suffer if its benefactor dies or leaves office.
In 2011, Hugo Chavez will subsidize Cuba...by $3.5bn...most of it from oil.
He ships Cuba 115,000 bbl of oil per day.
“There would be an immediate collapse of the Cuban economy if a future Venezuelan government adopts a policy that it will no longer subsidize the sale of oil to Cuba,” claims US professor Jorge Piñón.
The drastically reduced oil provided to La Habana has never been popular in Venezuela.
In fact, a coup that briefly ousted Chavez in 2002 halted all oil shipments to Castro.
And even some younger Cubans believe Chavez's support hurts Cuba.
“They believe that the modernization of the Cuban economy was delayed because of the Venezuelan subsidies, and they don’t want to waste any more time.”
AND: UPDATE: NEW LINK:
Venezuelans prepare for...and fear...a now-uncertain future.
Even opposition analysts are wary of a succession battle if Hugo does not return from Cuba.
Doctors speculate that Chavez has colon cancer and if true reports the WSJ... he will need 8-9 months treatment...while legally he can only stay out of the country for 6 months.
"He looked scared," said a 48-year-old Caracas cook. "I don't think he is coming back or he would have already." Her husband said the obvious: "There are plenty of people with cancer living in Venezuela," he said.
If cancer forces Chavez from the race, long-standing divisions could actually hurt the opposition's chances.
Venezuelans prepare for...and fear...a now-uncertain future.
Even opposition analysts are wary of a succession battle if Hugo does not return from Cuba.
Doctors speculate that Chavez has colon cancer and if true reports the WSJ... he will need 8-9 months treatment...while legally he can only stay out of the country for 6 months.
"He looked scared," said a 48-year-old Caracas cook. "I don't think he is coming back or he would have already." Her husband said the obvious: "There are plenty of people with cancer living in Venezuela," he said.
If cancer forces Chavez from the race, long-standing divisions could actually hurt the opposition's chances.
