Since the mega blackout in 2019, some Caracas residents have bought emergency lamps or rechargeable bulbs that they try to keep active. They prefer to pay for their weekly or biweekly meals, to avoid wasting them and because they do not have enough money for large expenses.
Many Caracas residents went out in the dark on Friday, August 30, believing that the blackout confirmed in 22 states of the country was just another power outage.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t last that long because in 2019 it lasted like four, five days. We don’t know how long this will last, let’s hope it lasts until today,” said Sara Contreras from her post in Chacaíto. She left Charallave this morning and came by public transport. Neither the “ferro” nor the Caracas Metro are working due to the contingency.
Sara has a hard time being in the middle of the paycheck, as she barely has enough money to replenish her pantry at home. “My dad is always on the lookout and buys food for the paycheck. It’s a problem not having money to buy food or refrigerate it.”
Neither she nor Maria*, who lives in Coche and works in the same place, have any strategy for the power outages. “I’ll just have to buy candles,” she says, laughing. They hadn’t been told if they had to work all day either, but they were going to keep their normal schedule until 6:00 p.m.
Carmen* works at an accounting firm near Sabana Grande and came from La Guaira by public transport. “I thought it was just a normal power cut, but when I got to Catia I saw that there were a lot of police and all that. It was when I got here that I realised. The highway was also quiet compared to other days.”
Police patrols were increased this Friday due to the blackout, which began at 4:50 a.m. according to the authorities’ report. Trucks from the Anti-Gang Division of the Bolivarian National Police and the National Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Command patrolled areas of Petare, Altamira and downtown Caracas.
At the traffic lights on the main avenues from Petare to Catia, PNB officials also took over traffic management. Public transport, until midday, was normal. Only at the stops towards Guarenas and Guatire was there a large influx of people waiting for a bus to get home.
The accountant also has no planned strategy for these times. “I never expect blackouts like this, there have never been blackouts like this around here, but I have the normal food that I always have at home.”
Josué Centeno, who lives in San Agustín and works in a shoe store, has bought rechargeable light bulbs for these times. He also has a gas stove, so cooking is not complicated. “I went out and there was no traffic or anything, but I really don’t know what’s going on.”
Some stores took advantage of the contingency to sell. Victor* works in a store selling electronic equipment and cell phones in the City Market shopping centerin Sabana Grande. “The shopping center did not open and in order to pay for hours they sent us to sell for a while,” he said.
The equipment for sale to passers-by were three power banks, Depending on the charging amperage, they can cost between $10 and $25. Mini UPSs, which allow charging larger equipment such as laptops, cost $30. Everything is paid for with cash, either bolivars or foreign currency. As of 10:30 am, sales were unsuccessful.
What did not stop, also with the help of power plants and cash sales, was formal and informal trade in areas such as Catia and Petare. To the west of the city, Oscar Martinez works as a butcher. At his home in La Vega he keeps two freezers with food, which he will fill with ice as they did at his workplace if the blackout lasts more than a day.
“We already knew this was coming. There have been many power cuts this week and we know what the situation is like. All of us who live in these vulnerable sectors of the country are coping with candles because our salaries are not enough to buy a power plant,” said Oscar.
In Petare, unlike the premises where Martínez works, the Rezz butcher shop does have a diesel-powered generator, “but we are waiting to see what they tell us because the smoke can damage things. We don’t know if they are going to bring in a larger plant or if we will close at some point,” explained Yander, the manager of the premises.
In their case, in addition to cash, they could receive payments at a point of sale on the Banesco platform. “As that is by deposit, the rest is down.”
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