Venezuelans fume as government signals end to 'free' petrol

[flowers]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10617632/Venezuelans-fume-as-government-signals-end-to-free-petrol.html

In the Socialist state that is home to the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, petrol is cheaper than water. But not for much longer.

At a state-run petrol station in central Caracas, drivers hand over six Bolivars – 60p at the official rate, about 5p at the black market rate – for a tank of subsidised petrol.

Adding the bills to his oil-stained bundle, Juan Torres, the attendant, laments that this long familiar scene will soon change.

“I’d heard that the government was going to raise petrol costs, but they’ll have to be extremely careful,” he says. “Venezuelans won’t accept unfair prices.”

As global oil prices slump, President Nicolas Maduro has horrified Venezuelans by becoming the first politician in a decade to broach a rise in petrol prices. It is a risky – potentially even politically fatal – move. The last attempt to raise prices prompted the “Caracazo”, the 1989 riots and subsequent massacre by security forces that left several hundred people dead and which remains a vivid scar on the Venezuelan political memory.

[Oceander]

“I’d heard that the government was going to raise petrol costs, but they’ll have to be extremely careful,” he says. “Venezuelans won’t accept unfair prices.”

Since when is the definition of "fair" "free?"  Venezuelans are paying unfair prices right now - unfair to the producers of the product they so cavalierly demand for free.