I introduced this series here: Venezuela Interviews and slightly modified and added a couple of questions. This first interview, with @oasys has the original questionnaire so subsequently, responses may be slightly different. Questions were edited to be more objective... ANSWERS that were clarified have my edits in (parentheses) but the originals were left intact.
Is there a lot of support among the people for the dictator Maduro?
Of course if there is support for the mature president, (Maduro presidency) this president since the beginning of his stay in 2016 as president of the government has managed to create networks of corruption called "Missions". This gentleman has given away to his closest followers and a few more, Housing, Vehicles, Appliances, Power that has managed to buy with luxury, this gentleman has managed to extract the wealth of the country to bribe almost everyone who are also in power but what happens to the powerful people who are not with him? Because they are persecuted and expropriated and of all their wealth by their leaders of the military system, National Guard, Conas, Sebin or collectives etc... who bribe with these luxuries and hire to persecute anyone who wants to harm the network of corruption.
Is there food and gas available? Is it hard to buy?
Because the subject of the food is a sad history, 8 years ago Venezuela could produce to sustain the demand of Venezuela of edible(s) and to export towards other countries but of to step for these 8 years the current president to expropriated the big producing companies but of 1.359 companies that were expropriated between 2005 and 2017, companies that expropriated and put the government administration, but unfortunately 85% of these companies have gone bankrupt for mismanagement. As for gasoline is not very difficult to buy as we are the country with the largest oil reserves so here it costs nothing to get, I would say that a liter of drinking water here is more expensive than 1 liter of gasoline so it lends itself to the illegal export of the country that is conducted by the same National Guard and military of the country to obtain extra money since the minimum wage of the country is no more than about $3.70 a month. But you will wonder how it is that people survive with $3.70 a month because if it is an interesting question, the result is that 80 % live on misery and have become accustomed to receive the misery that gives the government in exchange for remaining silent, but these last 3 years there have been a number of deaths by protests, I'm talking about almost 800 or more people who have fallen for protesting passively against the government, but as you can buy an article from the supermarket with $3.70, well there is the story of every Venezuelan to survive with $3.70, well there is the story of every Venezuelan to survive to survive.
What about prices in local currency, is it still rising?
It happens that the prices in the local currency derive from the companies, since the companies to buy their raw material must acquire it with dollars and of course each article must cover the investment of each product that is manufactured by each company, then and there when the products come to cost 1Kl of pasta 10.S equivalent to $2, the price is not exaggerated if not that the companies by the expenses must have each article as to that price; the local currency of Venezuela has never risen in reality, the Sovereign Bolivars in Venezuela are devalued 96% with respect to the dollar. (currently 21/04/2019), (Minimum wage is equivalent to approximately $4).
Are the prices stable if you have US dollars?
Yes, prices are stable.
In Venezuela the point has arrived that everything is at the price in dollar since the dollar is not devalued so often on the contrary every time the dollar increases more its price in the market.
Last week the dollar came to cost 3700 Bs.S and now it is at 5300Bss, so it is very stable here to move with dollars because most people do, and the economy is accustomed to the dollar.
Is there much hope of overthrowing Maduro, without outside intervention?
Let's say that there is little hope of overthrowing the president because anyone who tries to overthrow him disappears or takes his life, as happened a few years ago with Oscar Perez who was riddled with bullets by the same state security forces, The videos assure that comrade Oscar Perez wanted to surrender but the corrupt bodies of the state did not spare his life since the order was not to capture him (but) was to kill him and so it was as in a house in the capital of Caracas where they had found him was riddled with bullets to the home of a family and even shot him with missile launchers, so it is unlikely that there is anyone who confronts him for his overthrow by the bandalic (?) acts of the Venezuelan government.
Let's say that the intervention is a painful option that would be difficult to accept if it were to happen, since this would be catastrophic in the country, seats will be lost and perhaps thousands of innocent lives will be lost to re-establish a new order.
Which cities are the most dangerous? The safest?
Let's say that the whole country is in delinquency, but the most insecure parts are in the Mines of Santa Elena that is in the border with Brazil, here there is no government the system is governed by a union that kills people who steal or try to extract minerals from land that is in its perimeter, there are those who govern the security are antisocial that work for the union, it is impressive the system there.
Well, I haven't visited the whole country as if to say where it's the safest, but all over Venezuela there are rumors of looting, robbery, demonstrations and corruption.
How do homeless children manage?
Wherever I have seen children without homes in public places asking for food and living off the trash, children 6 years and older who dedicate themselves to living on the street because there is not enough food in their home or they do not have a roof over their heads, these are the cases that I have seen most and others are for child abuse and they decide to run away from home.
What would you say to President Trump if you could talk to him?
I think President Trump is aware of the situation and if he could tell you (him) something I would tell you (him) to extradite these criminals who are in the power of Venezuela and imprison them, everyone here knows who they are and what they do and they already have sanctions and they are requested by the U.S. government so I would ask you to do justice with these characters so that Venezuela would be a better place.
What would you say to Maduro if you could talk to him?
I would tell him what everyone would tell him to take pity on the Venezuelans who are imprisoned for protests, to put order to his network of corruption and that there will be eyes and leave Venezuela for someone else to do something for the country, to stop stealing from the people so that there is a future here for everyone.
What would you say to Juan Guaido if you could talk to him?
At first I thought that Juan Guaido would fight this quickly, but this has become a war between governments that I don't think any of them will win so I would tell Guaido to put an end to this once and for all.
How do the Venezuelan people celebrate Easter in these difficult times?
In Easter, well I'm low income and I couldn't go out to any party let's say I enjoyed it at home with my family watching movies I guess, the people who have the possibilities are the ones who have to the beaches and enjoy this week.
Additional questions not asked of @oasys:
Where were you born, and where do you now live? (general location only, ie. Caracas)
Please describe the answers of the last question, in general terms, like very rural, or suburban, modern city, etc.
EXTRA Special thanks to @carrieallen! 💖