The gold isn’t for the good of the citizens.
Via BI:
Senior officials for the Venezuelan government have reportedly travelled to London for crunch talks with the Bank of England as they seek to repatriate more than $500 million of gold back to Caracas.
The government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in early November approached the Bank of England about removing roughly 16.5 tons of gold — worth in the region of $550 million — from the central bank’s vaults and returning it to South America. Emerging market nations frequently store gold reserves in foreign central banks.
At the time the request was first reported, Reuters said that the Bank of England had “sought to clarify” Venezuela’s intentions in taking back its gold. It now appears that officials, including Venezuelan finance minister Simon Zerpa, and central bank governor Calixto Ortega Sanchez, have come to London to provide further clarity, according to Reuters.
City AM reports that Bank of England Deputy Governor Dave Ramsden will attend a meeting with the officials, but that it is unclear if Governor Mark Carney will be in attendance. Reuters reported that it was “not immediately evident” if any meeting would actually take place. […]
Venezuela has in recent years been a major seller of gold, and this year alone it has sold about 26 tons, worth close to $900 million, to Turkey. In the past four years, Venezuela’s gold reserves have decreased to about 175 tons from about 400 tons, Reuters reported, citing statistics from the country’s central bank.
Venezuela has been selling its sizeable gold reserves, built up under Hugo Chavez, to try to address the economic crisis plaguing the country. Hyperinflation of goods means everyday items are unaffordable for many Venezuelans, and poverty and violence are widespread.