Page 12 - aruba-today-20190508

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 8 May 2019
Venezuela's top court targets opposition lawmakers

By FABIOLA SANCHEZ turn to a regional defense
CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA agreement that dates from
Associated Press the Cold War — a move
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) that could provide politi-
— Venezuela's top court cal cover for greater inter-
opened a criminal investi- national involvement in the
gation against six opposi- nation's crisis. The matter
tion lawmakers Tuesday was referred to an assem-
following last week's failed bly committee.
attempt to spark a military Years ago, Venezuela and
uprising against President other left-governed nations
Nicolás Maduro. pulled out of the U.S.-led
The lawmakers are suspect- defense pact, the Inter-
ed of "betraying the home- American Treaty of Recip-
land" and "instigating an rocal Assistance.
insurrection," among other U.S. officials have repeat-
charges, the pro-govern- edly said they are consid-
ment Supreme Court said. ering military "options" in
Those facing accusations the Venezuelan crisis, in
include prominent figures in Venezuelan Bolivarian National stand guard around the National Assembly building as the oppo- addition to diplomatic and
the Venezuelan opposition sition-controlled congress met to discuss a move could provide political cover for greater interna- economic pressure that
such as Henry Ramos Allup tional involvement in the nation's crisis, in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. has been intensifying for
and Luis Germán Florido. Associated Press months against Maduro.
The court initially had said Military police prevented
seven faced investigation, Juan Guaidó urged soldiers ment announced that it ficiency" and crack down journalists from entering
but later in the day lowered to oust Maduro, who has was taking control of three on illegal activity. the National Assembly,
the number to six without taken steps to reassert his private airports. Interior Venezuela's opposition- and some reporters were
explanation. authority in the aftermath Minister Nestor Reverol de- controlled congress, mean- harassed by government
The action came one week of the failed uprising. scribed it as a necessary while, met to discuss a pro- supporters outside the
after opposition leader Additionally, the govern- measure to "guarantee ef- posal for the country's re- building.q

Report: Puerto Rico saw 44% drop in students since '06

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico school near their home.
(AP) — Public and private A separate study by the
school enrollment in Puer- U.S. nonprofit Lumina Foun-
to Rico has dropped 44% dation found that Puerto
since 2006, researchers an- Rico college enrollment
nounced Tuesday, lead- decreased by 7% over the
ing to the closure of 265 past three years, but that
schools and raising con- degree completion is high-
cerns that children will start er on the island than in the
to drop out. U.S. mainland. It is the first
Investigators with the Cen- time the study includes sta-
ter for Puerto Rican Studies tistics on Puerto Rico.
at New York's Hunter Col- Courtney Brown, Lumina's
lege said that a dispropor- vice president of strategic
tionate number of school impact, said Puerto Rico's
closures - 65% - have come government also should
in rural areas on the eco- start thinking about its adult
nomically struggling U.S. ter- population and how it can
ritory, compared with 35% contribute to the economy.
in urban areas. The center's "They have talent, too,"
director, Edwin Meléndez she said. "Puerto Rico has
said the changes have led In this May 5, 2017 file photo, Ana Sanchez and her 8-year-old daughter Naiyari lock the gates of a number of challenges ...
to cuts in school bus service her school, The Dr. Isaac Gonzalez Martinez school, one of 179 closing that month amid an eco- (The) human capital issue is
and reduced access to pri- nomic crisis in San Juan, Puerto Rico. just as urgent."
mary school education. Associated Press The reports were released
"They have to travel lon- a month after Puerto Rico
ger distances. Many live search of jobs and a more for families, with educa- Meléndez said most of the education secretary Ju-
with grandparents or single affordable cost of living. tion being a top factor in closures involve primary lia Keleher resigned amid
mothers where transporta- The exodus accelerated the debate of whether to and middle schools, noting criticism of school closures
tion isn't available," he said. after Hurricane Maria, a leave the island of 3.1 mil- that the number of children and other concerns. A
"They're going to have high Category 4 storm that hit lion people. younger than 5 has de- new interim secretary has
desertion rates." in September 2017 and is "That's one of the reasons creased 42 percent since promised to create charter
The enrollment drop is blamed for an estimated families who have emigrat- 2006. But he said he wor- schools and vouchers as
mostly a result of a 12-year 4% loss of the U.S. territory's ed are not coming back," ries about young children ordered by the governor as
recession that has sparked population. he said of the closures. "The who remain in Puerto Rico part of a plan to overhaul
an exodus of Puerto Ricans Meléndez said schools of- exodus and population loss and the increased difficul- the island's public educa-
to the U.S. mainland in ten serve as an anchor has not ended." ties they face in finding a tion system.q