ST. KITTS and NEVIS, June 10, 2009.— The 6th Petrocaribe Summit which begins here on June 11, is to see another demonstration of viability in crisis situations, via a focus that promotes a defined energy agreement as solidarity-based cooperation. According to official sources, the energy agreement permits 17 Caribbean and Central American countries to receive 185,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil per day under beneficial payment conditions. Created in 2005 by the government of President Hugo Chávez, Petrocaribe allows these nations to make the payments over a period of up to 25 years at an interest rate of just 1%. There is also a scheme underway to allow those nations to make these payments in alimentary products. According to the agenda, the session begins at ministerial level and heads of state or government are scheduled to meet on Friday. Around 260 delegates from the 18 member countries are taking part in the Summit, as well as El Salvador and Costa Rica, countries interested in joining the program. (Cubaminrex- Granma- PL) |