Venezuela decrees Fridays a holiday to ease energy crisis

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro (L) waves next to Diosdado Cabello, deputy of Venezuela's United Socialist Party (PSUV), during the broadcast of his weekly TV program ''Hitting with the Sledge Hammer'' in Caracas. Photo: Reuters
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro (L) waves next to Diosdado Cabello, deputy of Venezuela’s United Socialist Party (PSUV), during the broadcast of his weekly TV program ”Hitting with the Sledge Hammer” in Caracas. Photo: Reuters

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has decreed that all Fridays for the next two months will be holidays, in a bid to save energy in the blackout-hit OPEC country.

“We’ll have long weekends,” Maduro said in an hours-long appearance on state television on Wednesday night, announcing the measure as part of a 60-day plan to fight a power crunch.

A severe drought, coupled with what critics say is a lack of investment and maintenance in energy infrastructure, has hit the South American nation, which depends on hydropower for 60 percent of its electricity.

Venezuela’s opposition slammed the new four-day work week as reckless in the face of a bitter recession, shortages of foods and medicines, and triple-digit inflation.

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12 Comments

  1. UDOHREADYET
    April 7, 2016

    Its funny how people like to bad talk when they think you down. If the article said Venezuela has the cheapest price per gallon of gas for its citizens in the world & and that the have the largest oil reserves in the world or that even if its an oil rich nation they use hydroelectric energy instead of burning fossil fuels and that the drought (lack of rain fall) reduced the amount of energy produced by the hydroelectric plants. The Venezuelan government was the first to provide helicopters and assistance to Dominica in the recent Erika crisis, they provide fuel at a discounted rate which allows Dominicans to be able to afford gas… etc etc etc. Its surprising how ungrateful and forgetful Dominicans have become, its easier to criticize and laugh when they think people are suffering than to offer ideas or a helping hand.

  2. April 7, 2016

    MADuro is MADuro! When people allow lunatics to control their Countries and, in turn, their very lives nothing good can come of it. Long weekends in Venezuela, filled with the tears of frustrated mothers and hungry babies. Let us pray for the people of Venezuela and for an end to their suffering!!!!!

  3. Mamosa
    April 7, 2016

    Excuse me, but did’nt Maduro lost an election last year? Why is he back talking gibberish.

    • April 7, 2016

      Their system is more like the American one than the British one. His party lost their majority in the legislature, but his term as president is still ongoing.

  4. True Dominican
    April 7, 2016

    And that’s the madness we want to import here in D/ca? I SEE!!!

  5. KBCR
    April 7, 2016

    Hold on a hot minute nah….I thought they had voted mister out of power last year?

    • MIA
      April 7, 2016

      Read to/and understand.

  6. love I
    April 7, 2016

    It is very sad how Venezuela has become…God builds..Man destroys..very horrible situation

  7. April 7, 2016

    I pray it is not long before Maduro is a bad memory and Venezuelans can begin to climb out of the deep dark hole that socialism has put them in.

    • Shameless
      April 7, 2016

      Please tell me you feel the same way about Dominica and its Indian Duckt-her PM. 8)

      Always Assertive! :twisted:

  8. Shaka Zulu
    April 7, 2016

    It’s called a chain reaction. Less productivity in a struggling society. I feel sorry for the Venezuelans. Where are your ALBA friends that were so in love. These guys will make any excuses for thier lack of vision and policy failures. I hope the Dominica public get the message loud and clear.

  9. Titiwi
    April 7, 2016

    I bet the employers will be obliged to continue paying full salaries nonetheless, only to fuel inflation even further. But of course, productivity and efficiency will improve!? I would like to hear Parry Bellot’s take on this.

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