Reports from Cuba’s Venezuela: All your Torre de David are belong to us

by

By Gustavo Hernandez Acevedo in Caracas Chronicles:

All your Torre de David are belong to us
http://caracaschronicles.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/torre-confianzas-vista-desde-el-piso-15-edif-ctv-04.jpg?w=700
Torre Confianzas vista desde el piso 15 edif CTV 04
The former Centro Financiero Confinanzas in Caracas, now known as “La Torre de David”. But if the Chinese finally have their way, it will be transformed into a brand new International Financial Center.

If there’s a symbol of today’s Venezuela, is probably the skyscraper-turned-slum known as “La Torre de David”.

The high-rise slum has become so famous abroad, that even Hollywood has taken note. But its days could be numbered according to this report from newspaper Tal Cual. Why is that? Because China.

Our Chinese overlords want to turn the building into an “international financial center”, so the government (through the Ministry for the Transformation of Caracas) will start negotiations with the families who live there and relocate them to Cúa, Miranda State. Some neighbors said that it could happen by the end of the year, but they were pretty tight-lipped. Our friend Setty thinks the whole thing is scandalous, reminding us that there were plans to sell the tower before it was invaded but Chávez canned the plan for ideological reasons.

These news come just in time for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming Latin American tour, which also includes Venezuela. Recently, both countries celebrated the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations, so what better gift of appreciation than a high-rise building where they can make business deals? Not that they got plenty of those already.

P.S.: A little note to Jose Suarez Ñunez, the author of TalCual’s report. It’s obvious that you were trying to give some context in the last paragraphs of your story, but I must say … that was really bad writing. It brought this guy to mind.