Friday, May 6, 2011
Photo William Urdaneta
The Ministry of Basic Industries and Mining appointed an oversight board to investigate the irregularities reported by workers at CVG Minerven. For several days the employees are kept of "slow" to demand the cancellation of arrears and dismissed the president of the gold, Luis Herrera. The miners reported the plight facing the company, whose production has declined considerably. "80 kilos a month not even enough to pay 50 percent of payroll," said Carlos Rodriguez, leader of the Union of Professional Minerven (simpro).
CVG Minerven president Luis Herrera, denied his dismissal in remarks offered Correo del Caroni and said that Caracas is seeking the resources to pay the debts. He denied the formation of an oversight board, headed by former state president, Franklin Patinez. He said it is a "technical committee" responsible for gathering information and making recommendations.

Natalie Garcia

Ten representatives of the Corporación Venezolana de Guayana (CVG) appointed by the lead manager of the state, Joseph Khan, who make up the Oversight Board is responsible for investigating the administration of Minerva, as announced by this newspaper.

At the head of the board is former president of the gold, Patinez Franklin, who along with six engineers, two lawyers, a lawyer and a security expert is allegedly responsible for "bringing order" in the "administrative failure" reported by workers for 12 days.

Carlos Rodriguez, president of the union of professionals Minerven (simpro), says that on Thursday met with the committee to clarify some points and above all require the recovery of the plant investment.

"We welcomed workers and community councils and they told us that the main intention is to recover and move this company. All who came CVG are specialists in all areas, who took the opportunity to demand that the president is removed, and though they can not do that, they can bring concerns to the minister that is what we want. "

Leader reiterated that "if the board comes here without power of decision and remains as president Luis Herrera, we are not doing anything, the idea is to have decisions made with the workers, they are respected and obtain real follow firm steps in order to demonstrate that we can be a profitable as we were before. "


Fight on foot
Despite the installation of the commission, Minerven employees are of "slow", without attending to their jobs until they are officially announced the departure of president. "The workers decided, because we are not prepared to fall into the same. If Luis Herrera is going to come retaliation and mismanagement always, we want their departure and the board. "

For Rodriguez beyond that there is a change in the direction of the mining company must have a real intention that it be retrieved. "We need investment, and the state must make. 960 kilos of gold We have been sold in the future, with current production that we had 80 kilos a month not even enough to pay 50 percent of payroll, so we need to invest further urgent steps toward recovery. "

The mines subcommittee of the National Assembly announced that it will go to El Callao, which is located CVG Minerven, to handle cases in the sector. This Wednesday night, Carlos Rodriguez held a meeting with Representative Richard Rosas, one of the managers of the visit, who was to attend on Thursday with everyone for a tour of the plant.

A family mishap prevented the deputy could go yesterday, so that the route was suspended until further notice, said union representative. "We know that the commission is, as we have met with some members, but until there is no dismissal of the president does not do anything."

None of the workers' requests have been satisfied. The departure of Luis Herrera seems to become distant, as well as compliance with the payment of retroactive increase (pending since October 2010), the cancellation of their paychecks and better working conditions.

Although the oversight board fully attended the meeting with workers, only three representatives stayed at El Callao to start work on reviewing the status of the company.

Mining history

Minerven met on 4 February this year 41 years of operations. The company was founded in 1970 began as the General Mining Company of Venezuela (Minerva) and had the participation of domestic capital, foreign and Venezuelan state through the Corporacion Venezolana de Fomento.

In 1974 the Venezuelan Development Corporation acquired all the shares of mining and CVG, passing it to be the rule. Two years later, Venezuela's Investment Fund acquired 100 percent of the shares, which continued until 1986 when CVG Ferrominera gets 75 percent of the equity.

In 1994 merged with CVG Minerven Venorca. On October 1, 2008 occurs reversal Revemin II processing plant, and is mining that takes its administration.

Finally, on March 25, 2009, the termination of the agreement made rehabilitation, operation and transfer of the mine Sosa Méndez, Jinyan company of Venezuela, the Venezuelan state and it also happens at the hands of the state.

Without removal

Minerven president Luis Herrera, in an exclusive interview to Correo del Caroni denied he had been removed from office as was rumored last night. Caracas admitted he is looking for resources to achieve the retroactive cancellation of arrears to workers and suggested that President Hugo Chávez, in his speech on Thursday, ordered Minerven happened to the Vice President of the Republic Gold Corporation, for "being a strategic asset for the nation" and must be handled as such.

He denied that the panel headed by former President Franklin Patinez part of an oversight board and explained that it is a "technical committee" that goes in search of information to make some recommendations.