Venezuelan gov't defies court over Cuban doctors

[Say_What]

<clips>

Venezuela's left-wing government on Friday condemned as politically motivated a court decision to bar Cuban doctors from working in Caracas' slums and said they would remain in their jobs.

The ruling Thursday by the First Administrative Court rekindled a fierce debate in Venezuela about growing cooperation between President Hugo Chavez's government and communist Cuba.

Accepting an appeal by the Venezuelan Medical Federation, the court decided that 417 Cuban doctors working in Caracas' Libertador district under a bilateral cooperation program were practicing illegally and should be replaced by local doctors.

Calling the decision "grotesque," Health Minister Maria Urbaneja said the government would appeal.

She told a news conference the Cuban doctors would stay in Venezuela and their numbers would be increased. "There is not a court decision that can be above our commitment to provide health and well-being for the people," she said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N228355.htm

[bpilgrim]

1. how can anyone defend this?

sheesh, some of the rich have no SHAME or COMPASION whatsoever apparently.

what a world...

peace

[Osolomia]

2. the rich have no SHAME or COMPASION whatsoever

From today's AP wire report:

Yet Chavez has survived a 2002 coup and a two-month general strike this year. His standing among voters - about 30 percent by most polls - is enhanced by programs directed at the poor.

More than 900,000 illiterate adults are getting free reading and writing classes using methods developed in Cuba. Cuban doctors work for free in Caracas slums.

More than 300,000 people have received government loans to start small businesses. A land reform program has given more than 13,000 citizens land titles. Indigenous people have gained unprecedented constitutional rights, including the right to own their land.

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/6599633.htm

[BayCityProgressive]

3. I really hope

Bush isn't able to overthrow Chavez. I have a horrible feeling that they may be the next target of the war on terror. However, I don't think Bush would do it right before the 04 election with the latino vote he is scrounging for.

[AP]

5. I don't know if it's possible.

It's easier to deny people something they've never had a taste of. However, Chavez has given so much power and democracy to the poor in Venezuela that I don't think it can ever be taken back now.

[AP]

4. That last paragraph -- small business loands/land ownership -- is key

Entrenched hegemonic, large corporations hate small businesses because they compete on price and introduce change to the marketplace (large businesses have to invest in research, be light on their feet, and willing to adapt to changing marketplaces) when small businesses form and introduce new ideas and methods. Which is why Bush dramatically cut SBA funding in 2001 (hey, I thought Republicans liked business? Oh that's 'big business' they like).

Land ownership is the root of all wealth. Joe Stiglitz says this. He says that you can do all the microloaning and macroloaning you want, but you're never going to create a wealthy middle class in any country unless the land is owned by the people. (Which is why the west suddenly thinks that Mugabe is so bad after ignoring him for so long -- it's basically that they don't want to give up the wealth created for non-Zimbabweans though dramatically inequitable land ownership.)

[Kbowe]

6. Cuba has always led all nations in sending medical doctors to needy

people in all countries...no matter what the social-economice system. It is shameful that the US can't even begin to match the humanitarian aid from Casto's Cuba to the underserved of the world. I hope that the Venezuelan people hold fast to their principles.

[0007]

7. I agree with you

You'd think for the sake of huanity the U.S. would help. I'm dreaming.

[Judi Lynn]

8. Very telling article

It's easy to see the problem the 85% poor part of Venezuela's population is facing.

(snip) Urbaneja said the Cuban doctors were brought in because the government could not find enough Venezuelan doctors willing to work in crime-ridden slums of Caracas.

Venezuelan Medical Federation President Douglas Leon said the government should respect the court ruling. "I hope they are going to send the Cubans home," he said. (snip/...)

Evidently the Venezuelan Medical Federtion likes the situation just as it is, with no one at ALL treating the HUGE sector of very poor people in Venezuela.

Gee, if they had any gumption, they would have found a way to have been born into wealthy families, after all, in that country dominated by a small, rigid conservative base of European descendents.