03.20.16: Cognitive Trap

The Public Ministry announced today that it was summoning MUD National Assembly deputy Americo de Grazia to provide testimony over the March 4 massacre of 28 miners near Tumeremo, Bolivar state. De Grazia was the first public figure to denounce the event.

The announcement was made by Attorney General Luisa Ortega Diaz during a television interview that aired earlier today. Diaz said that her office was looking to leave no stone unturned in its investigation of the Tumeremo massacre.

Diaz also said that one of the theories investigators were working with is that criminal gangs fighting for control of mines in the area orchestrated the killings. She also confirmed that state authorities were suspected of being involved in the massacre:

There are police officers who create gangs alongside criminals. One of the hypotheses in this case is that this is an example of a war over the control of these mines.

Poll: 58% Believe Solution to Crisis Involves Maduro Leaving

Oscar Schemel, the head of the Hinterlaces polling firm, spoke on Televen’s Jose Vicente Rangel Hoy and provided recent polling information regarding Maduro’s term as president.

Schemel revealed that 67% of Venezuelans believe that the economic crisis in the country could still get worse, while 58% believe that the solution to the crisis involves Maduro not being President.

Schemel also explained why he thinks Maduro continues to be such an unpopular leader:

First, there is a cognitive, an ideological trap (…) and they [Maduro/the PSUV] haven’t defined a path forward for the economy. The President organizes diverse cabinets to generate debate, but instead they implode. They haven’t defined a path forward, and that’s why there aren’t any coherent economic solutions (…) Decisions are taken slowly, and there’s a misunderstanding of economic issues.

Colgate Executives Face Arrest

Last week, the state-owned VTV channel aired a program in which Colgate workers claimed that the company was “simplifying” production at its factories by producing only the largest, most expensive sizes of its products. The workers said that production of smaller sized products had fallen by 90%.

During a speech last night, Maduro said that the workers’ comments were going to be investigated, opening up the possibility that company executives could be sent to prison. Maduro said:

We have to immediately proceed with the full force of the law (…) I believe the workers (…) I call for all ministers and the SEBIN to apply a firm hand to this (…) If it’s true that executives from this company have committed crimes, they should go to jail.

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