If the changes to the Constitution championed by President Hugo Chávez are approved, "we are heading for a Cuban-communist model," said Zulia state governor Manuel Rosales.

"And we are moving towards a model, where the State is the owner of everything and we, Venezuelans will be the slaves of that government. All that the government wants is for all of us to be poor and there will be a class of beneficiaries."

He recalled that a committee will be organized Tuesday in Zulia state to back decentralization, as the proposed changes "eradicate decentralization."

"From being a federal, decentralized country, we will turn into a centralized country, with a man as president who will become the master and owner of everything."

He lamented that state governors and mayors will be like Chinese jars.