Blackout victims' committee formed and protest called for October 27 in Venezuela

Social organizations and labor unions announced this Friday the creation of the Blackout Victims Committee in Venezuela, a citizen initiative formed in response to the continuing deterioration of the electricity service.

Outside the capital, power outages last between 6, 9 and up to 12 hours a day, with some localities receiving as little as 4 hours of electricity daily, according to information published by the outlet. In light of this situation, they demanded that the state provide economic compensation and replace electrical appliances damaged by voltage fluctuations and dips, recalling that government promises made seven years ago to restore this equipment have not been kept.

The organization questioned how electricity is distributed in the country, arguing that the oil industry and large economic projects absorb the power supply while the population endures the cuts. It also warned about the lack of institutional media coverage of the constant protests and road blockades that occur daily across the national territory.

As a first measure of pressure, the committee ratified its call for a nationwide day of protest on Tuesday, October 27, where it will demand immediate solutions to the electricity crisis.