Posted on 07/16/2008 6:42:38 AM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
The negotiations between Puerto Rico and Venezuela for the purchase of more economical oil remain a mystery.
The respective secretaries of the Department of State and the Department of Consumer Affairs (DACO), Fernando Bonilla and Jorge Suárez, have not made public the outcome of that country's visit this past weekend.
"I believe they're being very cautious about not turning this into a fiasco and, therefore, they don't want to reveal the negotiation in case this cannot be accomplished and thus avoid a possible negative damage to the effort[.] That is why there is silence," was the opinion of Angel Rosa, professor of Political Science at the [University of Puerto Rico] Mayagüez Campus.
SHORT-TERM MEASURES
To Rosa, the government is trying to, somehow, take short-term measures to decrease the cost of fuel and pass those savings along to the consumer.
"This is natural, and, moreover, we're close to the elections. This is an issue that raises questions about the political capacity Puerto Rico has for this type of transaction. The only thing Puerto Rico is doing is trying to buy cheaper gasoline and fuel for the Electric Power Authority turbines," Rosa said.
According to the expert, the negotiations are "genuine and perfectly possible", but motivated by politics and the emergency situation caused by the price of fuel.
"These are two genuine avenues, the first because the price of fuel has increased dramatically, and the second because the [governing Popular Democratic Party] wants to win the elections," Rosa maintained.
"WE ARE LATIN AMERICANS"
[Rosa] said the negotiations will depend on the government's success in convincing Venezuela. "I think the most powerful argument is that we Puerto Ricans are Latin Americans, that we are suffering from this oil crisis, and to benefit the Puerto Ricans is to do good to a Latin American country such as Venezuela," he stated.
He explained that DACO is replacing private intermediaries without any interest in profit in order to pass along the savings at the pump from the preferential price it secures.
The Governor confirmed last week that Bonilla and Suárez will visit Venezuela during the weekend to participate in a meeting with Petrocaribe. Through their [respective] press secretaries, both officials have said they are making no statements about the issue.
Petrocaribe is an initiative by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to allow Caribbean countries to buy up to 185,000 barrels of oil per day at preferential prices through an Energy Cooperation Agreement.
do you need a passport to travel to and from the us and PR?”
“do you need a passport to travel to and from the us and PR?”
No. Puerto Rico is domestic territory of the United States. You can travel to/from Puerto Rico and the mainland just as you would travel between Hawaii and the continental U.S.
But representatives of another country would have to pass through passport control to enter.
Yes, to enter from any place other than a U.S. State or the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Hovensa is owned by Hess Oil and PVDSA. That refinery was built to crack and refine the heavy Vensuela crude.
Right. Based on the responses from some fellow FReepers, you would think that, within the U.S., only Puerto Rico pulls un- or anti-American stunts.
http://www.supremelaw.org/sls/31answers.htm
you have no proof of your assertions above.
take your arrogance elsewhere.
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