Other "split" time zones include India (+5 1/2) and Newfoundland
(island only) (-3 1/2 / -2 1/2).

(CBC radio in English sends the Atlantic zone feed to Newfoundland
time zones, thus causing programs to be a half hour later by local
clocks.)

The point being that it's being treated as yet another Hugo Chavez
weirdness and it isn't quite that weird. However, what it DOES do is
to slightly isolate Venezuela from other countries although not so
much when people get used to it.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyE...28980320070823

Venezuela to change time zone by 30 min in September
Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:42PM BST
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CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has changed his
country's name, redesigned its flag and rejigged its coat of arms in
his drive for a socialist state.

Now the leftist reformer, highly popular for redistributing oil
income, is seeking to move the country's time zone to offer a more
equitable distribution of sunlight.

Venezuela in September will turn clocks back by 30 minutes as it
switches time zones to boost the amount of natural light to residents,
a government official said on Thursday.

Next month Venezuelan clocks will be set at Greenwich Mean Time minus
4-1/2 hours, compared to the previous GMT minus four hours, Science
and Technology Minister Hector Navarro told reporters at a news
conference.
[...]