Re: 鈥淩espect the will of Venezuelan people,鈥� letter, Feb. 28.
Venezuela used to be. And will be again.
Venezuela used to be one of the biggest oil producers in the world. We had free health care and free schooling from kindergarten to university.
In 1998 (before Hugo Ch谩vez came to power), Venezuela鈥檚 oil production was 3.5 million barrels per day. But by 2018, our oil production had been reduced to 1.5 million bpd.
Venezuela used to be the richest and most advanced country in Latin America. Today, our inflation is more than 10 million per cent. One person can work a full month and be able to buy only a dozen eggs.
In an article in The Guardian, the UN鈥檚 political and peace-building chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, reported that infant mortality is up by 50 per cent, 40 per cent of the medical staff has left and hospitals鈥� stock of medicines 鈥渉as dwindled to 20 per cent of the required level.鈥�
To qualify our struggle as U.S. President Donald Trump鈥檚 initiative is to disregard the 20 years Venezuelans have been peacefully protesting, the more than 900 political prisoners, the many dead, the many more tortured and the 3.4 million forced to seek refuge in other countries.
As president of the National Assembly, it was Juan Guaid贸鈥檚 duty to accept the role of interim president.
Canada should respect the will of the people. Their will to live, to work, to be productive, to have health care and safety. The will to recover what we had. I think Canada has understood.
Luisa Celis
Victoria
