The National Assembly's agenda of 2009 resulted in 49 new laws of which 21 were incorporated into the legislative agenda "clandestinely" from direct orders of President Chávez said Carlos Vecchio, member and attorney of the People's Will Association. "The fact that 43% of laws passed obey direct orders of the president shows that there is no separation of powers and that the National Assembly is controlled by the president," he said. Vecchio accused Parliament of legislating against the dictates of the constitution, making laws such as the Federal Counsel for Government and Public Planning, which violate basic democratic principles such as decentralization.
The NGO Venezuela Justice and Process (Juypro), responsible for monitoring the justice system and ensuring the protection of and respect for human rights in the country, yesterday issued a statement warning of "a new murder attempt" against Judge Maria de Lourdes Mora Afiuni, imprisoned following her decision to release Eligio Cedeño from custody. The document reads that on Sunday, January 3, a group of inmates, adorned with bandanas on their legs and heads in a sign of "war" or "conflict" and "armed with spears," planned "to burn the judge alive" along with three other detainees who are in the prison's holding area. The press release states that female prisoners who "planned and implemented a failed attempt to kill Judge Afiuni" are fully identified and their information is being held by the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Interior and Justice.
Shopping malls will maintain activities and services that have low energy consumption despite their schedule restrictions, said Vice-President Ramon Carrizales on Tuesday after meeting with representatives of the Venezuelan Chamber of Commercial Centres. "The hours from 11 am to 9 pm are about business, but there are services and activities taking place in malls that are kept at their normal hours and require low power consumption," said the vice president. The low-energy activities include services related to health, nutrition, recreation, supermarkets, clinics and educational entities.
According to estimates from the Professional Electricians Union in Carabobo state (Siprecec), the shortfall in gas supply could affect the operation of units 1 and 2 of Planta Centro when in service since the lack of fuel could prevent it from operating at maximum capacity. The executive secretary of the guild, Juan Polanco, reported that the committee is not concerned that activation targets are met for both units during the first quarter, but also about the amount of fuel allowed to be used reliably. Polanco explained that although for now it is not known how much should be used for both units, up through last year before the fire the second plant worked with 80,000 cubic meters. "We do not know the amount that will be used between two units, but we do know is that there is not enough fuel to operate at full capacity, and that's worrisome."
A group of workers and union members from Venalum held a protest today to reject rationing measures ordered by the state government of Guyana, which involve the divestiture of some 360 units of the company, implying a decrease in production of 14,000 tonnes of aluminum. The demonstrators, stationed at gate 1 of Venalum, said the measure involves a reductive destruction of aluminum, and is detrimental to the interests of workers. They also said that the stability of staff employees and contractors workers would be in danger, and because of this they will resist closing their unit. As indicated, once a unit closes it then requires at least five years to reopen.
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