Chavez Begins Chemo Treatment In Cuba CUBA, July 18, 2011.- Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez arrived Saturday in Cuba after requesting permission from the National Assembly of Venezuela to leave the country, in order to begin chemotherapy treatment for his cancer nearly a month after a tumor surgery. Chávez said he would start the treatment in Havana yesterday in an attempt to ensure cancer cells do not reappear following last month’s operation. “We’re going to give it everything we’ve got,” Chávez said in a televised speech shortly before he left Caracas on Saturday. He said there is always a risk cancer cells might show up again, “and therefore there’s a need to attack hard through chemotherapy”. Chávez was accompanied by one of his daughters, Rosa, who held his hand as they boarded the presidential jet. “It’s not time to die. It’s time to live,” Chávez said. “I’m saying goodbye for some days, but in a deeper sense I’m not saying goodbye. … I’ll be attentive every day, every hour, every minute to internal events and I’ll be in permanent contact.” Chavez was welcomed by Cuban President Raul Castroat the Havana’s International Airport. Before departing to Cuba, Chavez also announced that he would delegate some of his duties to Vice President Elias Jaua and Planning and Finance Minister Jorge Giordani. He said the vice president would oversee budget transfers to government ministries, presidential commissions, any approved expropriations of businesses, and other budget-related responsibilities. Giordani is to deal with matters including budget shortfalls and certain tax exemptions. (Cubaminrex-RHC)
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