POWER BLACKOUT THROUGHOUT VENEZUELA HIGHLIGHTS INCREASED COUNTRY RISK

Venezuela is experiencing major infrastructure failure this year, led by 534 power blackouts since the beginning of January. it is being reported that 70% of the nation is without electricity today, including the capital city, Caracas. If you have not received replies to your emails sent to Venezuela this week, that's why.

Country Risk, which is at record levels in Venezuela, may be assessed at an even higher level, should the government fail to immediately take the appropriate remedial measures. If communications continue to be sporadic, when added to the ballooning black market rate for US Dollars, the scarcity of food and necessities, and the abysmal economy, you will have no alternative but to recommend that transactions with Venezuelan companies be avoided altogether.