PHILLIP PAULWELL, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, and a delegation left for Venezuela yesterday for bi-lateral discussions between the two countries.
Minister Paulwell is expected to hold talks with his Venezuelan counterpart, Rafael Ramirez, on a loan agreement under the PetroCaribe deal.
The two countries are also expected to sign off on a US$300 million loan for Highway 2000.
During Monday's weekly post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Information Minister Colin Campbell said other matters for discussion include the rehabilitation of physical infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Ivan, cooperation in air transport and the supply of 2,500 barrels of oil per day for Air Jamaica.
At present, Venezuela provides 21,000 barrels of oil per day to Jamaica as part of the PetroCaribe Initiative. However, the additional 2,500 barrels of oil for Air Jamaica was put on the table as part of the negotiations with Venezuela, at a time when oil prices around the globe were skyrocketing to alarming levels.
OTHER ISSUES
Agreements on other issues such as the upgrade of the Petrojam oil refinery and the expansion of the PETCOM chain of service stations should also be settled.
"It is our expectation that we would conclude and sign off on all the projects and proposals that are before the Venezuelan Government," Campbell assured.
The delegation to Venezuela includes Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Dr. Jean Dixon; executives from Petrojam, representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Planning and Transport, Works, Water and Housing, and a representative from the Attorney-General's department.
The subject of diplomatic relations between the two countries comes at a time when the United States is increasing pressure on countries in South America and the Caribbean against supporting Venezuela for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The two-year seat reserved for the region becomes vacant in October when Argentina ends its term.
Opposition Leader Bruce Golding has cautioned the Government against supporting Venezuela for fear of damaging the diplomatic relations with the United States (U.S.); this at a time when rhetoric between the U.S. and President Chavez of Venezuela has become even more confrontational.
The U.S. fears that should Chavez succeed in elevating his country to the council, he will use it as an opportunity to frustrate its foreign policy goals, such as restricting Iran's nuclear activity.
