Chavez and CITGO Plunder Venezuela’s Oil Service Sector

Venezuela’s socialist strongman Hugo Chavez ordered the expropriation of some 60 oil service companies and assisted government-owned oil company PDVSA (parent of CITGO) in looting those firms unfortunate enough to have invested in the workers’ paradise. 

“To God what is God’s, and to Caesar what is Caesar’s,” said the Venezuelan president as he stole at least a dozen oil rigs, more than 30 oil terminals, and more than 300 boats. “Today we also say: to the people what is the people’s,” said Chavez, who is a hero to his American friends and admirers including actors Sean Penn, Danny Glover, Kevin Spacey, Ed Asner, singer Harry Belafonte, and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Ana Maria Ortiz and I profiled Chavez and his American buddies in Organization Trends last year.