BY CASTO OCANDO
El Nuevo Herald

The poor Caracas neighborhood of Petare, home to an estimated one million people living mostly in self-built homes, requires a large dose of precaution when visiting.

The poverty of Petare has reached critical levels, and violence claims several lives each week.

Yet, in contrast to other low-income areas of the capital, where the popularity of leftist President Hugo Chávez reigns supreme, this area has been a consistent and fertile ground for the opposition.

An example of this came in the last elections, when the neighborhood's votes helped produce opposition victories in the gubernatorial race for the surrounding state of Miranda, the mayoral races for Caracas and Sucre, the Caracas borough where Petare is located.

And on Feb. 15, Petare was the largest neighborhood that went against a Chávez-backed referendum that ended all limits on presidential and other relections. The president won by a margin of more than one million votes.

The discontent that exists in Petare and other poor areas of Caracas could provide a window of opportunity for the opposition at a time when Venezuela's oil-based economy is beginning to feel the effects of low crude prices and the international financial crisis.

''Before, I liked how Chávez talked and so I voted for him at first. But now the things Chávez says don't reflect reality, as we have seen no benefits here,'' said Cipriana de Carillo, 60, of Petare.

Cipriana gives catechism classes to children at the Our Lady of Coromoto community center located in the heart of the San Blas section of Petare. The center, operated by Sacred Heart of Christ nuns order, serves as an educational center, pharmacy and meeting place.

''The biggest problem we face is a lack of safety,'' said Sister Candelaria, 46, a nun from the Dominican Republic who has lived in the neighborhood since last year. ''Despite political differences, people have a pretty good relationship. There is not so much humiliation between the two sides'' -- the pro and anti-Chávez groups.

Chávez remains popular among low-income sectors across Venezuela, but residents of areas like Petare say the president is simply not providing them with the safety and economic benefits they need.

''Here, people like to receive and are with whoever gives to them,'' said Lerys Coronel, 55, who has lived in the El Encantado neighborhood for the past 31 years. ``Since the previous authorities that were loyal to Chávez didn't give anything, people voted against them.''

`BREAK IN THE MYTH'

The Feb. 15 vote against the government in poor Caracas areas such as Petare, Catia and 23 de Enero is a ''break in the myth that the poor only vote for Chávez,'' said Angel Oropeza, a social psychologist at Simon Bolívar University.

The results show a ''waning phase'' for the government and a ''progressive disenchantment of the people,'' he added.

The current mayor of Sucre, opposition leader Carlos Ocariz, agreed.

''Before, Chavez romanced people who saw him as one of them, who struggled against those that had forgotten them,'' Ocariz said. ``But now it is different. It is a struggle between daily living, food shortages, for example, and the ideology. And one can't eat ideology alone.''

Chávez's opponents are trying to capitalize on such sentiments.

PROMISES, PROMISES

Miranda Gov. Henrique Capriles has started paying visits to the most impoverished neighborhoods and promising to take care of the communities' complaints, while Ocariz often visits community centers to meet with local leaders.

''In contrast to the previous mayor and governor, who were both . . . [pro-Chávez], the opposition leaders are coming to the neighborhood to meet with the community; and are already taking measures in favor of the people,'' said Cipriana de Carillo.

She added that people from low-income neighborhoods like Petare now have a greater conscience of the power of their vote, to punish or reward the leaders that do or don't work in favor of their communities.