Lower crime spurring return of nightlife in Venezuela's capital
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- 17 Oct 2022
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Some 40 people dance and sing karaoke on board a colorful party bus in Venezuela’s capital, where a drop in crime, improved public lighting and an economic recovery are sparking a return to public spaces after nightfall.
The so-called “chiva rumbera,” which calls to mind other similar vehicles used in Colombia and some Caribbean islands, began operating in late July, although that same concept has existed in the Venezuelan insular state of Nueva Esparta since 1970, Carlos Abreu, manager of the company that launched that initiative, told Efe.
“I decided this year to bring the project to Caracas because of all the innovation that’s happening in the city, the restaurants and the nightspots, and I said we’re going to bring it here and see if it takes off. And the truth is the results have been good,” said Abreu, who pointed to lower crime as one of the key factors.
The bus leaves from three points of the city and can be rented for a minimum of four hours, providing a space for dancing and karaoke and also offering services such as a tour guide or waiter.
Over the past two years, the non-governmental organization Ciudad Laboratorio has observed changes in Caracas that have encouraged more people to leave their homes after 7 pm, its director, Jose Carvajal, explained.
“During these two and a half years, besides observing a lot of public spaces and seeing the situation of some public services like lighting, public transport and the presence of people on the street, we’ve seen a significant change,” he told Efe.
Caracas had been deserted at night for different reasons, according to Carvajal, who mentioned crime, an almost complete lack of public transport, insufficient lighting and scant entertainment options. Read More…
