FROM THE ARCHIVES: Maduro and the headlines amid Venezuelan crisis

When Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela last visited Jamaica in September 2015, he was six months into his second term in office.

He was here for the 10th anniversary summit of PetroCaribe – a programme through which Venezuela sells oil at preferential rates and long term payment offer to Jamaica and other CARICOM countries.

Since then, there have been almost daily protests in Venezuela as inflation rises, quality of life declines and anger spills over among the people of the south American country and Maduro is in the Jamaican capital again for talks with Government officials.

 
READ: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro arrives for working visit

Here are some of the headlines from The Gleaner in the build-up and during the Venezuelan crisis.

September 2015 - Without PetroCaribe, Caribbean would be like Mediterranean – Maduro
Speaking during the opening of the plenary for the 10th anniversary summit of PetroCaribe, Maduro said the energy-centred agreement has stood the test of time, is achieving its purpose, and proposed four ways in which it can be enhanced.

January 2015 - Venezuela data shows economy in shambles
Venezuela last Friday released its first economic data in more than a year last Friday, showing an economy in shambles and inflation at a historic high. The Central Bank, for the first time, acknowledged what analysts have long said - that annualise inflation has surged into triple digits.

March 2016 - Inflation-hit Venezuela to print bigger bills
Venezuela's government will begin printing larger-denominated bank notes sometime this year, a top finance official said, as runaway inflation has eroded the value of the nation's biggest bill to less than a US dime on the black market.

April 2016 – David Jessop | Another blow for Venezuela
Most of the Caribbean continues to depend on Venezuela for its energy needs, despite the growing interest in renewables. President Maduro has made clear that, come what may, he is committed to maintaining the PetroCaribe arrangements and to developing new investment ties with the region, for instance, to bring ashore Venezuelan oil and gas in Trinidad. 

April 2016 - Venezuela imposes two-day work week to save Power, plagued with daily blackouts
Venezuelan cities cleaned up from a night of looting and fiery protests Wednesday as government offices closed their doors for the rest of the week in the face of a worsening energy crisis that is causing daily blackouts. The socialist administration began imposing a four-hour daily blackout around the country this week to save power. Then yesterday, President Nicolas Maduro announced that millions of officials will now work only Monday and Tuesday.

IN PHOTO: In this Saturday, April 23 photo, residents are silhouetted against the facade of a church, the only building illuminated after a 24-hour blackout, in the El Calvario neighborhood of El Hatillo, just outside of Caracas, Venezuela.  

May 2016 - Venezuela opposition delivers petitions to remove President
An opposition statement said leaders decided to deliver the petitions in 80 sealed boxes early Monday, without notifying news media to avoid potential clashes with Maduro's supporters. It said it collected more than nine times the required 200,000 signatures in under a week.

May 2016 - Opposition rejects Maduro's state of emergency
Venezuelan opposition leaders are rejecting a 60-day state of emergency declared by President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro declared the state of emergency over the weekend, giving himself decree powers to intervene in the economy and protect national sovereignty. He said the expanded powers were needed to guard against US meddling in the socialist country

May 2016 - Letter of the Day | Where is the outcry for Venezuela?
My heart weeps. Let us join forces in solidarity and help our longstanding neighbour and friend, Venezuela, in its time of need.

May 2016 - Maduro threatens to seize idle Venezuela plants, jail owners
President Nicolas Maduro threatened Saturday to take over idle factories and jail their owners following a decree granting him expanded powers to act in the face of a deep economic crisis. Maduro's remarks came as Venezuela's opposition warned the embattled leader that if he tries to block an attempt to hold a recall referendum, society could "explode."

- Damion Mitchell