On Monday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed the decree for nationalization of Consolidada de Ferrys (Conferry), shipping company, which has 980 employees and operates a fleet of ferries and ro-ro used primarily in connection with the island of Margarita in the state of Nueva Esparta.
The extent of state control of the shipping company has been criticized by the Governor of the State of Nueva Esparta, Morel Rodríguez Ávila, who - while acknowledging that the activity of Conferry has incurred a variety of problems - has underlined how the services operated by the company constitute a 'alternative to air transport, which has growing rates, "the first to nationalize Conferry - Ávila Rodríguez said - first, the government would do better to make it easier for the company solve its problems.It would be a sensible thing to do and would have thus demonstrated its willingness to promote and defend private property. But no. What he did was to highlight once again the plan to exterminate his scandalous private enterprise, in the rush to implement by any means the comunistizzazione of Venezuela. " In addition, the governor has shown that the activities that so far the government has nationalized did not produce any positive result. "If until yesterday had margaritegni" Conferry "- concluded Rodríguez Ávila - we hope that tomorrow will not be" senzaferry "."
Even the president of Fedecamaras, Jorge Botti, has harshly criticized the nationalization of the company owner that is added - he said - the long and disturbing list of 401 registered so far in 2011 expropriations. Botti has denounced "the straitjacket that has been placed on businesses, as in the case of Conferry and airlines, which - he explained - have faced many obstacles: the control of rates, difficulties and delays in the delivery of currency for normal operation and for purchases of spare parts necessary for the proper operation. "
For his part, Minister of Transport and Communications of Venezuela, Francisco Garces, the executive said that the intention is to ensure that "the service of transport by sea is undertaken properly and that is why - he added - that the government and, very responsibly, the commander Chavez ordered the nationalization. " In addition, the Minister pointed out that it is no cessation of Conferry and that "this nationalization is meant to ensure that people moving from the mainland to the Island of Margarita can do so in a convenient and proper, without sacrificing time for passengers due to delays that the system presents. " Garcés Finally, remembering that among the complaints from the users of the company figure just the delay of services, stressed that Conferry has a fleet of ten ships of which only four are operational, however, and that the government's objective is to call into the business' entire fleet.
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On Monday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed the decree for nationalization of Consolidada de Ferrys (Conferry), shipping company, which has 980 employees and operates a fleet of ferries and ro-ro used primarily in connection with the island of Margarita in the state of Nueva Esparta. 
- Via Raffaele Paolucci 17r/19r - 16129 Genoa - ITALY
