Posted on Wed, Jul. 14, 2004
Venezuelans line up in Florida to vote in presidential recall
BY SANDRA HERNANDEZ
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
MIAMI - (KRT) - Ramon Gonzalez carefully presses his ink-stained thumb on a square pad of paper, wipes his hand clean and then breathes a sigh of relief.He has finally registered to vote in the upcoming Aug. 15 recall vote to decide the fate of Venezuela's embattled president. "I have voted in every election since 1959 and I wasn't about to miss the referendum," said Gonzalez in an ad hoc office set up by Venezuela's Consulate General in Miami to register voters.
(snip)
By law, Venezuelans living outside that country are allowed to cast ballots in national elections but must register at their local consulate. But like all things related to the recall, a new controversy has erupted locally over the way Venezuelan officials in Miami are registering voters from Georgia to North Carolina.
Chavez opponents accuse the consulate of creating hurdles to prevent them from voting him out of office. Consular officials counter they are literally working overtime, recently adding weekends to accommodate South Florida's Venezuelan community.
At the center of the controversy is the South Florida consulate's ability to deal with the dramatic influx of Venezuelans in recent years. The battle is set against a fierce political fight that divides that country and has resulted in the exodus of thousands to South Florida.
(snip)
"The law requires (the consulate) to register people and they really aren't doing that," said Luis Prieto, of Todos Por Venezuela, or All for Venezuela, a South Florida group that hopes to vote Chavez out.
"We understand problems arise but they have a very negative attitude. They don't put enthusiasm into their work. They make no effort. So for example, if the office is scheduled to close at 1 p.m. they will close the doors at 12:55. If there is a holiday they will take it off."(snip/...)
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/9151090.htm(Free registration required)
:scared: :scared: :scared:
How much must the opposition be forced to endure?