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Venezuelan government seizes Hilton on Margarita Island

By: Gay Nagle MyersOctober 14, 2009

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has ordered a takeover of the Hilton hotel on Venezuela’s Margarita Island.

The Hilton Margarita & Suites will help "develop tourism projects in a socialist framework," Chavez said in a government statement released to the Agence France Presse news agency.

Chavez's move comes less than a month after the hotel hosted the Africa-South America Summit attended by 30 leaders, including Libya’s Mommar Gadhafi and Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.

According to reports, Hilton Worldwide "is evaluating how the Venezuelan government’s action affects its interest in the property," according to spokesperson Karla Viscontini. Hilton manages the hotel but does not own it.

Chavez said publicly in September that his government could nationalize the hotel, Hilton’s only resort in Venezuela. He seized control of the Caracas Hilton in 2007 and renamed it the Hotel Alba Caracas, now a meeting point for Chavez sympathizers.

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#22October 23, 2009
@ #19: Hints of dictatorship; which never has worked well for the people, private (non-governmental) business, or free trade, anywhere or anytime in world history. How do you or Chavez justify seizing property that is not yours, without compensation to the owner? Would your sentiments be the same if you owned the Hilton property? Would your sentiments be the same if Chavez seized your home or business in the name of a "socialist framework"?
#21October 22, 2009
"Venezuelan and Cuban Revolution have a lot of things in common but what we are living in Venezuela is not cummunisn. we live in socialism and the government tries to take care of people of every social level, and treats them as equal." I am sorry but seizing a hotel that is NOT yours is just plain wrong, immoral and unethical. Chavez is a bully. And, you are deluded if you think he cares about the little people. All Chavez cares about is himself and power grabbing.
#20October 21, 2009
I CAN'T BELIEVE....
#19October 21, 2009
Venezuelan and Cuban Revolution have a lot of things in common but what we are living in Venezuela is not cummunisn. we live in socialism and the government tries to take care of people of every social level, and treats them as equal. By the way, Chavez is still President because he has won every election since he started in ´98. also the Venezuelan opposition has no leader and no plans to improve or even complement what chavez has donde here....
#18October 21, 2009
@ #12: Than you need to study history. It happens again and again. Civilized government? Lack of it is the problem. Key words or common words in your studies are, dictatorship, communisum, coup, overthrow, declared, corrupt, self-appointed, single-party, military leader as head of state. Property is acquired without financial transaction, but by decree, seizeure or possession.
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