Pro-Chavez mayor expropriates property belonging to Venezuela’s largest food producer

Venezuela seizes top food producer’s property

CARACAS, Venezuela — A mayor loyal to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered the expropriation of property owned by the country’s largest food producer.

Amalia Saez is mayor of the industrial city of Barquisimeto in northwestern Venezuela. She has issued a decree allowing local officials to seize control of property owned by Empresas Polar on the outskirts of the city. Polar uses the property for warehouse storage.

Chavez urged officials a month ago to force Polar to move the warehouses to another location, saying the property could be put to better use serving the community.

Polar representatives did not answer telephone calls seeking comment.

Saez signed the decree Thursday, saying authorities would use the property to build low-income housing.