La Guaira Commerce Slowly Reopens After Earthquakes, Recovery Expected to Be Slow

Commercial life in La Guaira, Venezuela, is beginning a gradual revival in areas that escaped structural damage from the June 24 earthquakes. However, the path to economic recovery for the state is projected to be long and arduous, heavily reliant on the progress of debris removal and reconstruction. Eduardo Quintana, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Fedecámaras La Guaira, stated that while some businesses have reopened, a significant portion of the commercial fabric was lost when buildings collapsed during the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude tremors. "The commerce is waking up little by little, what is standing, because many shopping centers that housed many businesses are no longer there. Those businesses will not return, and we have to see how the workforce can be rescued," Quintana explained. He noted that it is currently impossible to estimate the timeline for economic recovery due to ongoing search and debris removal operations. "People are talking about five, six, seven or ten years. The situation is so serious that the people have not yet woken up to the true reality we have," he added. Large areas of La Guaira remain devastated, with families still focused on locating missing relatives amidst the emotional toll of the tragedy. Quintana emphasized that reactivating economic activity is crucial not only for employment but also for addressing the psychological consequences of the disaster. The Chamber of Commerce has urged its members to gradually resume operations and assist in recovery efforts. La Guaira's economy, historically reliant on services driven by its port and airport, and its tourism potential, faces an unprecedented blow from the earthquakes.

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The commerce is waking up little by little, what is standing, because many shopping centers that housed many businesses are no longer there. Those businesses will not return, and we have to see how the workforce can be rescued.