Chavez
'war' can affect T&T, region
In the days and months ahead, President Chavez's decision to nationalise Venezuela's
oil industry, leave the World Bank and IMF will become the talking point in
academia, in political circles, in business circles and among the masses. Whether
or not these issues will stir up the kind of debates that pitted the right
against the left in the 1970s when Third World governments nationalised their
key resources is left to be seen. However, there are some questions we should
think about?
Firstly,
will the "Chavez war" on the
US oil transnationals have the same effect as the
1973 OPEC's decision to quadruple oil prices? Will
other OPEC countries follow Chavez's lead?
Secondly, how will this decision affect the relationship
between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, given
that both countries recently signed agreements
to develop gas resources jointly?
Thirdly, how will the US administration respond?
Will they try to topple Chavez or put the squeeze
on other countries to pressure Venezuela?
Fourthly, will Chinese oil companies replace US
companies? If this occurs, how will it affect the
geo-political realities of the region?
Fifthly, how will this decision affect Chavez's
relationship with cities on the eastern seaboard
of the United States? How will it affect his relationship
with the rest of Caricom countries? How will it
affect Venezuela's relationship with the US?
Sixthly, will his decision to leave the World
Bank and IMF lead to other countries challenging
the dictates of these two institutions and their
structural adjustment policies?
Seventhly, will Chavez be able to build a coalition
in South/Central and Latin America, the Caribbean
strong enough to challenge the US administration
policies of Free Trade of the Americas?
We are living in interesting yet dangerous times
and Chavez's decision will certainly cause uneasiness
and anxiety in the corridors of power be they local,
regional and global. How will they respond is left
to be seen. Chavez has already set the train in
motion, and all we have to do is to answer the
above questions, critically analyse them. Think
on these things.
Godfrey Vincent
USA
Trinidad
Express
Tuesday,
May 15th 2007
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©2006 Trinidad Express. All Rights Reserved.
