Venezuelans 'switch off Christmas' as malaise sets in

Caracas

"CHRISTMAS is dead," said Elise Belisario, who, like many Venezuelans, cannot afford to hang decorations or make a traditional holiday meal this year.

And 2016 augurs bleak times too in this staggering oil giant, where the New Year looks set to bring political power struggles and little respite from a crippling economic crisis.

Ms Belisario lives in the sprawling slum of Petare, on the outskirts of Caracas, which is suf…