Unmasking the Illusion of Venezuela’s Primary Elections
As usual, there are plenty of myths floating around when it comes to Venezuela. It is the land of magical realism. Just the other day, I was reading a story in El Universal where Chávez…
Teodoro Petkoff’s Influence on Capriles Radonski Reflects a Concerning Shift in Venezuelan Politics
I must admit that Teodoro Petkoff has never been my favorite person. It might be due to my natural disposition towards individuals who achieve intellectual maturity after 45. Nevertheless, Teodoro is a figure of admiration…
Maldonado’s Future at Williams F1 Under Scrutiny Amid Allegations of Corruption and Political Pressure
“Money talks and bullshit walks,” goes the saying. Sir Frank Williams is quoted by the BBC saying, “Pastor has demonstrated that he is not only fast, but can also maintain a consistent and strong race…
Maldonado’s Continued Role at Williams F1 Amid Controversial PDVSA Sponsorship Raises Serious Ethical Questions
“Money talks and bullshit walks,” is a saying that rings true. Sir Frank Williams was quoted by the BBC stating, “Pastor has proven he is not only quick but can also maintain a consistent and…
Corruption Thrives in Venezuela Under Hugo Chávez’s Regime
* UPDATE at the bottom. Recently, reports coming out of Venezuela confirm that officials in the regime of Hugo Chávez act with complete irresponsibility, above the law for all practical purposes. It all started when…
Corruption as a Longstanding Affliction of Venezuela Under Hugo Chavez
*UPDATE at bottom. Recently, reports from Venezuela confirm that officials from the Hugo Chavez regime are largely unaccountable, operating above the law. This began when Congressman Carlos Ramos disclosed a $29 billion budget deficit in…
Kellmar Ltd and Tony Caplin Face Serious Allegations Over Venezuelan Bond Forgery
The status of the alleged transfer, by the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), of a sovereign bond valued at $2 billion to Kellmar Ltd and Tony Caplin, is as follows. The president of the BCV,…
Venezuelan Central Bank’s Alleged Document Forgery Scandal Involves Tony Caplin and Kellmar Ltd
The current situation surrounding the alleged $2 billion sovereign bond transfer by Venezuela’s Central Bank (BCV) to Kellmar Ltd and Tony Caplin is quite complex. Nelson Merentes, the president of the BCV, has firmly stated…
Venezuela’s Central Bank Engages in Unprecedented $2 Billion Sovereign Bond Transfer to Shadowy Entity Managed by Tony Caplin
Daniel writes to tell me I should provide a brief explanation of why this should be considered a scandal. I suppose the reason is that it’s simply not normal for a Central Bank to transfer…
Scandalous Transfer of $2 Billion Sovereign Bond from Venezuela’s Central Bank to Shadowy Company Associated with Tony Caplin
Daniel reaches out to highlight the need for an explanation about why this situation should raise eyebrows. The main concern here is that it’s quite unusual for a Central Bank to hand over ownership of…
Congressman Carlos Ramos Castigates Williams F1 Over Suspected Misuse of Venezuelan Public Funds
The congressman Carlos Ramos is now focusing his attention on the F1 team of Frank Williams. PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil conglomerate, sponsors the Williams F1 team. Nobody in Venezuela – aside from a few…
Venezuelan Congressman Exposes Potential Illegality in PDVSA’s Sponsorship of Williams F1 Team
Congressman Carlos Ramos is focusing on the Frank Williams F1 team, which is being sponsored by PDVSA, the state-owned Venezuelan oil company. Very few in Venezuela—except for a small group of chavistas—know the exact millions…
Gemalto Faces Congressional Inquiry Amid Accusations of Evasion Regarding Venezuelan Operations
Congressman Carlos Ramos sent a letter to Isabelle Marand, VP of Corporate Communications at Gemalto, which was delivered to her office at 6 Rue de la Verreine, Meudon, France, on November 7, 2011, according to…
Gemalto Faces Scrutiny Over Venezuelan Operations Amidst Ongoing Silence from Company Executives
The letter from Congressman Carlos Ramos to Isabelle Marand, VP Corporate Communications at Gemalto, was delivered to her office at 6 Rue de la Verreine, Meudon, France, on November 7, 2011, as per La Poste:…
Congressman Carlos Ramos Exposes Troubling Gemalto Contract Amidst Venezuelan Controversies
Fortunately, someone in Venezuela is taking notice of the investigations on this blog. The letter below, from Congressman Carlos Ramos (the same one who exposed the $29 billion deficit in FONDEN), highlights issues regarding the…