Hard-knock life in a "socialist city"
Not long ago, the Caracas housing complex known as Ciudad Caribia was being touted by the then-living comandante supremo as the model of a “21st Century socialist city”, but its brief existence has been pretty overwhelmed with problems since late 2006, when its construction began. Of the 20,000 planned apartments, only 1,666 have been delivered (with some unwanted flaws).
Almost two months ago, an incident between agents of the Bolivarian National Police and locals ended with one person dead and the destruction of the local PNB station by an angry mob. Since then, the National Guard has been in charge of security in the complex.
But there are other difficulties, as described in this recent report from Últimas Noticias. For example, it can take three hours of waiting in line for Ciudad Caribia’s inhabitants to enter the local Mercal. But only those lucky enough to get a number (either on a ticket or written in their arms) can buy a limited number of groceries.
Even if the residents of Ciudad Caribia are quite hopeful about their future, life over there ain’t easy. More so for those that dared to vote for Capriles in the last election.
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