Chavez to nationalize Venezuela cargo ports
| Chavez |
Venezuela is set to nationalize the companies that run some of the South American nation’s main ports, according to a Reuters report over the weekend.
The move is the latest by socialist President Hugo Chavez to put key areas of the economy in state hands, the wire service reported.
The ports affected include key inbound cargo gateways for the country not those handling oil shipments.
'Authorities are revising the contracts of the port operators, the government’s official gazette said on Thursday, and Public Works Minister Diosdado Cabello said the state would take control,' the report said.
'Chavez has stepped up nationalizations and pressure on his opponents in recent months, taking over oil service companies, iron works and some food factories. The former soldier has also been progressively stripping opposition governors and mayors of power and revenue streams. In March he ordered that ports, airports and roads previously governed at the state level be handed to central government. Chavez has already nationalized key industries in Venezuela including oil, power, telecommunications, steel and cement.'
