WILLEMSTAD – Recently a seasoned Venezuelan union leader, Heberto Ferrer, was in Curaçao by invitation of the Curaçao unions to talk about geopolitics and the future relation between Curaçao and Venezuela.

His most notable remark during his presentation was; “I don’t know what will be of Venezuela!” He spoke of the geopolitics that affects his country. One of the examples he gave was that China is currently helping Venezuela financially. China is acting in a way that will transform its economic power to strategic power. China goes everywhere and tries to take over the country.

“China has helped with certain projects in Venezuela but not one local worked, only Chinese people. Now the Chinese are taking over harbors where there is oil. Soon everything will be in their hands,” said Ferrer during his short presentation.

“Unions don’t have much influence anymore in Venezuela. Only the ones that are affiliated in one way or another with the government. And there is a lot of discord between the union leaders. The country is in disarray,” said the union leader.

Ferrer also indicated that three PDVSA refineries are closed already because the oil wells have not been maintained. In the past, PDVSA was able to fix and maintain these wells on their own. They did not need any foreign entity or country to do this. This is the reason what the refineries at Palito, Paraguana and the hydrogenic plant at Anzoategui are closed. These were extremely important for the economy of the country. 

This is the reason why Ferrer doesn’t know how PDVSA, that has commitments with several countries in the Caribbean, including Curaçao, will be able to continue supplying crude oil. “PDVSA is really in a tough situation.”