living
VENEZUELA TODAY
A
A Failed Criminal Narco State
As a former Miss Venezuela and a naturalized U.S.
citizen, and a pro-democracy human freedom activist,
I feel a tremendous responsibility and deep commit-
ment to my country of origin.
I strongly condemn the narco-terrorist state that has
befallen my country under Nicolás Maduro, who suc-
ceeded Hugo Chávez. Both men, following orders
from Castro controlled Cuba, have pushed the coun-
try from democracy to dictatorship.
When I lived in Venezuela, my country was an entic-
ing paradise and lucrative place for business. Venezu-
ela’s inviting tropical climate mirrored the folkloric,
fun, and fresh personality of her people. Although the
government was not perfect, my country was a peace-
ful, exotic and progressive melting pot. Venezuela was
considered by many an example of democracy and
a political model to be replicated in Latin America.
Separation of power and respect for the Constitution
and the rule of law characterized our government.
There were food programs for the schools. The pub-
lic healthcare system, Instituto Venezolano de Seguro
Sociales (I.V.S.S.), was able to serve its population and
offered outpatient medical services, surgery, and hos-
pitalization as well as free prescriptions.
I remember with pride the creation of PDVSA
Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), in 1975, the
inauguration of the Caracas Metro in1983, and the
Grand Mariscal de Ayacucho scholarship program that
educated so many petroleum engineers and profes-
sionals.
Those were years of growth, efficient international re-
lations, and much respect for Venezuela. All this was
before Chávez and Maduro came to power.
32 iF Magazine | October 2017
CRIMINAL AND CORRUPT REGIME
For the last two decades, Venezuela has been run by
two-insane-populist Fidel Castro wannabes, first
Chavez and now Maduro. Both dictators supported
the invasion of thousands of Cuban intelligence agents
in Venezuelan military, civilian and state institutions
and subsidized the Castro brothers with Venezuelan
resources. Cuba has an “occupying army” in Venezu-
ela, according to the OAS Secretary General, Luis Al-
magro.
Today, Venezuela is a failed state experiencing its worst