Those who claim to deplore the commercialisation of Christmas should move to Venezuela. Seasonal products, from Christmas trees to toys, trinkets and delicacies, are piled up in the country's ports, thanks to inefficient, congested wharves and a dramatic increase in imports. Retailers have no idea when they will take delivery of their goods. Importers and customs agents complain that a government emergency plan has so far failed to ease the delays much. Nearly four years ago Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's leftist president, took over control of the ports from regional governments. Private handling companies were nationalised, so far without compensation.
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