Caracas.- “We are very optimistic due to Petrocaribe’s progress in such a short time”, highlighted the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, during the inauguration ceremony of the IV Petrocaribe Summit held in the Cuban province of Cienfuegos.

The Venezuelan President also highlighted that “we are undergoing a decisive moment in the fight for our second independence”.

In this regard, he summarized the rebel genealogy that allowed for the Cuban and Bolivarian Revolutions to take place, both of which are the bases of the proposals put forward by the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) and Petrocaribe.

He also remembered that the independence revolutionary war led by Simon Bolivar had the solidarity, selfless and militant support of Haiti, a nation that is nowadays a member of Petrocaribe. “The Caribbean awareness of the Venezuelan people and the certainty that if we don’t build a brotherhood with these peoples we will always be in danger, has brought us here as promoters of Petrocaribe”, Chavez stated.

This way, Petrocaribe now has new members. After the joining of Haiti and Nicaragua on August 11, 2007, a total of 16 countries are now part of this energy initiative.

Ongoing progress
Chavez remembered the progress of this international organization since its creation in June 2005 as a body to generate energy policies and plans, as well as the creation of the Alba Caribe Fund for social development of member countries.

Following Petrocaribe’s creation, the II Petrocaribe Summit took place in September of that same year in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This event coincided with the anniversary of the Letter of Jamaica, and it was agreed to undertake the commitment of carrying out studies, energy descriptions and evaluations of potential in each member country. Similarly, the first energy cooperation agreements between Venezuela and the other nations were signed.

Subsequently, the III Petrocaribe Summit was held in August 2007 in Caracas. Financial results were published during this Summit and PDV Caribe, an affiliated company of Petroleos de Venezuela, rendered an account. Similarly, the Energy Security Treaty (TSE by its initials in Spanish) was signed. This is a more advanced treaty that allows complying with Petrocaribe’s main mission which is to decrease asymmetries in the region.
President Chavez remembered that this energy cooperation agreement emerged after analyzing the great inequalities of Caribbean nations. “These asymmetries are a result of both the old colonialist heritage and of a capitalist order that is progressively more inhuman and unjust”, he sadly stated.