A Bridge too far

It is one thing to read the words of Lula on the paper when he came to support Chavez last Monday at Puerto Ordaz, while opening the new Orinoquia bridge. It is another thing to hear the man. This morning I almost spilled my tea mug when I saw and head how deliberate was the support of Lula to Chavez. This was no emotional spurt in the heat of the moment: this was a well glossed plug for the reelection of Chavez. Thus I know that no matter what disagreement might exist between Lula and Chavez, Lula will do all what he can to keep such a good customer of Brazilian goods. And the democrat image of Lula did get a blow along the way. We might want to revise the role of Lula in 2003/2004 in Venezuela.

But there were other interesting details. Apparently the much vaunted promo of the government says that Orinoquia is a first, a mixed bridge, for railroad and cars. Fine. Unfortunately the new inaugurated bridge has not a single piece of rail line on top of it. Even more, there is no railway in construction out of Puerto Ordaz. I mean, there are plans, some day something somewhere will be lined. But right now there is nothing, zilch, zippo! It will be at least a decade until the Orinoquia rail capacity serves: for this it needs a railroad crossing all of Monagas and Sucre states, and a deep water harbor. None of them really planned. And with the demential gas line to Patagonia in the works, I am not holding my breath for the Orinoquia Express.

We also learned that the site for the construction was already decided in 1991! Even before Chavez did his first coup d’état. And that the bridge should have been concluded in 2003. In other words chavismo bureaucratic delays and other crap are worth three (3) years (in addition of whatever delays happened between 1991 and 1998).

Meanwhile the ignorant people and the peanut gallery cheer as Lula and Chavez are caught in lies that are worthy, or even grosser, than any of their predecessors ever uttered.
-The end-

Tags: chavez, lula, orinoquia, venezuela