Venezuela: divisions harden after Chavez victory

National Catholic Reporter, Sept 3, 2004 by Bart Jones

"We opened the door to the process [initiated by Chavez]. We feel identified with it," said Mucura, 34, who also runs a small, government-subsidized food store out of her home. She added: "1 think this is the most democratic country that there can be in the world."

Santa Martinez, 46, runs the Alimentary House, teaches in Mission Robinson and studies in Mission Ribas for her high school diploma. She says she left school 20 years ago in the 9th grade, and now can't wait to get to class every day. "It's so exciting," she said.

La Vega isn't the-only shantytown undergoing a transformation. In the sprawling 23 de Enero slum, activist Juan Contreras said the community library now has a dozen computers that offer free Internet service to residents. Running water that used to arrive every four or five days now comes every day. And residents in huge Soviet-style buildings also have direct gas connections to their apartments. Before they had to go out and buy small tanks.

Contreras laughed at suggestions that Chavez has destroyed Venezuela. "If the country is so bad and people are dying of hunger with parasites in their stomachs, why did they go out and wait on line to vote for Chavez?" he asked.

--Bart Jones

BART JONES

Caracas, Venezuela

[Bart Jones is a reporter for Newsday and a former foreign correspondent for The Associated Press in Venezuela.]