Two months after rainwater, mud and rocks thundered down from the Avila peaks, virtually destroying this state, planners are busily envisioning the future. Rapid transit. Alternative highways. Oceanfront esplanades. Upgraded port and airport facilities. Tourist attractions competing with more traditional Caribbean destinations. Sustainable sources of employment. A golden opportunity to do it right this time. But over Vargas’ painful present and the brilliant future planners depict for it hangs the shadow of December’s deadly disaster: Geologists say huge boulders sit high on the Avila slopes in precarious equilibrium, ready to roll in the next catastrophe. Science and Technology Minister Carlos Genatios, the sole authority over reconstruction efforts, has begun unveiling the broad outlines of his strategy. He promises the re-housing of flood victims will... [Log in to read more]