Caracas Chronicles

Protests continue to rise in Venezuela despite a increasing regime repression. U.S. State Department releases fact sheet on Maduro's criminal track record. Canada included 43 individuals connected to Maduro to their sanctions list. The Lima Group releases another statement specifically addressing multinational organizations and calling out China, Russia, Turkey and Iran for their continued support for Maduro. On World Art Day, Notre Dame cathedral burns.

Chavismo is on a campaign to shut down freedom of expression, targeting international and national media outlets to keep quiet what's going on in Venezuela. The irony is that, while this goes on, Venezuelan journalism shines.

Caretaker President Juan Guaidó spent the weekend in mass rallies in Zulia and Punto Fijo. Holy Week will be long and improductive by decree. Pompeo has had meetings in Chile, Peru and Colombia. The Red Cross announced they’ll increase their original budget for humanitarian aid in Venezuela

After the blackouts on March 7 and 25, the life of the Venezuelan freelancer has become even more difficult. Many have lost the jobs that support entire families, because workers can’t deliver on time, while others have improvised homemade devices to get energy. Others prowl the city hunting for electricity and internet signal.

Like Maracaibo and Merida, Barquisimeto is one of those Venezuelan cities where power has been more off than on since March 7th. Our man there sent us a short report on how it is to live off the grid, against your wishes and needs

Machiques de Perija and the Guajira are the areas affected the most by the blackouts, as most of the region has been more than 20 days without electricity. This will result in more economic contraction and more violent protests.

Seventy three deaths by measles only. Zero improvements for the patients of the more grave diseases. The update of the “Triple Treat” 2017 Bulletin by ICASO and ACCSI is another sign that Venezuela is a menace for the region.

Juan Guaidó visited José Félix Ribas in Petare while Maduro reminisces about the events of April, 2002. Reuters published a report on the collapse of production in Venezuela due lack of electricity and water. Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal was arrested in Madrid and SEBIN arrested four BCV employees who met with Guaidó at the AN. UN officials express growing concern for the humanitarian disaster in Venezuela. the U.S. Treasury Department expanded its sanctions list.

Chávez’s government made of Misión Barrio Adentro one of the main tropes of its worldwide propaganda success. But that program was really a fiasco, instrumentalized by its creators: castrismo officers with proven experience in selling a lie for decades.

86% of Venezuelans don’t earn enough to cover their needs, according to a Consultores 21 survey. IMF and World Bank are ready to lend a hand. Ecuadorian embassy in London withdrew Julian Assange’s asylum yesterday. Russia defended Maduro in the UN and Maduro sent oil to Cuba again

Since March 7th, almost all Venezuela, including its capital, has been trying to survive without electricity, internet and running water at the same time, and also overwhelmed by shortages, hyperinflation and crime. This is what life would be like under such conditions.

Gustavo Tarre Briceño is officially the new Venezuelan representative to the OAS. New members of PDVSA’s ad hoc board of directors were appointed. A full report about the Pemon massacre in February was presented in the AN. Pediatric transplant patients are dying in hospitals. Michelle Bachelet said she’ll come, but didn’t say when.

Venezuela’s collapse is usually seen through headlines or figures, and we don’t get the chance to see what it all means and what it does to the ones who endure it. No matter how privileged you think you are, it will all get to you.

In Barquisimeto, 400 km west of Caracas, we haven’t escaped the longest blackout in Venezuelan history. We have survived for a month with no electricity or water, it’s been an emotional roller coaster caused by the lack of basic services.

Caretaker President presented the Law of Guarantees to public sector employees. Deputy José Guerra presented a plan for progressively increasing minimum wage. EU gets back to work with their proposed Contact Group to solve our crisis. Special envoy Elliot Abrams will travel to Latin America and meet with allies in the region.

Zulia has four thermal power stations, able to provide 76% of the energy that Zulia needs. But all of them are off, and Maracaibo is being powered only by a string of electricity coming from the other side of the country. Why? Corruption and mismanagement .

This report by Human Rights Watch in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is perhaps the most comprehensive, detailed international report made on the crisis so far.

Key moments from Guaidó's speech to thousands of Venezuelans on Francisco de Miranda Ave. in El Marqués on Saturday, April 6th, the first formal activity of Operation Freedom. Several websites were blocked and the trucks carrying the sound system were, as usual, held up by the security forces controlled by chavismo.

The ruling party used to be quite disciplined, particularly under pressure. But the collapse of the nation’s power network is damaging Maracaibo so much that some local lawmakers started a rebellion against the imposed governor.

One century ago, this was a dictator’s favorite city. In the 90s, it was the place where Hugo Chávez prepared his coup. Now, at the Círculo Militar the privileged in uniform can be spared of the predicaments of civilians.

In Venezuela, there have been politicians who have also been writers, but there’s only one case of a president who was a writer more than anything else, and his name was Rómulo Gallegos. He died this day, in 1969.

Human Rights Watch, with help from Johns Hopkins University researchers, issued a report on the Venezuelan crisis, urging UN to act. The World Bank also issued a report presenting a bleak picture of the economic crisis. Jorge Arreaza praises Al-Assad in Syria and regime officials continue to request financial help from Russia. NATO countries discuss Russian troops in Venezuela and the U.S. requests UN Security Council meeting.

The collapse of the country’s power network, which worsens the already catastrophic conditions the population is forced to endure, is the outcome of the interruption of a long development program that started half a century ago

There can be a huge gap between reality and propaganda, and between what Venezuelans experience on the ground and what leftist Americans or Canadians can say to confirm their own preconceptions. What does Venezuela’s Roscharch image say about you?