Thirty-one slain in connection with Venezuelan demonstrations

The attorney general explained that 318 out of 461 people injured were civilians, whereas the remaining 143 casualties included police agents, military officers and Government officials

EL UNIVERSAL

Thursday March 20, 2014  12:03 PM

Venezuela's Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz has informed that since February 12, 31 people have been killed, 461 injured and 1,854 detained in events related to demonstrations in Venezuela.

In an official radio broadcast, Ortega outlined that 25 out of the 31 people killed were civilians whereas the other six included police agents, military officers and public prosecutors.

The attorney general added that 318 out of the 461 people injured were civilians. The remaining 143 casualties included police agents, military officers and Government officials, AVN reported.

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Slow forex adjustment lashes Venezuela's staple supply

The Ancillary Foreign Currency Administration System has allocated so far this year only 10.8% of the amount of foreign currency oriented to imports

MAYELA ARMAS H. |  EL UNIVERSAL

Tuesday March 18, 2014  10:00 AM

For one year, the Venezuelan Government has been adjusting its foreign exchange policy, but the slow reform has adversely affected staple supply.

On Sunday, the president of the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), Nelson Merentes, admitted that the country has been facing shortage in certain goods and warned that situation should not exceed three additional months. Moreover, the official stressed the need for both an effective and quick import and an improvement in production and distribution.

Based on the BCV's figures, shortage has remained above 20% since August, hitting a record high of 28% in January.

The jump in the shortage index is somewhat attributed to restrictions in the sale of foreign currency.

For instance, the Ancillary Foreign Currency Administration System has allocated this year only 10.8% of the amount of foreign currency oriented to imports (USD 6.4 billion). In 2013, Sicad's supply accounted for just 70% of that of 2012.