Cemex “polluted” Venezuela says Chavez

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez had some harsh words to say over Mexican cement firm Cemex. Days after he nationalized the Venezuelan division of Cemex, Chavez criticized the company’s management:

“Go see the pollution not only along the coasts and in the trees, but in the lungs of the children,'' Chavez said on state television. "Everything is full of powder. Cemex never invested in technology to eliminate the powder because they took all the money abroad.''

Chavez also said company executives acted in a ``disrespectful'' manner to Venezuelans and have a ``superiority complex.'' Cemex spokesman Jorge Perez declined to comment.

Cemex execs have fought against the nationalization move and have pushed for international arbitration to decide the affair. A company statement issued on Wednesday called the move a "flagrant violation" of Venezuela’s constitution.

Unlike Cemex, the Venezuelan divisions of foreign-owned cement firms Holcim and Lafarge agreed to nationalization and have already made deals with the Chavez admin.

Image- BBC News

Sources- AFP, BBC News, Canadian Press, Associated Press, BusinessWeek