September 23, 2013 -- Updated 0917 GMT (1717 HKT)
Venezuela takes over a toilet paper plant, with its vice president
saying the government won't "allow hoarding or failures in the
production and distribution" of essential goods. FULL STORY
Facing shortages, Venezuela takes over toilet paper factory
September 22, 2013 -- Updated 0205 GMT (1005 HKT)
File
photo of consumers buying rationed goods during the inauguration of the
state-owned Bicentenario supermarket in Caracas in June.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Venezuela occupies Paper Manufacturing Company's plant in Aragua, vice president says
- VP: Nation won't "allow hoarding or failures in the production and distribution" of essentials
- Government accuses companies of hoarding, blames media for fanning fears
- Private firms says ill-conceived price control, currency policies have stifled production
If you're the Venezuelan government, you take over a toilet paper factory.
On Saturday, Vice
President Jorge Arreaza announced the "temporary occupation" of the
Paper Manufacturing Company's plant in the state of Aragua. The aim, he
explained, is to review the "production, marketing and distribution (of)
toilet paper."
"The ... People's Defense
from the Economy will not allow hoarding or failures in the production
and distribution of essential commodities," the vice president said.
By the "People's
Defense," Arreaza was referring to a government agency created on
September 13 by President Nicolas Maduro to "defeat the economic war
that has been declared in the country," according to a report from
state-run ATV. This group is charged with looking at inefficiencies
across various industries in the nation, including foods and other
products, and taking action presumably in the South American nation's
best interests.
Toilet paper is very much a part of the war.
The bathroom essential is
one of the basic goods and foodstuffs that have been disappearing from
store shelves since earlier this year. In Caracas, for instance, long
lines are common whenever new rolls come in.
As the amount of TP and other products, such as rice and cooking oil, have lagged, the blame game has picked up.
Businesses and the
political opposition say the shortages stem from ill-conceived
government policies such as price controls on basic goods and tight
restrictions on foreign currency. These moves make it so many producers
can't even break even, they say.
But the government has
said private companies aren't doing their part, accusing them of
hoarding their products in hopes of selling it later at a higher price.
They've also suggested the problem is tied to a broader conspiracy.
"There is no deficiency
in production," Commerce Minister Alejandro Fleming said in May
according to ATV, "but an excessive demand generating purchases by a
nervous population because of a media campaign."
At that time, Fleming
announced the country would import 50 million rolls of toilet paper to
meet demand. Other hygiene products, such as toothpaste and soap, may be
similarly brought in bulk for the same reason, the minister said.
CNN's Mariano Castillo contributed to this report.
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