Venezuela runs out of toilet paper

[harrybarracuda]

CARACAS, Venezuela — First milk, butter, coffee and cornmeal ran short. Now Venezuela is running out of the most basic of necessities — toilet paper.

Blaming political opponents for the shortfall, as it does for other shortages, the embattled socialist government says it will import 50 million rolls to boost supplies.

I’m 71 years old and this is the first time I’ve seen this
That was little comfort to consumers struggling to find toilet paper on Wednesday.

“This is the last straw,” said Manuel Fagundes, a shopper hunting for tissue in downtown Caracas. “I’m 71 years old and this is the first time I’ve seen this.”

One supermarket visited by The Associated Press in the capital on Wednesday was out of toilet paper. Another had just received a fresh batch, and it quickly filled up with shoppers as the word spread.

“I’ve been looking for it for two weeks,” said Cristina Ramos. “I was told that they had some here and now I’m in line.”

Economists say Venezuela’s shortages stem from price controls meant to make basic goods available to the poorest parts of society and the government’s controls on foreign currency.

“State-controlled prices — prices that are set below market-clearing price — always result in shortages. The shortage problem will only get worse, as it did over the years in the Soviet Union,” said Steve Hanke, professor of economics at Johns Hopkins University.

President Nicolas Maduro, who was selected by the dying Hugo Chavez to carry on his “Bolivarian revolution,” claims that anti-government forces, including the private sector, are causing the shortages in an effort to destabilize the country.

The government this week announced it would import 760,000 tons of food and 50 million rolls of toilet paper.

Commerce Minister Alejandro Fleming blamed the shortage of toilet tissue on “excessive demand” built up as a result of “a media campaign that has been generated to disrupt the country.”

“The revolution will bring the country the equivalent of 50 million rolls of toilet paper,” he was quoted as saying Tuesday by state news agency AVN. “We are going to saturate the market so that our people calm down.”

Finance Minister Nelson Merentes said the government was also addressing the lack of foreign currency, which has resulted in the suspension of foreign supplies of raw materials, equipment and spare parts to Venezuelan companies, disrupting their production.

“We are making progress … we have to work very hard,” Merentes told reporters Wednesday.

Many factories operate at half capacity because the currency controls make it hard for them to pay for imported parts and materials. Business leaders say some companies verge on bankruptcy because they cannot extend lines of credit with foreign suppliers.

Merentes said the government had met the U.S. dollar requests of some 1,500 small- and medium-sized companies facing supply problems, and was reviewing requests from a similar number of larger companies.

Chavez imposed currency controls a decade ago trying to stem capital flight as his government expropriated large land parcels and dozens of businesses.

The revolution will bring the country the equivalent of 50 million rolls of toilet paper
Anointed by Chavez as his successor before the president died from cancer, Maduro won a close presidential election April 14 against opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, who refused to accept the result, claiming Maduro won through fraud and voter intimidation. He filed a complaint to the Supreme Court, asking for the vote to be annulled, though that’s highly unlikely to happen since the court is packed with government-friendly justices.

Patience is wearing thin among consumers who face shortages and long lines at supermarkets and pharmacies. Last month, Venezuela’s scarcity index reached its highest level since 2009, while the 12-month inflation rate has risen to nearly 30%. Shoppers often spend several days looking for basic items, and stock up when they find them.

Fleming, the commerce minister, said monthly consumption of toilet paper was normally 125 million rolls, but that current demand “leads us to think that 40 million more are required.”

“We will bring in 50 million to show those groups that they won’t make us bow down,” he said.

The Associated Press

Venezuela’s troubled economy faces toilet paper shortage | Economy | News | Financial Post

[wasabi]

Time to convert to the Thai way.

[Boon Mee]

Socialism is a great system until you run out of other people's toilet paper!

[Primo]

Socialism is a great system until you run out of other people's toilet paper!

It is not other peoples toilet paper though. Venezuela has plenty of their own money to buy anything they want to,they have the worlds largest oil reserves and that is why the Americans are doing everything they can to bring down the newly elected government there because they feel that the Venezuelan oil money should not go to help the people of Venezuela with schools,health care etc but should go into the pockets of shareholders and American oil companies.

[harrybarracuda]

Dave Spart's back!

[Bung]

I often think I should become the world wide ambassador for the use of bum guns. Every country should use them.

I'll be rich and famous I tell ya for saving the planet. They can use toilet paper for napkins.

[Thormaturge]

I believe the problem has been solved by printing more of their currency.

[withnallstoke]

I often think I should become the world wide ambassador for the use of bum guns. Every country should use them.

Next time you drink a nice cold glass of water, remember that i might well have washed my arse with it.

[withnallstoke]

.....

[Pragmatic]

Venezuela runs out of toilet paper

That's nothing. Someone stole all the toilets out of our local police station. They're appealing for witnesses as they've nothing to go on.

[taxexile]

“This is the last straw,” said Manuel Fagundes

things must be really desperate.

[alwarner]

How does a country run out of bog roll?

If you ask me it's completely caracas.

[VocalNeal]

How does a country run out of bog roll?

If you ask me it's completely caracas.

Easy. They have lots of one of the world's most valuable commodities so that is where the so called "smart" money goes. Why build a factory to make toilet paper or any other commodity for that matter. When one can simply sit at a PC and press a buy/sell button.

They import 70% of their food FFS! Farming is obviously not a priority either.

It's what happens when people think they can simply buy everything they need and make nothing.

[alwarner]

ha ha, it was just a set up for a bad pun.

[Takeovers]

I often think I should become the world wide ambassador for the use of bum guns. Every country should use them.

Tell that to the people who want to colonize Mars. They worry how to produce toilet paper.

[Rainfall]

Isn't capitalism just great?

[Necron99]

Well this is just a really shitty situation.


Thailand could send them a few shiploads of the wonderful tissue that they make.
The stuff that disintegrates on a really humid day let alone at the first hint of moisture.

[Necron99]

Isn't capitalism just great?

Yes, yes. But I'm sure they are the ones who's parents don't do anything constructive, like working.

[Rainfall]

Of whom the majority can't do anything constructive, like working, because they're in poor health or disabled.

[taxexile]

because they're in poor health or disabled.

gluttony related health problems perhaps?

[Rainfall]

Certainly, some. Anyway, 2/3 of all welfare recipients are children, and 'not doing anything constructive, like working' doesn't apply. Kids of single mothers, and poor immigrants mostly. They don't deserve to be punished for their parents. Unless you agree that they mustn't be given a chance to achieve more, but have to remain poor for life.

[wasabi]

Men use very little toilet paper,having females in the house the consumption hits record highs. Why do women use so much toilet paper? Make up removal.

[withnallstoke]

Why do women use so much toilet paper?

Probably to wipe wee off their legs and feet. Must be difficult to aim with half a yard of beef curtain either side of the glory hole.

[piwanoi]

Why do women use so much toilet paper?

Probably to wipe wee off their legs and feet. Must be difficult to aim with half a yard of beef curtain either side of the glory hole.

FFS ,Glory Hole

[poorfalang]

It is not other peoples toilet paper though. Venezuela has plenty of their own money to buy anything they want to,they have the worlds largest oil reserves and that is why the Americans are doing everything they can to bring down the newly elected government there because they feel that the Venezuelan oil money should not go to help the people of Venezuela with schools,health care etc but should go into the pockets of shareholders and American oil companies.

Green on ya way cousin

They can use toilet paper for napkins.

they already do, never been to Mukdahan?

If you ask me it's completely caracas

are you spanish?

Make up removal?

No, Fannydrying.