Before chavez, even the most ruthless Venezuelan dictators, left a legacy of socio-economic stability and urban/technological development. All chavez did was to lay the foundations for the most corrupt, inept, self-destructive, and abusive regime in Venezuelan History.
Today, I saw some people at Bolivar Square, mostly military and government employees, celebrating the anniversary of his official death. Chavez must have died in December 2012, but his death was announced officially on March 5th.
His followers even refuse to use the word death when they talk about their venerated commander. They use cheesy euphemisms like "planting" (which is ironic, considering that no one can really know where the hell his remains actually are).
What he did plant was the seed of discord and hatred among Venezuelans. One of the reasons reconciliation is impossible now is the level of destruction chavistas have inflicted in every aspect of our lives. The images you see here belong to a former star technical school in Cumaná; it was the Escuela Técnica Emilio Tébar Carrasco, better knows as "La Técnica."
I went there to meet a former student who teaches there and the level of abandonment of that school is just shocking.
I could not take pictures inside, but I can tell you that it actually looks worse on the inside and there are teachers who are expected to teach in there. No electricity in most classrooms, no air-conditioning, in most workshops there is not even a roof (it was gradually stolen, just the same way the main local University (UDO) was dismantled).
This used to be the main entrance to the parking lots.
It is blocked now (condemned, as we say in spanish; a rather suitable term here).
Right across the street, two monuments to chavez's legacy. Two unfinished obras that were supposed to transform the city and improve people's living conditions.
A gas pipe system that promised domestic gas in every kitchen. It was never finished (I have posted several times about the ordeal to get a gas canister).
The ruins of La Técnica is just one sample of the ruins of the Venezuelan educational system, its economy, and its culture. Any school you visit would just add more evidence of the level of contempt these people feel for education and its transformative powers.
So, every march 5th, for as long as these people keep ruling over an-ever impoverished population all we should remember is the work of a despot who dedicated his life to make sure that ours would be miserable way after he was gone. That's his legacy.
