Housing in Venezuela: empty promises becoming emptier

Tal Cual editorial today gives the numbers of public housing built by the last three administrations in Venezuela (1). The simplicity of the figures deserve an illustrative table. To the number of lodgings built in total and yearly, I have added the major problems faced by each administration, as well as any political advantage that they might have benefited during their tenure.

	Carlos Andres	Rafael Caldera	Hugo Chavez
Period	1988-1993	1993-1998	1998-2005
Duration	5 years	5 years	6 years
Governmental housing built	313 000	341 000	101 000
Yearly average	62 000	68 000	16 000
Political Problems faced	Popular upheaval February 27 1989; 2 coup attempts, 02 and 11 1992	Banking crisis and financial collapse during first half of term; collapse of oil prices second half of term	Coup attempt 2002, general strike 2002-2003
Political advantages	Weak majority earlier in term	None, minority government for 5 years	Taylor made constitution since 12/1999; majority government since 07/2000; high oil prices since 2002

The numbers are eloquent by themselves. Just as the 1999 Vargas disaster was followed by inefficiency and corruption, so is the public works program and, more essential, the public housing programs mired in at least inefficiency.

Interestingly chavismo does not even pretend to deny these numbers and instead launches in a campaign to make believe that housing is sprouting everywhere. The latest show was actually Chavez in Yaracuy yesterday doing his "Alo Presidente" Sunday talk show. This picture from the Bolivarian News Agency shows Chavez and the new Yaracuy governor Gimenez supposedly inaugurating just made buildings in Cocorote where, we were told, some of the refugees of Vargas 2 will find solace.



Well, it is all at least a semi lie. The pair of buildings have actually been built since the middle of last year, AND NOT even in the district, Independencia, of Gimenez, now the governor of Yaracuy. But that does not stop this one from taking all the credit and put hound-like the glory at the feet of his boss. How do I know that? Well, I drive in front of them occasionally. I was actually wondering if I could buy an apartment myself there but was told that all was "reserved".

And after that how can I believe that the government will build 200 000 homes in the next couple of years?

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Added later. Miguel did translate this editorial.