Navy to take control of maritime ports

On 15 March 2009 President Hugo Chavez ordered the navy to take control of maritime ports in several of Venezuela's opposition-controlled provinces. He specifically ordered naval vessels to seize Maracaibo Port, located in the state of Zulia; Port Cabello, located in the state of Carabobo; and Port Porlamar, on Margarita Island. Chavez also ordered the military to take control of the country's airports, removing the sites from the control of opposition governors. The controversial move comes days after the National Assembly passed legislation transferring control of highways, airports and ports from the state government to the national government. State officials once counted on tariffs from ports and airports, as well as highway tolls, to finance local public works. Chavez warned that any officials who challenged this new law could be imprisoned. Chavez alleged that the federal government seized control of the transportation hubs to control the proliferation of drug-trafficking activities, but critics cite this latest measure as evidence of Chavez's desire to further consolidate his power and to weaken the opposition. In November 2008 elections, the ruling PSUV party won 17 of the 22 gubernatorial elections, but the opposition gained five seats, including the mayoral office of Caracas, one of the most important public offices in Venezuela. Since the elections, the opposition claims that Chavez has been steadily stripping away the local governments' powers and interfering with their ability to carry out official duties