VENEZUELA : Luxury Items Abound In Stores...While Basic Goods Grow Scarce.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/25/us-venezuela-food-idUSBRE90O10M20130125

     The contradictions of living in Caracas...are evident on its grocery shelves.
     No chicken or corn flour...but plenty of 18-year-old whiskey.
     Staples are scarce...while luxury goods are plentiful and easy to find.
     Merchants blame Chavista price controls....and consumers are annoyed.
     A business man says: 'Money is not the problem. On the contrary, the problem is there is too much money and not enough products to sell.'
    The government blames hoarding.
    The opposition often blames the red tape of Cubans who control the main port...since Venezuela must now import many food products.

   ALSO: TO READ: AFP's version of food shortage story...the worst scarcity in 4 years.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gCP06v4O3EV2jJ08EqbADww3lE-A?docId=CNG.8a1df6546643e0b0518f5b3dc8db201f.371