Venezuela bus strike causes traffic chaos in Caracas

PanARMENIAN.Net - Venezuelan bus drivers protesting their country's economic crisis parked their buses in the street on Wednesday, September 21 causing traffic chaos in Caracas and embarrassing President Nicolas Maduro, a former colleague, AFP reports.

Hundreds of drivers joined the action, demanding better pay, more security against violent crime and spare parts for their buses. Tires, car batteries and motor oil are on a long list of goods that have disappeared in the shortage-racked country.

The strike paralyzed half the bus fleet in the city of three million people, the drivers said.

Scores of drivers parked their buses outside the transport ministry, causing havoc on the capital's east side as they shut off one of its main arteries for nine hours.

Transport Minister Ricardo Molina had refused to meet union leaders, blaming schedule conflicts, he said.

Drivers are calling on the authorities to raise the bus fare from 45 to 60 bolivars -- around 10 US cents at the highest official exchange rate, in a country where rigid government exchange controls have led to shortages of the foreign currency needed to import goods.

They want the increased revenue to go to raises for trying to keep up with the world's worst inflation, forecast to top 700 percent this year.

The lack of spare parts has paralyzed around half the bus fleet, union leaders say. Drivers also complain they are targets for violent crime, which has spiked amid the crisis.

Oil-rich Venezuela's economy has tanked as crude prices have plunged since mid-2014.

Severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods have led to outbreaks of looting and riots.

Maduro, the political heir to late leftist firebrand Hugo Chavez, blames the crisis on an "economic war" by Venezuelan elites, backed by "American imperialism."

The opposition, which is pushing for a referendum on removing the former bus driver from power, blames the failure on 17 years of socialist policies.