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http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Chavez_Causes_Exodus_to_F/2008/01/23/66798.html
Chavez Causes Exodus to Florida
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
President Hugo Chavez's imposition of a socialist state in Venezuela has
driven an increasing number of his countrymen to leave their homeland and
settle in Florida.
The Venezuelan community in the U.S. has grown more than 94 percent during
this decade, from 91,507 in 2000 - the year after Chavez took office - to
177,866 in 2006, according to U.S. Census data.
Many of those Venezuelans have settled in South Florida, the closest U.S.
point to their former country and already the home of a substantial Hispanic
community.
So many Venezuelans have moved to Weston, Fla., a suburb west of Fort
Lauderdale, that some are calling it Westonzuela, the New York Times
reported.
Most of the latest arrivals are from the middle and upper classes in
Venezuela as Chavez has consolidated his power and sought to impose greater
state control over many parts of the economy. Some have established legal
residency, while others are in the U.S. illegally.
Manuel Corao, director of a Venezuelan newspaper published in South Florida,
told the Times that the main reason for the flight from Venezuela is the
fear that Chavez would significantly change the quality of life for the
middle and upper classes there.
"The principle reason is fear of change of daily life, the loss of private
property, loss of independence from the government, fear of the loss of
constitutional rights and individual liberties," he said.
Chavez has already nationalized his nation's electricity, telecommunications
and oil companies, and forged alliances with Cuba and Iran. In January 2007,
the National Assembly gave Chavez the power to make law by decree.
Ariel Dunaevschi, who left behind a prosperous furniture business in Caracas
to move to Florida in 2002, said "life was very good" for him in his
homeland. But as far as moving back to Venezuela is concerned, he said: "I
won't consider it, as long as there's that guy there."
Chavez Causes Exodus to Florida
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
President Hugo Chavez's imposition of a socialist state in Venezuela has
driven an increasing number of his countrymen to leave their homeland and
settle in Florida.
The Venezuelan community in the U.S. has grown more than 94 percent during
this decade, from 91,507 in 2000 - the year after Chavez took office - to
177,866 in 2006, according to U.S. Census data.
Many of those Venezuelans have settled in South Florida, the closest U.S.
point to their former country and already the home of a substantial Hispanic
community.
So many Venezuelans have moved to Weston, Fla., a suburb west of Fort
Lauderdale, that some are calling it Westonzuela, the New York Times
reported.
Most of the latest arrivals are from the middle and upper classes in
Venezuela as Chavez has consolidated his power and sought to impose greater
state control over many parts of the economy. Some have established legal
residency, while others are in the U.S. illegally.
Manuel Corao, director of a Venezuelan newspaper published in South Florida,
told the Times that the main reason for the flight from Venezuela is the
fear that Chavez would significantly change the quality of life for the
middle and upper classes there.
"The principle reason is fear of change of daily life, the loss of private
property, loss of independence from the government, fear of the loss of
constitutional rights and individual liberties," he said.
Chavez has already nationalized his nation's electricity, telecommunications
and oil companies, and forged alliances with Cuba and Iran. In January 2007,
the National Assembly gave Chavez the power to make law by decree.
Ariel Dunaevschi, who left behind a prosperous furniture business in Caracas
to move to Florida in 2002, said "life was very good" for him in his
homeland. But as far as moving back to Venezuela is concerned, he said: "I
won't consider it, as long as there's that guy there."
