Monday, November 13, 2006

Iraq needs mercenaries for peace

As Venezuelans know so well, it is impossible to build a real democracy upon abundant oil. Democracy is about creating a level playing field, and, therefore, if you want a real chance at democracy in an oil-rich land like Iraq, you need first to distribute their oil revenues equally among all their citizens. For Iraq, distributing their oil revenues upfront, in cash, would carry a special significance since not only would it help to solve the problem of their oil being located only in some parts of the country, but it would also foster an additional bond of national identity among all the Iraqis, be they Sunnis, Shiites, or Kurds. The possibility for each citizen to receive perhaps a couple of thousand dollars a year would promote interest in reaching normality. The World Bank could be the perfect candidate to help implement a very transparent sharing of the oil revenues for Iraq.

In a world where so frequently mercenaries are used for wars, why don’t we help Iraq contract their own citizens, using their own money, to be mercenaries for peace?

Thursday, November 02, 2006

To the last penny

I was heading a delegation in Tanzania, which at least was thought to be important, when we were seated around some modest tables to hear a report on the use of a donation that for 7,614,873.60 TZS (approximately $8,000) had been given to a very humble school for its total renovation. Its Head Teacher, for about ten minutes that seemed immensely long for us due to the litany of figures, explained to us in great detail how the money was used, down to the last penny. We thanked him and left. 

After a while, reflecting on what we had witnessed, I realized that more than an accountability, the act represented an important reminder for all of us that when accepting responsibility for management, this should always be based on the principle of “to the last penny” and cannot, as is so often, taking it lightly rounded up “to the last trillion”. I was very sorry that I had not thanked the Head Teacher more effusively for his report. 

I say all this because the "La Negra" program offered by Manuel Rosales and which consists of giving the 2,500,000 poorest families a direct participation of 20% in the income that we obtain from the liquidation of our oil, would necessarily create the need to report every penny of 100%, so that the promised 20% can be set aside and delivered to those for whom every penny counts, without a doubt. 

Since the State cannot be allowed to compensate the income that it delivers with La Negra with greater public debt, which could lead us to where the rope breaks, the program also implies the need to create a Supreme Audit Entity so that autonomous, report to society everything related to our public indebtedness, down to the last penny. 

Likewise, with 2,500,000 families directly interested in the results of oil activity, it will also be necessary to consider creating what I have always requested, an office of the type of oil Ombudsman so that, on behalf of society, it can monitor everything that PDVSA and the Ministry of Energy are brought up and defend us, to the last penny. 

There are those who accuse the "La Negra" program of being populist, but the truth is that if executed correctly, it would transform the political-economic realities of our country, producing a modern participatory democracy, so we all have an interest in the daring it now and in the guarding it thereafter.