Much has been happening in or concerning Venezuela in recent weeks. 

This, the second “Snippets” post in the blog will mention several of the more critical events.

Venezuela had its best Olympics showing

“It’s nice to feel this, it’s nice to cry hearing “Gloria al bravo pueblo” for a good reason, it’s fun to feel happy about being from Venezuela. The Olympic team made me connect with a country I felt had kicked me out, it made me feel our colors and our symbols like they were mine again, and that’s worth more than any medal they can bring home.”

Those are words by a Venezuelan emigrant, now seeking work in Spain. The Venezuelans, with no support from their country, shone unexpectedly. Every medal winner got a call from “President” Maduro, but the calls were strained and everyone could tell.

I did not watch the Olympics this year, so you can blame me for being one of those who ensured this Olympics had the worst viewership ever. 

However, I did keep tabs on Venezuela. And I too was proud.

Ahymara Espinoza did not win a medal for shot put, but she did qualify, training alone in an abandoned lot. Below is her training site:

Others did medal: Yulimar Rojas, triple jumper, won the gold as she broke the world record. Cyclist, Daniel Dhers won the silver in freestyle BMX, a sport that Mr. Dhers helped get into the Olympics. Weightlifters Julio Mayora and Keydomar Vallenilla also won silvers. With four medals, this was Venezuela’s best Olympics performance ever. 

Regional Elections Approach

“[E]very Venezuelan election since 2017 has lacked any legitimacy, not only due to the partisan nature of the National Electoral Council (CNE), the country’s top election arbiter, but also because there haven’t been enough guarantees for elections to meet the universally accepted attributes of freedom, fairness, transparency, and competitiveness needed for them to be considered truly democratic processes.”

I would say that has been the case since even earlier this century. But now, this understanding is widespread and the Venezuelan people are very much aware. Chavez, though long dead, still has a tight grip over the election administration process through his Communist heirs, including a heavy assist from Cuba (see the “Nexus” posts, which will continue presently). At the very least, serious audits are needed, but loudly rejected. Wonder why.

Food Appears Anew

“Before there was nothing; now there’s everything.”

Above was expressed by Jesús Barríos in Maracaibo.

The Maduro regime has begun lifting price controls in some areas, thereby allowing the market to determine price points and thereby allowing the law of supply and demand to function more freely, resulting in the creation of goods that Venezuelans need, namely, food.

Of course, these economic realities cannot be restored, like a light switch, without causing even greater pain. In this case, food prices have reached beyond the moon, adding greater misery to a desperate people. I am personally aware of others who are looking for means to leave, and leave now.

Do not forget this: