The story of the tragic shooting of Francisco Javier Ramírez, nephew of PDVSA President Rafael Ramírez, is noteworthy on several fronts.
For example, I was not aware that Mr. Ramírez, a young father, was killed inside an Anzoátegui public transportation unit for refusing to give up his backpack. It speaks well of the young man who, in spite of his hefty political connections, was using a bus just like any regular Venezuelan, and getting mugged and killed in the process … just like any regular Venezuelan.
Another noteworthy fact is that his murderer was immediately apprehended by the Fiscalía, contrary to what happens with 99.9% of the dozens of other murders that happen in Venezuela every day.
But get this … Ramírez worked in the dining halls of PDVSA Agrícola. Huh?
Then I understand. The young man’s father was the son of the President of PDVSA Agrícola.
So Rafael Ramírez named his brother to head one of PDVSA’s units, and he put his son to work … in the dining halls?
It says a lot about Venezuela’s crime situation when this is the thing I find most shocking about this affair.
UPDATE: Apparently, the head of PDVSA Agrícola may not be Ramírez’s brother, but a cousin. (HT: A reader)
Caracas Chronicles 
You lost me here, Juan. Are you upset that the victim should have had a more plush assignment? That is, if you are going to be nepotistic, you might as well go all the way? Hmmm…..
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Exactly!
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Well maybe they match his skills to the appropiate job…yes I know I am so naive
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Actually, the most shocking thing about the whole thing is that the guy names his BROTHER to head the PDVSA division, and nobody says anything (aside from myself).
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Juan, I have to say this. I had the opportunity of working with Mr Eglis Ramírez way before his brother was the head of PDVSA or the ministry. He was a professional in Palmaven in at a high managerial position, knows his trade and is also a very humble, down to earth person. I would say there is a huge difference between him and his brother, but of course, I don’t know the whole story. Maybe, this is not a nepotism case. Maybe….
This is not Caldera naming his son, or Chavez naming his brothers or the same Ramírez naming SOMEBODY CLOSER TO HIM to a position (to many positions, in fact) that does not uses public transportation…
I don’t have personal contact with Mr Eglis Ramírez, but from what I knew, I would say to you, please leave him alone with his pain and focus on someone else. There is much more meat in another place.
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Dear Juan,
Under ordinary circumstances, I would agree that nepotism in a state-owned organization demands a ‘lupa’. However, this young man was killed and his family, as well as extended family are no doubt in pain. Meaning, I don’t think it’s the time to focus on nepotism. Me parece feo.
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You are wrong there, Juan. I don’t know what and if there is a relationship, but for sure it is not his brother.
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So the assassinated young man was not RR’s nephew. That is a false information that first circulated on twitter.
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Yes, it is shocking.Usually in Venezuela it is all about personal connections.I would say it is shockingly refreshing.It is so shocking that one even wonders if there was another reason behind it ,other than character building.
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Maybe the brother had earned the post?? Dunno.
Maybe the son needed discipline ??
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Maybe the son was actually an illegitimate child he was simply throwing a bone to?
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You think? Now that would be sad :(
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OMG…JUan pareces una vieja chismosa!
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But is it at all possible that
Sr. Francisco José Ramírez Corrales (26) was an
HONOURABLE young family man who firmly
believed in earning an honest wage?
My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,
He, at least, stood up to the hampa.
That’s a helluva lot more than I can for
myself, the many times that I was mugged.
qepd
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Oh yeah, he’s definitely the hero in this story. Only the good die young.
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Janis, Hendrix, Winehouse… :-)
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Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.
1964
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I think you’ve had too much of that Castro Rum buddy, go out or go to bed.
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It’s amusing how this blog attracts all kinds of weirdos. This is supposed to be a political blog, yet it is always sprinkled with weirdness all around. However, this one downright wins the psychiatric ward prize.
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I actually like dorisclubhipico comments, I might be a weirdo hah.
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Good goin’, Lone Ranger, you just put Dylan in an insane asylum…
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hehe :)
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Now I understand why Rodin told Rilke, at the beginning of the century, to go to the Botanical gardens ,
for subjects of his poems.
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See what I mean, FT?
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Yes lone ranger I see what you mean :)
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Not talking to you. idiot.
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Wow, a blast from the past. Brings back memories.
Couple years back, I was honoured to visit stanford u, and
they’ve got a Rodin collection at the Cantor Museum – even
the Gates of Hell… my knees turned to jelly :-)
and the nearby memorial church almost put religion into me.
Thanks again for the memories
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sorry firepigette , I must have pressed the wrong reply button.
the above is a reply to re: your comment –
understand why Rodin told Rilke, at the beginning of the century, to go to the Botanical gardens ,for subjects of his poems.
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It’s not Bob Dylan, whose music I am not very fond of by the way. It is the weirdness presented here and in other blogs that has my eyes rolling. It is getting old and tired.
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Can’t be older than an ageless, morphing Troll….
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So, you disagreeing with me makes me a troll? Go and change your diaper, turd.
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Your reply speaks for itself….As well as your “inventive” nom de plume.
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Notwithstanding the fact that you want to set your twisted prose against me and miserably fail to do so, you are still a turd.
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In defense of the distaff side: This Blog, as well as others, need and should appreciate such as DCH (the Muse), and FP (the Philosoher-ess), since, apart from often accurate insights, they help soften the blows.
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Philosopher-ess.
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Sycophantic need, no doubt.
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The link you posted, JC, contains two different versions of the story. In one version he resists the taking of his bookbag, in the other he gets shot even though he gave it up.
Why I bring it up is that if the second version is true, that he gets shot despite surrendering his possessions, it just makes a bad matter worse.
How the son of the boss ends up in the cantina could be an honest attempt to simply give the kid a job, but in today’s Venezuela, anything that smacks of nepotism precludes that.
Maybe his dad looked at Chavez and thought if he started in a cantina………..
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Juan, i defend your right to discuss this. (as other readers critiqued) It is very remarkable that a “connected” was using public transportation rather being given a big camioneta. Or maybe he wasn’t that close to his uncle for any better/higher job
Yet again, let me remind you that “the Ramirez” is a political divided family. Because while Rafael Ramirez is “what he is”. His brother, the respectable Eddy Ramirez belonged to “Gente Del Petroleo”
Like the Ramirez, we can mention, Joselo and Tio Simon.
And Hemanos primera, Servando y Florentina; and Sandino.
Where, one was successful and the other was “resentido”, and then came Chavez.
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At least he didn’t die a Jalabola and stood for himself against crime, like a real man should always do. R.I.P. Francisco Javier
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sounds like he was a good kid. If he resisted, he was an idiot.
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Yes, for those of you on CC who have never been in a similar situation, and I imagine that is the minority on this blog, give them your stuff. Its just stuff. That way you can continue to comment on CC. Not to blame this kid- we don’t know what happened.
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